New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-30
THE NEW-YORK HARBOR.
THE sENATE's WORK FOR ITS PROTECTION.
WHAT PROVISIONS SENATOR'S HAVE INSERTED IN
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL-NEGLECT OF
DEMOCRATIC CoNGREssMEN.

THE RIVER AND HARBoR BiLL-NEGLECr of
DEMOCRATIC CoNGREssMEN.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON. June 29-The preservation OF the
interests of New York. as far as her harbor Is con-
cefned Is due entirely to the action of the Senate
and the Commerce Committee of that body The
Democratic majority in the House did worse than
nothing in this direction. 1t not only neglected
entirely the important work of deepening Gedneys
Channel appropriating money whatever for tins
purpose but il also committed the absurd blunder
of authorizing the appointment of Board OF
Superintendent of New-York Harbor," without
giving it the money to carry out ITS work and the
duties defined under the amendment. Moreover
the text of this amendment was so loosely drawn,
clearly showing It TO be the work of an incompetent
person and not that of lawyer, that the Senate
foundit necessary TO remodel it entirely. Its pro-
visions are important and likely TO result in great
benefits to New-York... 1t is drawn without .ver-
bage and expresses the meaning OF the trainers
with clearness
PENALTIES FOR INJURING THE HARBos
? ANY person who damRg or Injuries public work
for the improvement of a river or harbor, or op-
structs the navigation of either. or deposits OF
causes to be deposited refuse dirt ashes cnders
or any substance other than that flowing from the
street sewers and carried theretrom in liquid state
into tidal waters within navigable waters OF the
IaTDOr OF NeW-1 Ofk budll upoH CohNiOOioh w pun
shed by Imprisonment OF. not more than one year. or
by fine of not more than 81, ,5OO or both. The
dumping of ballast refuse dirt INTO the waters of
the Harbor of New-York shall not be done except
under the permit of the Superintendent of the Har-
bor who is appointed under another section OF the
amendment Owners of tug boats, which tow
scows, filled with refuse, without permit, are
made liable to the revocation of their license and
such punishment as the Judge before whom they
ore taken may see fit to impose.
THE BOARD OF sUPERINTENDENCE.
BY far the most important part of the amendment.
however is that referring to the appointment OF the
Board of superintendent" and defining It's duties
1t is herewith given in fulli
The President of the United States shall designate and
appoint three experienced officers OF the general Govern
men who shall constitute Board Of superintendent OF
as follows: One shall officer of Army Engineers,
one er of the Navy and an officer of the Coast
Survey. The B, ard OF superintendence shall be per-
manent organization and the President OF t1e ne ontea a
branches Of the public service whensoever those holding
The board shall constantly consider the best means or
preventing deposits in the Harbor OF NewYork ana the
The President Of the United states shall designate ana
snail carry and enforce the orders and DEGREES OF the
toM @ 4l Spin nemed This oscer shall have personal
charge and supervision under the said board ana snail
and bring punishment often iers against the port rules
and the SAID board shall make examination and sur
vey OF the Harbor OF York and make report
thereof TO the Secretary of War; to be subed to Con-
ress the next session. and the sum OF $50 600 or so
much thereof may be necessary hereby appropriated
10 carry into effect the provisions or this section
The selection of members from the three branches
of the service, the Amy, Navy, and Coast Survey
to form the Board, will give weight and authority
TO its decision. The money, too, appropriated for
the work is thought 10 be sufficient at least for the
first year. the whole matter will partake largely
OF the character of an experiment.
NEGLECT ALSO BY SENATOR'S.
For Some unaccourtabe reason most important
provision. included in the bill as it came from the
House is left out of the Senate amendment. 1t Is
evidently directed against the factories as hunters
Point and the Kill Won Kull, which discharge sudge
acid and other deeteriOus matter into tue East
River and the upper bay. 1t provided penalties
against persons who caused matter to be discharged
IN the water whereby hsheS useIui LOT m loou, are
Injured or driven away or destroyed This is omit
ted in She senate amendment perhaps by oversight
but NAV be inserted again when 1t comes up 1or DIS
cuSsiOn tomorrow
TO DEEPEN GFDNEY's CHANNEL.
An appropration highly important TO New-York
Is that which approprates $3.50 600 for the deepen
ing of Gedncys Channel The Democrats IN the
House neglected this matter altogether. The money
is 70 he expended for poughing mp the bar at Ger
tain places. and allowing the earth 30 l0Osehed 10
float away. OF course thisework can he done only
with an outfowing tide. plan submitted by
certain engineers looking to the construction OF an
artificial bar parallel to- but lower than the natural
one (which in the course of time they claimed, would
have reduced the height of the latter was not fav-
Ored by the committee. Its projectors were wliilhg
10 do the work on the principle OF " no cure, no
paw but as their plan had never been pIacuCalIX
APPLIED elsewhere the committee did not THINK itself
Justified In making the experiment. especially as
The evil complained of called for speedy correction;
4 he testimony before the committee showed that
vcssela # 900 tons burden sometimes struck the
bar al high tide and frequently scraped its topm0st
ledge Ire failure of the Democratic House 70
prnyide for 50 necessary and important a WORK,
while il had millions of dollars to spend upon
creeks inlets and bayous in the south Is good l.
lustrati0n of the prlDciple upon.which they think
the money appropriated for the Improvement OF
rivers and harbors should be distributed
FOR VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS.
For the work at He'll Gate the House had voted
$500 600 The Senate increased this to 100000,
Il having been shown by the engineer in charge that
for the lesser amount little new work could be done
beyond keeping the tunnels prepared for the next
great blast For the Improvement of the Hudson
River $50 900 has been set apart and for New town
Bay and Newtown Greek, 100000. Both these
am0unts have met with the approval of the Senate.
Tv1HE pDSSESSIOV OF THIEVES