The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-02
THE HOUSE.
The River and Harbor Bill-Mi Mississippi River
Clause Agreed To.

AAS ANANCE anu Slll-u1Ss1SSlppl River
Clause Agreed To.
WASHINGTON March 1.-The conference re-
port on the fertilization appropriation bill was
agreed to. 1t approprates $295,oo0 more than
when it passed the House.
Mr.. Page moved to suspend the rules and
adopt the order limiting debate on the river and
harbor bill Except in regard to items for the
improvement of the Mississippi river to one
minute. Lost-yeas 1873, nays SO. Not the nee
essary two-thirds in the affirmative.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the state of the Union, but Mr.. Hiscock
objected to the river ana harbor bill, and the
committee rose and reported the objection to
the House.
The House-.yeas 1874, nays 1o7-ordered that
consideration of the river and harbor bill be re-
sumed, and Immediately went into committee
on that bill.
Mr. Turner, of Kentucky. offered an amend
ment providing that $25 900 of the sum appro-
prlated for the improvement of the ONO river
shall be used in improving the Grand Chain Of
rapids. Adopted.
on motion o. Mr. Willis, an amendment was
adopted providing that S25, 900 be expended In
improving the Indiana chute.
On motion OF Mr. Dawes, an amendment was
adopted providing that $40, 500 be expended at
the mouth OF the Muskingum river.
Mr.. Randall moved to amend the proviso
which prohibits the expenditure of any appro-
priati0n until a committee of five, three of
whom shall be civilians, shall report whether the
interests of commerce warrant the comp elton
OF the pro9scl, Wy reducing the membership TO
three, all Of whom shall be engineers OF the
army. Adopted.
At this point a message was received from the
Senate announcing the appointment of Senators
Malone and McDlll as conferees on the internal
revenue bill to fill the vacancies occasiOned by
the declination of Senators Bayard ana Beck
announcements which received with
laughter by the Democratic side.
In view OF the adoption of the amendment Of
fered by Mr. Dwight reducing the appropriation
for improving st. Anthony's falls, MIMI, from
$4,000 TO 5000, Mr.. Washburn moved to strike
out the whole clause. Agreed to.
The item relative TO the Mississippi river hav-
ing been reached, Mr.. Robinson, of Massaehu-
setts, offered amendment prohibiting the
further construction or repairs of levees except
in the performance of existing contracts
In opposing the amendment, Mr.. Hatch re-
ferred TO the benefits which the East had
ceved from the Federal treasury, and said the
young West had grown strong and now knew
her rights, and in the future dared maintain
them, ana that notwithstanding the clamor of
subsidized press and subsidized representa- tives,
III it would be necessary to build granite wall
from st. Pail to New Orleans. in the name of the
people of the West, he told the House it would
be done.
Mr. Burrows theoretically opposed the levee
system, believing the building of levees was not
essential to the Improvement of the river.
He constantly interrupted with much
warmth by Messrs King. Gibson and Ellis, who
denied the correctness of his statements.
Mr.. Thomas, of Illinois, antagonized the
amendments tying the hands of the Missis-
sippi River Commission. Common fairness and
commercial importance demand that the com
mission, struggling with one of the grandest
questions which ever engaged the mind of the
scientific world, would be allowed TO go on with
its hands loose
Mr. Butterworth opposed the levee scheme
until further experiment should show their
utility.
Mr. Gibson called attention to the fact that
there was nothing in the bill authorizing the
construction of levees.
Mr.. Randall said he was in favor of making
CONCENTRATIONS for the UurpO6e of eXDerlmenflu
to improve the navigation of the Mississippi
until at last solution of the great water prob
lem should be found. 1t WAS with that intent
he favored the creation Of the commission. II
this commission did not answer the purpose,
after fair trial, let if be abolished, Then let
some one else take the business in hand. He
believed in Congress taking absolute and ex-
elusive control in this matter; he believed Con-
gress had power TO appropriate money to re-
cover alluvial lands, but it had the absolute
mower and should exercise 1t by proper apprO-
priations, to secure the best navigation of the
river, and if the building of levees comes as
necessary incident, Congress could not help
that.
Mr. Morrison said he was opposed to building
levees for the reclamation of alluvial lands, and
if that is what the amendment means will vote
for it, ESQ will J." came in chorus from the
Louisiana menibersD But II 1t were necessary
in order to improve the navigation of the Missis
sipi to build evees to that extent, and that only
he would favor their being built. The commits
sion a good judge or what was proper-bet-
ter than six or eight members W no had been sent
down the river on pleasure trip by the House. 1t
was not O commission selected IN order to pool
issues or TO protect certain interests, some
commissioners had been, and he was iu favor of
acting upon its recommendations. He said this
although he not very partial to commits
sions because he believed that next TO confer
ence commissions they were more prolific of per-
sonal jobs and schemes for public plumber than
any other legislative instrument that could he
devised. Applause and laughter on the Demo-
cratic sidel
Mr.. Dunn moved to amend Rebinsons amend
ment ny adding proviso permitting the build
ing OF levees necessary for the Improvement of
the navigation of the river. Agreed to, 81 to 81
Mr.. Robinsons amendment, as amended, was
lost, 80 to "a.
Mr.. Updegraff moved to strike out the entire
ITEM Lost
ing the building of levees from Cairo TO the head
OF the passes. Lost, II to 101.
The clause finally agreed to is as follows:
Improving the Mississippi river, thar The sum
of 81 500. 600 be and is hereby appropriated, or
much thereof as may be necessary, out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise appropri-
ated for the Improvement of the Mississippi
river from the head of tine passes TO Cairo, in
GLIDING the harbors of New Orleans, Natchez.
Point and Lake Providence, and the DETECTION
of the waters of the Red and
Mississippi rivers from Atchafaaya river; $780,
600 from Cairo TO the Illinois river, including
Alton harbor, and $4,000 from the Illinois
river to Des MOines rapids, including the i'm
provement of Quincy hay, which said sum shall
be expended under The direction of the Secretary
of War, In accordance with the plans and speci-
fcations, estimates and recommendations of the
Mississippi river commission, provided that no
portion OF the money hereby appropriated shall
be expended at any other points than those
herein specified
The committee then rose, and the Speaker an
nounced the appointment of Messrs. Steele,
Townsend and Sparks members of the board
OF visitors to West Point. and OF Messrs Harmer
board to Annapolis.
Mr.. Moore offered resolution calling on the
Secretary OF the Interior for information as to
the amount of Indian trust funds invested In