The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-08

fact, however, that the Improvement of the
smaller streams brings, as a rule, the greatest
results. Gen. Wright mentioned this in his
testimony before the committee. He said that
the expenditure OF small sum upon small
streams usually resulted in a showing OF very
considerable increase la commerce upon those
streams, while much larger sums were requir-
ed to make any show upon the large rivers.
How much do you expect the river ana mar
Dor bill to be this winter, Mr.. WillisT
That is pretty hard to answer, he said. The
Recommendations of the War Department are
about S35, 900 600. OF course we cannot make
a bill of that size or anything like IL. think
that we shall, after we get this statement from
General Wright and are able to eliminate some
of the smaller and less important stress,
take as a b'sis in each case twenty
five per cent of the recommendations or the
department. That would give as foundation
for the bill, between So 100000 and S9,OO0OOO
Some of this we shall be able to cut down,
probably others we shall have TO increase more
or less, according to circumstances. The bill
ought to get out of the committee not larger
than S10OO0,OO0, perhaps it NAV not be any
larger than $4,000, 900 or Sl1 900 600 when IT,
goes through tue House. Then the Senate will
have its turn at it and probably add 81 900
or So 100000.
So you expect the river and harbor bill by
the time it comes TO the President to be from
$1,000 600 to $15 600 600 do you, Mr.. Willis?
Yes, suppose so, he answered.
Hog much OF that will the Mississippi get do
yon think, two aud half or three millions?
Yes, as much as that, perhaps more, though
IL has already had a million as you know.
LAND GRANTS IN THE SENATE.
The bills making wholesale forfeiture of
railroad land grants are not going through the
Senate with the whoop and hurrah with which
they have been pushed through the House.
The Senate is not that kind of body. II is
slow-tslkng and has a j. st and keen sppre-
citation of its duties, as well as political stand
point. There is no doubt that the remarks
quoted in this correspondence, as to the right
Of the courts to pass upon these questions
rather Than of Congress, were, il not we'll
founded, at least in accordance with those Of
many Senators. 1t being oct of the question
fact that the Senate is tender set to corpora
tions perhaps many of them have serious
of these cases:
II have no doubt" said Senator Cockerell
OF Missouri as he sat At his desk, talking Mis-
sippi river to ST. Louis delegate yesterds,,
"that some the bills passed by the House for
fetiDg land grants OF railroads, will pass the
SeDaue. There are some OF these railroads
that seem 10 have made no effort to earn tue
land grant given, and in their cases for
feiture will unquestionably be voted. But
now far the Senate will follow in the footsteps
of the House is hard to say. 1 presume how
ever that some of the forfeiture bills will be
passed by the Senate, though what ones, of
COURSE cannot vertare to say. L do not
imagine however that tue Senate is going int
wholesale business of forfeiture, and it is
quite possible that some of the. bills which
come 10 i5~nay not he passed"