Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-08-04
PASSED OVER THE VETO.
THE RIVER AND NARBOR BILL
GETS A TWO.THIRDS VOTE.

Senator Jones, the Presidents Bosom
Friend, One Of tho Active Opponents
Of the veto-Mr. Page on the Merits
Of the Bill.
WAsnINGToN, August 2.-The
River and Harbor Appropriation bill
was passed over the Presidents veto
by two-thirds majority in both Houses
of Congress, to-day.
When the veto message was re.
ceived, yesterday, there was a gen.
eral feeling of indignation among the
members of the House, and the Com
merce Committee, which originated
the measure, had meeting last night
and determined, if possible, to pass
the bill over the veto. Individual
members of the committee were as
signed to urge upon the Representa-
tivcs the necessity for the passage of
the bill, and were authorized to say
that no other measure for the improve.
ment of the rivers and harbors would
be reported.
1t was reported at the Capitol, be-
fore the House met, that the Presi-
dent had urged upon the Representa-
tives and Senators who called at the
White House early in the day the
necessity for sustaining the veto, and
efforts were made to induce Page,
chairman of the Commerce Commit.
tee, to postpone calling up the bill un-
til ! o'clock in the afternoon.
Suspecting that this delay was for
the purpose of drumming up votes
against the bill, and feeling confident
that the chances for its passage over
the veto would decrease as time
passed, Mr.. Page called the bill up as
soon as he could obtain recognition
from the Speaker for that purpose.
The exertions of Page in the House
were warmly seconded by Jones, of
Nevada, the Presidents bosom friend,
in the Senate. Mr.. Jones earnestly
advised the President not to veto the
bill. He is reported to have told the
President that the veto Of the River
and Harbor bill would certainly cost
the Republican party the Pacific
Slope States. That section had a
large interest in the bill, and
it could not indorsc two vetoes Ton.
Of them the veto Of the Chinese bill
in a single session Of Congress with
out placing the Democratic party i,
power.
Jones is also said to have informed
the President that to veto the Rive
and Harbor bill for no other reason
than that in his (Arthur's) judgmcn
Congress had exercised an unwise dis
erection in making appropriations fo
public works, would be unconstitu
tional. The Senator from Nevad
was in the Chamber when the Senat
met, and he worked like beaver t
secure votes and arrange pairs tina
would insure thirds majority fo
the bill.
Senators Miller, Farley, Slater an
, Grover drummed all the votes the
i. could influence, the Slope bcin;
, deeply interested in the appropria
e tons for the Sacramento River an
| improvements in Oregon. The Scna
> tors representing the States embrae
t ing the Mississippi River were all un
t usual active in behalf of the bill.
8 Representative Page, who did NOR
than any other member to secure tn
!. passage of the bill in the House, CAV
:. your correspondent this afternoon a
e argument that was used without fore
: in support of the measure.
), Page said that the engineer corr
: reported to Congress that 100000
r could be probably expended for tn
improvement of rivers and harbol
during the present fiscal year. tn
. Committee on Commerce reported
l, bill appropriating in round number
Re *17,OOO,OOO. The Senate amended
n after the conference between the tw
Houses, to $15,O0O,OOO. Last yet
the River and Harbor appropriation
amounted to $11 100000 on estimate
p of 100000. The only money al
l. propriated for the Potomac Flats WI
a 5000. 600. One.third of the none