National Republican., 1884-01-16
TIE HOUSE,

10 suggest what egisauun Is necessary 10 correct
the wrong, and giving that committee authority
to employ chemical and medical experts. Re-
fcrred to the committee on public health.
MIR. Mills, from the committee on ways and
means. reported Ms substitute for the resolutions
offered BY Mcssrs. Hewitt aud Belmont, OF New
York, resolution requesting tue President TO fur
nish tho house with any information IN his pos.
session, including reports from United States con-
suls, special agents Ol the treasury department. mp
praisets of customs, and decisions OF departments,
concerning undervuuat0n, false classification,
and other irregular practices In the importation
of foreign goods, wares, and merchandise since
Jan. l, 1882, and in his discretion, prior therGtO
aud, further, requesting him to recommend wnat
legislation, If any, in his opinion, is needed to
| prevent frauds uI the revenue resulting from the
causes abo, specified Adopted.
Mr BNyne, iLom the committee OIL militury
affairs, reported bill authorizing the President
| to appoint and retire Alfred Peasanton major
| general. Private calendar.
Nj. Steele from the same commil tee, submitted
thy views of he minority on the Fitz-John Porter
| bill. Ordered printed.
| Mr. King, chairman of the committee on Mis-.
sissippi leyees rGpUrteda bill to close the CUPS Of
the levees of the Mississippi river, aud for the inn
prOvement OF the navigation OF that river. IL
npproprlaes Sl,OOOOJO, to be expended IN accord
ance with the recommendation of the Mississippi
river commission. Referred 10 the committee OF
| the whole
Mr.. Barbour, chairman of the committee on the
| District Of Columbia, reported resolution setting
| part OF the second and fourth Monday of each
MONTH alter the morning hour, for consideration
of district business Referred to the committee on
rules.
mr.. LymdU from lne COululNteB On mllllufy
affairs, reported resolution calling oil the secre.
tary OF war for the name, ank, and regiment, or
co ps OF every officer OF the army borne on the
| sick report and unable TO perform full daty from
July l, 1876, TO Dec. 81 1883. or who have been
recon mended for retirement dunng the same
Mr.. Townsnend introduced bill authorizing
the President during the recess of congress, to
prohibit any imports Injurious 70 public health
| fIom those countries which, on the same ground,
| prohibit the importation OF American goods. Re.
ierred.
| President to furnish copies OF correspondence in
regard to the reported arrest III RusSan-POland of
Reinhardt Wagner, a citizen of the United States.
| Adopted
Mr.. Cox chairman of the committee on naval
| affairs, reported back resolution calling OH the
| secretary of the navy for information as to
whether any officer OF the navy has received or
| accepted any gilt or present from any prince or
| foreign state without the consent OF congress.
Also, rs to whether any United States officers or
sailors rendered any service to the British navy in
the recent bombardment OF Alexandria.
The resolutions were adopted.
Mr.. Mills offered Il resolution directing the com
mittee on judiciary to report whether the Presi-
dent, by and with the consent OF the senate, can
negotiate treaties with foreign governments by
which the duties levied by congress can be
| changed Or abrogated. Adopted.
| Mr., Bayne introduced bill to increase the sal
aries OF Judges of United States district and cir
cult courts. Referred.
Mr.. Springer offered q resolution calling on the
postmaster general for all correspondence be-
tween the department of justice and the p0stoftce
department touching the prosecution of persons
charged with fraud in connection with the star
route service, aud also for an itcmzed statement
Of expenditure of the poslotice department from
March 4 ISL to Jan. /, 1881, in the inveitigation
Mr. Hi,cock objected to its present consideration,
and it was referred 10 the committee eXpendi.
lures in the department of justice.
Mr.. Shelley offered resolution directing the
| committee on rivers on har9ors to inquire into
the necessity OF making immediate appropriations
| for continuing work on important river and
! harbor improvements, where work has been or Is
about to be suspended for want of appropriation;
Mr. Willis, chairman of the committee on rivers
and harbors reported a bill making an appropria-
| ton for continuing the improvement OF the MS
sissippi river and 1t was referred to the commit
| tee of the whole.
