Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-22
RIVER AND HARB0R BILL.
THE COMMERCE. COMMITTEES
AND MIR. LINCOLN.

Service Under Discussion in Both
Houses-Charges against Gen Hazen-
Old Scores Raked Up.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2I.-The House
Commerce Committee has made a long
report 10 accompany the river and harbor
bill. in which they take issue with Secre-
tarY Lincoln in his criticisms upon the
appropriation for the East river and the
harbor bill for the improvement Of rivers
not naturally nayigable. and commercial
channels. The committee passes some
sharp return criticisms upon the Secretary
Of War and takes up and defends in detail
the items criticised by Mr. Lincoln.
As an example of the committees method
OF answering the objections Of the Secre-
tary OF W ar, part Of their appendix.
which deals with the Old Town creek
item. Is herewith given: This creek runs
INTO the IOmblgbee river after meander-
ing 30 miles in a direct distance Of II
miles. The estimated cost OF the proposed
Improvement is $4,000, with which it is
proposed 10 make it nayigable. after the
winter rains set in. for an Anticipated De-
riOd Of about five months. When exam
ined box drain twelve miles square
would pass all the waters in the creek
under caption
The committee say in answer, if the i'm
mediate consequence Of improving. at
cost Of $4,000, thirty miles of this me-
andeTing stream. even when the distance
/ Is but twelve miles. and though navigabIe
! for only five months in the wear. should
happen TO be saving III freight OF
about 81 % each on about "a 900
bales OF cotton annually, now transported
by rail-. and corresponding reduction in
the freight on return supplies Of probably
- per cent. in value of the cotton then an
aDnT0nFIarInD for harlrfnaraf n
decidedly in the interest Of general COM
merce. would be abundantly justified.
! these are the precise facts given bv the
engineers in this case. and While
the Secretary seems 10 have made
haste 10 jump at the statement Of
the local engineer-tO wit: i suppose a
box drain u inches square would readily
pass all the water that was flowing in the
creek when l saw it''-he suppresses what
Immediately follows, viz: But the banks
are from 80 TO 50 feet wide at the base. 100
10 ID al the surface, and 10 TO 15feet high
and after winter rains have set in-gene-
rally from December 1st TO May 1st-the
creek Is from 8 10 Is feet al low water"
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Mr.. Garland offered a resolution for the
appointment Of a committee of seven Sena-
tors TO examine into the work now in pro-
gress Tor the improvement of the Missis-
contracts, applications Of appropriation.
etc, also, into all matters pertaining to
the feasibility Of the outlet system. and
10 the Improvement at the mouth
Of the river, the system of
ietties, their permancy. etc. ami into
all matters touching such improvements.
the committee TO hold sessions during the
recess of Congress al places on the river
or elsewhere. TO examine persons and pa
pers, and 10 report at the next session.
After remarks on the subject. the resOlu-
tion went over till tomorrow.
After a brief executive session the SEN
ate took up the army appropriation bill.
While considering an amendment limit
ing 10 three years the term Of staff service
IN Washington Of line officers Of the
army, the fact that the exception did
not apply TO officers Of the Sig
nal service corps gave rise, TO
discussion. Messrs. MaXey and others
arguing that those officers should not be
removed from Washington after three
years service. and Mr.. Logan. who has
charge Of the bill. DENYING that he was. as
he was represented, hostile 10 that corps.
and cOntending that the military duties
performed by il should be learned by all
army officers. He wished all army officers
10 have an opportunity Of learning
these duties, and he proposed to
offer an amendment that of the
twelve Signal Service officers now in
Washington four shall be sent back
TO their regiments in 1883. four in 1884.
and four in 1856, other officers TO be
put in their places. He alluded to the
fact that he had been attacked in editorial
articles all over the country as being hos
tile to the Signal Service Corps. and said
these editorials had been enclosed TO him
in letter, with the information that they
had been written in the Signal Service
otto a1sA
money. He could demonstrate the truth
of that statement.
This brought about a discussion of the
merits of the signal Service and its chief
officer, a counterpart Of the one which was
progressing in the House at the same mo-
ment. where Mr.. BeltZhOOver had attacked
the Signal Bureau.
Mr.. LOgan's amendment was finally
ruled out on point Of order.
After the adoption Of a number of
amendments in the line Of retrenchment.
the committee rose and reported the bill
to the Senate. and it was passed.
A new conference committee on the
appropriation bill was appointed. The
fortihcatiOns appropriation bill was
passed.
Mr. Edmunds called for a Joint resolu-
tiOn TO provide for the termination of the
articles Of the treaty of Washington re-
lating TO fisheries. and it was passed.
After being amended so as not to change
the law permitting the transportation of
goods in bond through the American Ter
ritOry Of Utah. the bill was then taken
up and discussed. but without reaching q
a vote the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House. Mr.. CasweIl. of Wiscon-
sin, submitted the conference report on
the post Ofhce appropriation bill, stating
that the cOnferees were unable to agree.
Mr.. CasweH explained that the
chief points Of difference were
the items apprOpriating S1S5,00O
for special mail facilities. relating
10 the compensation allowed TO land grant
railroads for mail transportation. 4 fur
ther conference was ordered. Messrs.
Caswell. Cannon and Ellis were appoint
ed as cOnferees.
The House went into committee Of the
whole on the sundry civil Appropriation
bill.
Mr.. BeltzhOOver raised point of order
against the appropriation for the pay Of
officers Of the Signal Service. but with
drew his point and offered an amendment
striking out the clause authorizing the
Secretary Of War TO detail for service in
the Signal Corps. not to exceed eight COM
missiOned officers. exclusive Of Second
Lieutenants Of the Signal corps authorized
by law.
BeltZhOOyer made an attack on the ad-
ministratiOn Of the Signal Service under
General HaZen. He believed that this
bureau was purely a civil institution and
wholly unmilitary. and that it should be
transferred TO some civil department of
the government, and especially that il
should be placed under charge Of a head
who had some scientific knowledge and /
some standing and reputation among the |
responsible scientists Of the country. |
The speech which he had printed some |
time ago in the Record had been criti- !
cised because it had not been delivered /
on the floor Of the House. In order to
avoid any misunderstanding he had /
formulated his statements in a series Of /
charges. twelve in number. In these /
charges Mr.. BeltZhOOver accused Gen. I
HaZen Of having practiced HOwgate's /
methods and improved upon his pattern. 1
He accuses HaZen Of false pretences, /
ignorance, incOmpetency, etc, and rakes /
up old charges Of cOwardice and duplici- |
" against HaZen.
Mr.. Converse. Of Ohio. Messrs. Z. b. |
Taylor. ButterwOrth, Calkins and others /
defended Hazen, and the amendment was I
lost.
The committee rose informally, in order 1
to permit of the House receiving from the /
Senate the House bill TO reduce internal l
revenue taxation, with the Senate tariff \
amendments.
The bill was ordered printed and, under |
the rules, went to the Speaker'e table.
The committee resumed its session. but |
without completing it the committee !
again rose. and the House adjourned.
NOMINATIONS