Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-04-19
The Senate.

WASHINGTON, April 1S-The chair submit
ted message from the president transmitting
recomm endation to the Mississippi river
commission for an appropriation of 81 ,0l0,0 Ol
for closing existing gaps in the levees, in ad
dition to like sum already estimated. Tit
president asked an early and favorable consid
Grafton of the recommendation and calls spe
cial attention to the importance OF the sub
iect Ordered tabled and printed, the bill en- the
subject being now before the senate.
Garland, from the Judiciary committee, re-
ported an affirmative answer to the inquiry
addressed to the committee, whether retired
United States army officer can lawfully hold
civil Office under the United States.
Cockrell, from the military committee, re
ported favorably the senate bill to donate to
the Ladies' Soldier Monuments society, OF
Portsmouth, Ohio, four condemned cannon.
Passed.
johnson offered resolution calling for q
copy of the diplomatic correspondence which
passed in the early part of 1876 between the
United States minister in Madrid and the
Spanish secretary of state, concerning the
cases of citizens of the United States con-
demned to death in Cuba, etc. Adopted.
The senate bill to accept and ratify the
a portion of the reservation in Montana re-
euired for the Northern Pacific railroad and
appropriating S25, 900 therefor, passed.
The Mississippi and Missouri river i'm
provement bill was then considered.
Frye, member of the committee from which
the bill was reported, said the Northern and
Eastern members of the committee while ap-
preciating the importance Of improving nav
igatioD, were opposed to allowing the appro-
priation to be used for the reclamation of
lands in the river states. They regarded the
existing sentiment is caused by the recent
overflow as dangerous one upon which to base
] gislation. The favorable report upon the
n easure was due to the. proviso which pre-
vents the use of any of the money for rebuild
ing the Levels and this had been inserted
without objection. He said he m ade this
statement in view of the intimation thrown
out yesterday by Kellogg that an amendment
removing this resolution upon the expeudi
ture OF the money would not be objected. by
the committee and also in view OF Jones'
amendment applying part of the appropria-
ton TO levees,
Harrison. Of the committee, addressed the
eenate at some length, After asserting the
admiralty control of the United States over
the entire navigable length of the Mississippi
and its jurisdiction over the improvements of
navigation and works necessary to make the
river safe and of constant use for commerce,
he said nearly $4,000 navigable miles of the
main river and its Tributaries were distributed
over eighteen states and three territories, a re-
gIon producing the larger part of the entire
grain crop and large part of the cotton crop,
and that the work of providing cheapened
free highway for these products in their con-
veyance to consumers of the Atlantic states
and of Europe was obviously q national one.
Speaking of the facilities of cheap trans
portation and the free competition pertaining
to river navigation, as compared with the OPP
pressive railroad rates, Harrison remarked
that upon the obstructing bars being cleared
away and q uniform low water depth of ten
feet being attained below st. Louis, the shores
of the Mississippi would practically be at tide
water; that grain will move north and south
as well as east 10 the river whenever the rail-
road charges are oppressive. No act of con-
gress or of the states in his opinion, could
prove SO efficient in regulating the transporta-
ton charges as the law of competition be.
tween the improved national water ways Of
the country and the railroads.
sufficient and uniform depth Of water
throughout the year on the upper river would
cause a great reduction in river transporta
ton charges, by enabling larger boats and
barges to continue running instead of being
laid up, as now, for portions of the year. A
system of inter- channel works had been adop-
ted, and it was thought this would remove
upon this belief only could an appropriation
for such works be made.
He opposed the levee project, contendng
that money appropriated for levees was prac-
tically a donation to the owners of alluvial
lands.
Replying TO Vests appeal that the govern
ment should tie the country together with
bonds of love by building levees, Mr.. Har-
rison said he was sure there was no dispo.
sition in the North TO withhold anything from
the Southern states on account of the rebel
lion, but he could not accept the suggestion
to use the public revenues for the benefit of
states or individuals, simply because of
poverty which came from national causes. He
had no faith in the permanent influence of ap-
preparations to bind men to the flag or con-
stitutlon.
The speaker thought it plain that the states
on the lower river had been planning and were
hoping 10 thrust their costly levee system
upon the general government, and any speedy
settlement Of the question would be great
relief to those states, SO long as they have
any expectations OF relief from congress, their
own efforts would be paralyzed.
We could not afford to take out of the
treasury, because of our sympathies, fifteen
and possibly fifty million dollars.
The bill was then laid aside till tomorrow.
Davis (W Va.) called up the agricultural
appropriation bill. He stated that the total
amount was $414,7 200, being Sig, 100 less than
the aggregate as passed by the house. The
bill passed.
a message from the president was read on
the subject of the circular of invitation ex-
tended to all the independent countries of
North and South America to participate in a
general congress to be held in Washington on
the Cd of November next, for the purpose of
considering and discussing the methods of
preventing war between the nations of Amer
lea. Referred to the committee on foreign re-
lations and ordered printed.
Plumb reported that the conference COM
mittee on the post Office appropriation bill
was unable to agree and moved
that the senate further insist on
its amendments. Discussion disclosed the
fact that the point in controversy was the sen
ate increase for special mail,service on trunk
lines, coupled with the proviso that such
special facilities shall be ratably distributed
among the business centres of the country.
Allison stated toe position of the question,
and Beck, Davis CIV. Va. j and Maxey strongly
advocated, adherlng to the provlso inserted by
the senate.
On motion of Ingalls, the subject was tenn
porarily referred to the appropriate commit.
tees, snd the senate adjourRed.
House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-Mr. O'Neil, PA. J
introduced bill providing that all railroad
bridges across Ohio river which are not vet