The house then at 1.iO went into committee of
.tbe whole CMr. Cox, OF New York, in the chair
| tor its consideration.
Mr.. Willis made very brief statement of the
purport of the bill stating that the appropriation
was necessary to prevent injury to the valuable
plant Of the government and to enable the COM
mission to proceed with its work of improve
nent.
| Mr. Belford, referring to the debate which took
| place some days ago on the question Of reference
Oi the report of the Mississippi river commission,
said he wished 10 call the attention of the coun-
| Try to the fact that, while the republican party
| WAS willing to make most liberal appropia
| tions for the improvement Of the Mississippi, gem
/ ilemen on the democratic side were hlggling
00J0J0 in the treasury kept out of the channels of
| business aud trade. Business firms were failing
| all the country because the money was kept
ont of employment. Suppose S2O,OOO,OO0 were ap-
| propriated for the Mississippi river where would
| II go! Not to France or England, but to the horny
handed sons of toll of this country. II was the
duty of the majority of the house TO compel tue
| government 10 execute nnd enforce II broad. lib
eral, and generous policy with regard to tho great
| water courses, in order that IL might overcome
| The men who controlled the railroad corporations
| OF the country.
Mir Blanchard criticized the remark of Mr. Bel
| ford for wing, under the gui.e OF support of
the measure, injected into the discussion the nox
| iouS dose OF politics.
dine appropriation OF money for continuing the
work OF Improvement necessary, but that 1t would
result in accomplishing large economy 10 the
Mr. Bayne said that while he would not vote
against the bill, lie did not like TO hear its passage
advocated nt the expense of every other stream in
| the country. The Improvement of the Mississippi
| liver was an experiment, and one which had not
been demonstrated To he IL successful one. There
were demands upon congress just as imperative as
| the te ,'ands OF the Mississippi river
Mr., Dunn congratulated the country on the fact
that II was no longer necessary to discuss in this
house the merits OF this great work of Mississippi
river Improvement, and whether Il should or
should not he undertaken. He was glad that this
work had become the established policy of the
government
house seemed 10 think that The business of con-
gress was ~ iind somewhere to dump the surplus;
not to consider how the money of the govern
surplus could be used up. Before ltivoring this
Appropriation he would like to know how much
Essdy Rs to sa say
had not been Hn appropriation for the improve
ment ut river navigation from Which there had
been ns'much ilching MS from the appropriation for
the Mississippi river. MuIcring had come up from
that river that private corporations and private
individuals were being wonderfully benefited by
these immense appropriations. He was in favor
of fair appropriations, but he was not in favor of
Iusuing through the house Il bill apprOpriuting
one million dollars when not one fourth of tie
members knew for what object 1t was TO be used.
Mr. Hepburn opposed the bill. He was In favor
OF the improvement of the navigation OF the
river. hut not OF the banks und plantations on
each side OF the stream and he believed thatit
WAS the purpose ofcertain gentlemen III the house
to secure the Improvement of their own
property and the property OF their
constituents, and TINT this struggle
was to secure the plantations OF the lower
Mississippi from overflow rather than protect
the navigation of the stream. lie criticised the
disbursements of the commission for clerical and
mental services declaring that these ser vices had
eaten up nearly one'half OF the - 100000 which
had been upproprla ed. lie had heard gentle
man say that he was willing to vote s3O,OOOOOO for
the purpose of improving the Mississippi river
but that gentleman's ideas were Insignificant in
comparison with the ideas of the commission.
Thirty million dollars wuuld not begin to reach
the estimate of the commission, lie believed
that the system of the commission included the
building of 5000 miles OF levces along the Mis-
sissippi aud its tributaries, and his expenditure
of Il vast sum was only the beginning.
Mr. EOrr said that the only question before the
house was whether the commission should be
permitted to proceed with its plans. He believed
IN ls plans, but there We're many VINO did not.
re thought however, that this great nation
should make the experiment, III iulled II could
endure IL II IL succeeded II would be 10 It's glory,
the Mississippi river could be improved without
lpVelluE the stream. and bppuuSp Inv leyplilu H. "A