National Republican., 1884-06-12
THE UOUsE,

The consideration Of the river and harbor bill
was resumed in the house yesterday.
Amendments offered by Messrs. Maybury and
Lamb TO increase the appropriations for the i'm
proyement Of the Detroit and Wabash riyors were
lost.
A motion made by Mr.. White to strike out tho
whole appropriation for tho Wabash river gayo
rise to s0mo discussion,
Mr.. Peters read tabular statement which he
had prepared, showing the amount Of money APP
portioned to the several states, 20 show that Ken
MIR. Willis in reply said that since tho forma-
tion OF the government slO9,OJO,UOO had boon APP
propriated for internal improvements. or this up
70 the present time, Kentucky had received but
S36000O while New York had obtGled one, ,sev-
enth of the whole sum. AS to the present bill,
Kentucky received only one large sum, that for
the Improvement of the falls of the Ohio river and
in this Improvement eight states were as much in
Mr.. HiscocE drew tho inference from Mr..
Williss remarks that New York was to be charged
with all which she had received up to the present
time, and that she was to be neglected until the
books were balanced and tho newer states had re-
ceived nn equal amount
Mr. whites motion was lost.
The clause providing for tile construction Of the
Hennepin canal having been reached, Mr.. Jones
raised again the point of order that the commit
tee on rivers and harbors had no Jurisdiction over
the subject, and that bill with substantially the
same PROVISIONS was pending in the house.
Mr.. Holman supported the point, arguing that
the jurisdiction of tho committee was limited to
legislation pertaining to the improvement of
rivers and harbors, and that the subject Of the
committee on railways and canals lie made the
further point that the clause was not In order, as
1t provided for new work not authorized by law.
The points of order were further supported by
Messrs. Bayne, Hardeman and Hammond, and
the Jurisdiction of the committee defended by
Mcssrs. Stone. Blount, Cannon, and Springer
| The chairman, in announcing his decision, re-
| viewed the several points of order raised With
regard to the first point that the work was q new
one, the chair thought that the clause of rule 81,
which prohibited such legislation, was applicable
only to general appropriation bills, and 1t had
| been decided the river and harbor bill was not
such measure. The second point that the Hen
nepin canal clause was the substance of another
| bill pending before the house, not well taken,
| because the rule on which tho point was based
had reference only to amendments, and not to an
With regard to the third point that the commit.
tee on rivers and hnrbors had no original iursdic-
tion over the subject matter of. the canal 1t was
not necessary for the chair TO decide whether II
! had such jurisdiction or not The view of the
chair was that the action of the house in commit
ting the bill to the committee Of the whole for
consideration did not leave 1t within the province
of the chair to pass on tho question of original
jurisdiction. lie therefore overruled the points of
| order. The decision, so far as the question of
the statement that points of order had not been
| reserved in the house. If the points had boen so
question, would have felt it his duty to refer tho
point to the house ior the decision of tho ques-
tion.
Mr. Holman appealed from the decision of the
chair, but the decision was sustained-lO3 TO 63.
Mr. Holman then moved to strike out the Hen
Mr.. Potter supported the motion. The PROPOSE
ton to construct the canal reversed the con-
tinued, constitutional policy of the. government
II 1t were carried out, 1t carried with 1t nevita-
bly, the purchase of such routes as the Erie canal
and the malntenanee of them by the general gov
ernment. The Hennepin canal project was
pressed on the ground that 1t would connect the
Mississippi river with the ocean. /, could
york saw a to rnsh tho govefn HET
ment the Erie canal. There was moi
en argument which could be possibly adduGed in
favor ofthe proposition in the bill which did moi
apply with ten;fold force to the purchase of the
Erie canal by tho federal government. The gov
mentality i'll carrying on the improvements which
belonged to the administration of the states them
selves In the name of the state OF New York he
which was TO reverse the traditional and Consti-
tutional policy of the country.
The motion to strike out was lost--02 to "a.
Mr.. Hobltzell offered an amendment appropri-
ating S3OO,OOO for the construction Of the Chesa'
peake and Delaware ship canal.
lie pointed out the important part which such
Il waterway would play in the event of war; and
In time of peace 1t would, he maintained, prove d
powerful adjunct in determining the rates o.
transportation to the seabo0rd.
The amendment was ruled out on point o
order.
Mr.. Graves offered an amendment, providing
that the appropriation for the improvement Of the
Missouri river shall be expended under the direc
tlon of a commission to be known the Missouri
river commission Ruled out on point of order.
Mr. Cosgroye moved to increase from S5U0 900 Il
SsJ0000 the appropriation for the improvement O.
the Missouri from its mouth TO Sioux City, Iowa
| Mr. Anderson advocated the Increase
The motion was lost.
Mr.. Bellord offered an amendment approprI.
ating 100000 for the improvement of Salt river
KY. provided that the improvement shall bC
completed before Nov. IL, 1884, SO that the demo
cratic arty may have an easy access TO one of the
states of tho United States IL has tho capacity L
govern.
| Mr. White proceeded to discuss the amendment
Notwithstanding tho declaration of Mr.. Breckin
ridge that II was ineXcusaDe to waste the publ,
l time in this manner
The amendment was then withdrawn.
Mr.. McCOd Offered an amendment nppropriat
ing $4,000 for completing the construction Of
! dry dock at Des Molncs Rapids canal. Lost.
Mr., ONeill moved TO increase from 500 900 Il
sl0O0,O0O the appropriation for the improvement
Of the Mississippi river from the mouth OF the II
linOis river TO tho mouth of the Ohio river. Lost
Under instructions from the committee on river
and harbors Mr., Willis offered an amendment ~
pToprating $4,000 for completing the surveys q
the Mississippi river between the head OF tn
passes and the headw0teTs and for making add
tiOnal surveys of the river and its tributaries
Mr. Holman moved to amend the gmeudmen
by providing that all the money appropriated fo
! the Mississippi river, except such sums us ar
directed 10 specific objects, shall be expended o
Plum Point and Lake Providence reaches. Lost
~ to 0S
} Mr.. Wlis's amendment was adopted
After concluding the apprOpratiug portion G
the bill the committee rose and the house at (j3C
took recess until 10 o clock to-day.