National Republican., 1884-01-17

the interest stipulated and the per cent. on tno
nominal value Oh rent provided for IN the treaty
OF Nov. J, 1884. Adopted. ..-
Mr.. Dibrell offered resolution calling on the
secretary ofstae for information as TO now many
OF our foreign ministers, consuls and agents 70
any foreign country have been absent from their
losts Of duty since Jan. l. 1882, the time absent,
and the reason therefor, and whether their snlary
was paid during such absence. Referred.
Mr Nutting introduced u blu authorizing the
construction of ship canal around Niagara falls,
Mr. Dorsheimer Introduced the following bills.
which were appropriately referred: --,
EoT the malntenance ana support OF @ the merno
of this act that service shall be supported solely
at the expense oil the United States.
For the reduction of inspection fees. ~ fixes
the fee aL So for each steam vessel of 100 tons or
under, and for each additional ton, cents.l
To place jute and jute butts when imported In
raw or crude state on the Tree list. ., ,,
Mr. Stone offered a resolution directing the
committee on rules to inquire Into the eXpediency
ofintroducing a machine into the house for the
purpose of facilitating the counting of votes. Re-
erred.
Mr.. Throckmorton offered a resolution instruct
ing the committee on ways and means TO inquire
into the expediency Of abolishing or consolidating
Referred.
The house then at las, went into committee of
the whole (Nir. Cox, Of New York, IN the chair)
ON the senate bill appropriatng sl000oOO for CON
tinuing the work OF Improvement Of the Missis-
sippi river Mr.. skinner opposed the Dill, de.
clarlng that there was nothing In 1t which had
for an object the improvement of the navigation
VI lue NlbslsklpDl river DTOhuly uuu lhlIIy
stated, the proposition contained IN the bill was
all appropriation of 81 100000 for the purpose OF
hnilding up the levees of the Mississippi river.
be expended honestly Wherever there was q
million TO eNpcnd there were always set OF men
combining TO direct the expenditure OF the appro-
prlntion. 1t was an indisputnbe fact that the
Mississippi river commission believed that
the only way 10 improve the navigation OF that
river was to raise levees and protect them, und
thereby to grant inestimable privileges to people
who own property along the stream, TWAS true
that westward the course Of empire takes Us
way" but he was not willing TO admit that the
Mississippi river was the only river In the United
states. Gentlemen seemed to forget the great
lakes and the WATERWAYS from the west to the
east through which nine. tenthS of the commerce
OF the west flowed. lie believed that when con.
gress had poured s5O,OOO,O00 into the Mississippi
river the navigation would be no better Than 1t
Mr.. Warner said that II this bill were a measure
really necessary for the improvement OF the navi'
CATION OF OF the Mississippi he would favor IL; but,
while that was its osteusble purpose the real oh.
ject was to appropriate sum of money to build
levees along the banks. II was well known that
from New Orleans TO Memphis, at any rate. the
river was navigable and no appropriation was re.
quired.
taken. There were two or three disturbed
reaches below Memphis
Mr.. Warner, continuing, said that the object Of
the bill being the building of leyees, II involved
not 81 100000 nor 500 000 but If the plan of the
commission were carried out the treasury might
be emptied into the river. and no good would be
accomplished thereby; and in the end there would
be the same trouble from overflow.
Mr. White stated that his objection to the bill
was that the house did not have before 1t the re-
port Of the commission. This measure was recon-
mended by the President in a special message; ;
for that reason the house was asked to pass the
bill.
Mr.. Browne, OF Indiana, opposed the bill, pre-
dieting that 1t would be demonstrated that this
Mississippi river commission plan was the colos-
sal waste and extravaganza OF the age. He
favored the outlet system OF improvement
Mr.. BIeckinriage said that the pending ID 6iil !!
had been considered in congress, and III thnt lat
ter year the commission was originated. Three
presidents had urged the plans OF that eommls,
and two committees OF the house had reported
unanimously III favor Of them. IL was admitted
that jetties and dikes were indispensable parts Of
river Improvement.
Mr.. Holman offered an amendment providing
that the money, except SO much MS is necessary 10
protect the works i'll progress III other portions OF
the river from waste aud injury, shall be expended
In the continuance aud completion OF the works
on some one reach now In progress OF improve
ment. He advocated the amendment, contend
ing that as the work Of improvement was expert
mental the experiment should be confined to one
reach. say the Plum Point reach, and not eX.
tended to the whole length Of the river.
Mr.. Jefiords said that there was not one word in
the bill on the subject of levees. When the
proper time came those who were In favor OF
levees would be ready to discuss the matter with
gentlemen who opposed them. Under the gen.
eral welfare clause OF the constitution congress
would be osked - appropriate money for the pur-
| pose OF building levees.
Mr. Ellis opposed the amendment asserting
that If the work Of improvement was confined TO
one reach in six weeks, down would come the
rcsislless flood and the vast government plant
would be endangered. not at one point. but at
Mr.: 'Hiscock supported the amendment. and
thought that the mouse should point the expendi.
government, has expended money in the pnst II
| the plan of gentlemen on the other side was
not The protection Of land with Incidental irrga-
| tion let them accept the amendment.
Mr.. Wilson said that IL was the work already
| done which had compelled the Canadian s to im-
prove the Welland canal, thereby compelling New
| York to take tolls oil Its canals and having the
effect of bringing down the cost of transportation
Mr.. Willis inquired of Mr. Holman whether he
would vote for the bill If his amendments were
| agreed to.
After some hesitation Mr. Holman said TINT he
| did not think that that was proper question
| Mr.. Eaton said that he would vote for the II
| constitutional grounds. He would give IL lS yu,t
because 1t was ior the improvement OF the nayigu
ton OF tho river and not for the reclamation OF
the property along its banks. AS 10 the amend
lnent, he would have voted for 1t as an original
| proposition, but as proposition made o.day he
must oppose 1t. Ii would be great folly to-day to
contine the appropriation 10 one point only.
Mr.. White moved thatthe committee rise. report
the bill 10 the house. and ask its references to the
| committee OH rivers and harbors, with instruc.
iiOns not TO report 1t back until the secretary OF
war shall furnish the house with an itemized ac-
count Of the expenditures Tor the Improvement
Of the Mississippi river from July 1879, to Jan.
| 16 1884 Lost.
Mr.. Homans amendment was lost-soo to 1872.
| MT. hlhCOCk, OF new 1Ork, OUereu an amtiQ-
ment providing that the money appropriated shall
| be expended on Plum Point and Lake Providence
reaches, except 50 far as may be necessary to pro-
serve the property Of the United States, aud pre-
| serve other works already commenced, but not to
| further extend the same.
Mr. Belford opposed the amendment, and in
| the course of his remarks asserted that 95 pei
| cent. of the appropriations heretofore made by
congress had gone to benefit Pennsylvania New
| York, and New England, and he called on his
southern frie nds and his western friends to de-
mand that in the distribution OF the money which
they had ntributed to place IN the treasury they
should have their just aud honest share.
Mr.. Hiscock moved 10 commit the senate bill 10
the committee on rivers and harbors, with in
strtctions to report IL back with the addition OF
Pending u vote the house, at o'clock, ad
journed.
NOMINATIONS.
The President sent tho following nomination,