The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-21
8irhmund nispatth,
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY q, 1888.
n,ra,.s and Harhors. &c.

Congress has not vet passed blu making
appropriations for the Improvement OF riv'
ers and harbors. We regret to have TO say
that Il is not certain tina, such bill VIII
become q Lave at tho present session. Not
that there is moi majority OF the members
in favor OF giving money to those praise
worthy objects, but because in order 10
take up the bill out Of order and pass II,
there must be an affirmative vote OF two
thirds. At some previous sessions OF Con-
press. The river and harbor bills have been
s, comprehensive in their thanksgiving u
few thousand dollars 10 some rivers hardy
large enough TO float lat-boat-that II was
easy to obtain atwo-thirds vote first 10 pass
the bills and afterwards TO override the
presidenl's veto IL he interposed IL. But the
bllrShich the proper committee has agreed
upon ri this session has In it no appropria-
lions for the smallest Of the streams here
tosore made tie objects OK the Govern
ment's bounty. The amovnt thus saved
cannot be used as party capital by either
the Democrats or the Republicans.
The fact Of overlooking these streams
may. however, destroy the chances OF get
ting .wo-thirds majority for the bill; be-
cause the number OF streams neglected Is
large; and neglected stream Is very apt
70 be a sufficient reason to the congressman
in whose district it is for voting against
apnroprlstions to any other congressm7n's
rivers. Thus the ciamor against the river
and harbor bills OF past sessions may have
the effect OF restoring these small streams
to the favor Of the log-rolling committees
of Congress.
How is such a result to be brought about!
Easily enough ;gand naturally enough. For
II certain congressman persist III voting
against even the most meritorious river
and harbor biIls,-yoting negatively WITH
ont rhyme or reason--there is no other way
TO get the bill through Congress but by log
rolling. Mr.. Cox and his little band may
compel the committee again TO report bill
which will command the necessary votes
for It's passage by giving few thousand
dollars to unimportant rivers enough to
purchase the number OF votes lacking.
II was unfortunate for Richmond that
years ago she began with such small ap-
preparations. She ought TO get much
more money.annuaily than she does. But
we asked for too small sum in the begin
ming; and having once fixed upon the sum
which il is:proper to appropriate annually,
Congress cannot easily be persuaded that
that sum ought TO be multiplied by three or
four. Our faithful representative in the
lower house has done all that anybody
could do, and more than most representa-
tives could do; but he could not perform
an impossible task. An appropriation OF
fifty thousand dollars is better than one OF
thirty thousand. We hope that the next |
Congress may be more liberal to Richmond.
II is too bad that so fine and so improbable |
a stream sssthe James river should have to |
suffer because rivers Of little or no merit |
have been deemed unworthy OF improve !
ment. We make these remarks about our
river because there are good many OF our
people who seem to think it would not be
difficult TO obtain from Congress this ses-
sion an appropriation OF one or two hum
bred thousand dollars.
What can be done in congressional
session OF ten days? Well, il the two
houses were in the humor for it, they
might pass a large number Of important
bills. The presidential succession might !
be settled; the tariff might be reformed;
the tax on tobacco might be reduced by |
fifty per cent; and the rivers OF the whole
United States might be provided for. But
is Congress in the proper mood for such
work? We fear not. The vote in the
House on Monday on Mr.. KELLY's motion,
and the debates day after day for the last
month, indicate no sort Of harmony
amongst either the Democrats or the Pc
publicans in the views they take Of the i'm
portant measures to which we have alluded.