The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-25
PROPOSED RELIEF
Debate in the House on the Resolution to
Appropriate 100000.


WAsHINGToN, March 24.-In the House. this
morning, Mr.. Ellis asked unanimous consent to
introduce a joint resolution, reciting that the
waters of the Mississippi river had risen to the
highwater 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 overlooking city
of 100000 souls is imminent, involving great loss
of life and property, and appropriating $500, OOO
to be Immediately available to be expended in
the discretion of the Secretary of War, in pre-
venting an overflow of the city of New Orleans
and the country adjacent thereto.
Mr.. Dunn reserved an objection until he should
hear some explanation of the resolution. He
wished to know by what sort of legerdemain the
committee on appropriations had leaped from
the Ohio river to the city Of New Orleans, dis
regarding the appeals made by 200 900 people of
Arkansas and Mississippi
Mr.. Ellis excepted to the word 'legerdemain, 4"
used so glibly by the gentleman from Arkansas.
The object of the resolution was not for the re-
lief of sufferers, but to prevent what might be
the appalling calamity of the age. The water of
the river was up to the top of the levees and
whenever the flood waters went over levee that
levee was doomed. There was nothing between
the city of New Orleans and river sixteen feet
above the level of the city but dirt wall The
calamity that must ensue if the waters rose
higher could not be depicted by the human
tongue. 1t would be the calamity of the age.
Mr.. Dunn withdrew any objection. but called
attention to the fact that in his district the Mis-
sissippi was ninety miles wide There was
rise coming from the Missouri river, supple
mented by great rise out of the overflow of the
Ohio, There Were to-day in his district 10000
people whose homes are flooded.
Mr.. Rice objected to the resolution, saying it
should be considered by the committee on ap-
preparations.
Mr. Ellis appealed to Mr. Rice to withdraw
the objection, predicting that if there was any
delay the House would be called upon to con
slider, not ounce of preventive, but many
pounds of cure. The city of New Orleans was
doing all it could to prevent catastrophe, but
the State Legislature was not in session. He
hoped no one would object to the resolution, as
the delay of one day might cost the government
many times more than the paltry amount asked
for
Mr.. Oates doubted the constitutional power of
Congress to appropriate public money for the re-
lief of sufferers by floods, fire or storm.
Mr.. Randall said the resolution had been in
formally considered favoraby by the committee
on appropriations and in view of this statement
Mr. Rice withdrew his objection Mr. Hunt
said he had received letter from one of the
engineers of the Mississippi river commission
predicting the greatest disaster that could DOS
sibly be conceived of if precautions were not
taken to prevent an overflow of the city of New
Orleans.
Mr. Money moved to commit the resolution
to the committee on appropriations, with in
structions to report back, Immediately, reso-
luton appropriating $780, 900 to be expended by
the Secretary of War in preventing an over
flow at New Orleans, and to relieve persons
rendered destitute by the overflow in the Miss
issippi river Rejected
The joint resolution was lost yeas 90; nays,
1O5, but by unanimous consent it was reintro
duced by Mr. Ellis and referred to the commit
tee on appropriation