St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-25
The House of REPRESENTATIVES.

| WASHINGTON, March 24.-Mr. Ellis asked
| for unanimous consent to introduce Joint
resolution reciting that the waters of the Mis-
sissippi river have risen to the high water
mark of 1874 at New Orleans, which is the
highest known in the flood annals of the
river, and are rising between st. Louis and
New Orleans at the rate of two or three inches
day, that the appalling calamity of over
flowing city of 100000 souls is imminent,
and appropriating 100000 to be immediate
ly available to be expended in the discretion
of the secretary of war, in preventing the
overflow of the city of New Orleans and
country adjacent thereto,
Mr.. Dunn reserved his objection until he
should hear some explanation of the resolu-
ton. He wished to know by what sort of
legerdemain the committee on appropria-
tious had leaped from the Ohio river to CITY
of New Orleans, disrcgarding the appeals
madeby 200, 900 people in Arkansas and Mis-
sippi.
Senator Ellis excepted to the word sGeg-
erdemain," used so glibly by the gentleman
from Arkansas. The object of the resolution
was not for relief to the sufferers, but to pre-
vent what might be the appalling calamity of
the age. The water of the river was up to
the levee, and whenever the flood of waters
went over levee, the levee was doomed
There was nothing between the city of New
Orleans and river sixteen feet above the le-
vel of the city but dirt wall. The calamity
must ensue if the waters rise higher. 1t
could not be depicted by human tongue as it
would be the calamity of the age.
Senator Dunn withdrew any objection,
but called attention to the fact that in his
district the Mississippi was ninety miles wide
There was a rise coming from the Missouri
river, supplemented by the great rise out of
the overflow. There were, to-day, in his dis
trict 10000 people whose homes were flooded
Mr.. Rice objected to the resolution, saving
it should be considered by the committee on
appropriation.
Mr.. Ellis appealed to Rice to withdraw his
objection, predicting if there was any delay
the house might be called upon to consider.
not an ounce of prevention, but many
pounds Of cure. The city of New Orleans was
doing about all it could to prevent the catas-
trophe, but the state legislature was not in
session.
Mr.. Randall said the resolution had been
Informally considered favorably by the com
these statements, Rice withdrew his obiec-
ton.
Mr.. Hunt said he had received a letter from
the engineers ofthe Mississippi river commits
sion, predicting the greatest disaster that
could possibly be conceived of, if precautions
were not taken to prevent the overflow of the
city of New Orleans. He hoped no one
would object to the resolution, as a DELAY of
one day might cost the government MANY
times more than the paltry amount asked
for.
III. W. Oates doubted the constitutional
power OF congress to appropriate public
money for the relief of sufferers, by floods,
fire or storm.
Mr.. Money moved to commit the resolu-
tons to the committee on appropriations,
with instructions to report back immediately
and resolve on appropriating $500, 900, to be
expended by the secretary of war in prevent
ing the the overflow of New Orleans, and the
relieve OF persons rendered destitute by the
overflow of the Mississippi river
The Joint resolution was lost-yeas So,