The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-01-13
TFE River AND HABBOR BILL

THk RlVEh ANIL hAhDuA 0lnA
The early development aud prosl'eri-
ty Of section adds to the material
wealth of the whole nation, as well as
to the advancement Of the people dl-
rectly benefited It has ever been
the policy of the national government
to foster and develop our commercial
resources by from time to time making
such appropriations for the improve
ment of our rivers and harbors, as
was necessary to furnish an outlet to
the sea, the great highway for interna-
tional commerce, and furnish market
for the industries of our people, as
each section Of our Lroad domain be-
came populated By the advance guard
Of civilization. These appropriations
are usually expended and improvements
made by the executive department of
the government. The benefits de-
rived are proportionate tosthe intelii-
gence of the war department, to which
they are referred, or the skill and wis
dom of the person to whom each spe-
cifc work is intrusted. During the
last session of Congress liberal appro-
priations for the improvement Of the
rivers and harbors of the Pacific slope
were passed, in opposition to the exec
utivs, and by the terms of the bill
much was left to the discretion of the
Secretary Of War, in applying some OF
the most important appropriations for
this section. So far but little or moth
ing has been done by that degenerate
son Of noble sire, who occupies the po-
sition of Secretary of War, Robert
Lincoln. This great 'boobey," think
ing to make drive at the committee
on commerce in his report to Congress,
took occasion to say that in the last
river and harbor bill there were ap-
propriations not in the interest of COM
merce. Congressman Page, chairman
of the committee on commerce, report
ed resolution to the House, which
was adopted, calling upon the Secrt ta
~ to point out the appropriations
which were not for the benefit of com
Msrcs. The Secretary, in response tc
She resolution, called upon General
Wright. chief Of engineers, and re-
quested him to prepare such list. The
General was surprised at the request
ind promptly informed him that he
knew Of no such appropriations. He
however, had a list prepared which he
has sent to Congress, which he claims
aso no benefit to commerce, among
which are the majority of the apprepri
atien for the Pacific slope. The rivers
and harbors named and the reasons as
signed, at once expose the ignorance
Of the great incubus, and confirm
what was said of his intelligence dur
ing his fathers administration, which
wonfor him the sobriqu ct of ''Boobey.
five fail to receive adequate benefits
from the appropriations which our
congressman and Senators have OBJ
tanned, it will be attributable to the
unpsrdOnable ignorance at the head Of
the war department, which in this in
stance, completely proves the falIacy of
hereditary greatness of fitness for Office.
Representative Page, in answer to
direet inquiry whether the House COM
merce committee would in the face Of
A.e repert of Secretary Lincoln under
take to put through river and harbor
bill this year, said they most assuredly
would; that the committee intended to
frame reply to the Secretary's S report,
which would show that he had made
some very wild statements. He said
taat among the list of harbors the Sec
sesary said would not be benefited by
the expenditure of money appropriated,
was Plymouth harbor, Massachusetts,,
and yet the President had sent to Con
gresa special Recommendation for this
appropriation. He said it would be
news to the Pacific coast that the Sac
ramento river is not a navigable stream,
yet it waters carried ocean vessels for
hundreds of miles and had large
commerce. Page said that the bill
would be drawn and passed making
appropriations for all rivers ana har
born where it appeared that appropria-
tions heretofore made would be ex-
haustsd by next July, notwithstand-
ing the Presidents recommendation.
azzz9