New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-29

| the River and Harbor BILL was begun i'll the Senate
| to-day. To start with, the Committee ON Com
merce had increased the size of this popular
pastry at the cost of 81 1884, 1t dld this how
ever, as matter of necessity and succeeded at the
same time in depriving the greedy Democratic ma
jOrty in the House of several pieces which 1t evil
IDENTIFY thought it would be allowed to snatch away
and gup down without protest. The pieces re-
ferred to were bad ones, indeed, and undoubtedly
would have seriously interfered with the digestion
of Democrats
AS finaIyprepared by the committee, ready to be
served, the pie is valued at $l2927, 600. Its dis
tribution proceeded in peace to-day until an item
appropriatmg $4,000 for the Improvement OF
Coos Bay, Oregon, was reached.
THIS was an amendment inserted by the Senate
Committee. Oregon is fortunate enough to have
both of its Senators on the Commerce Committee,
but the Democratic Senator, Mr.. Slater was not
even satisfied with S25,O0O He wanted $4,000
more. In vain did the chairman of the committee,
Mr.. Mcmillan expOstulate with him. Mr.. Doph,
too, his colleague tried to demonstrate with him
and point the unreasonable and selfish character
of his demand. Mr.. Slater called for the ayes and
nays on his amendment and rallied his Democratic
friends around HIM, who wouldn't see one of tn cir
kind starve if they could help it, Much to the as
tonishment of everybody, they carried the amend
ment and Mr. Slater looked happy.
Emboldened by his success he attempted to repeat
the same strategem on the next item, one applo-
pratng $4,000 for the improvement of laguna
Bay in his State. This time $4,000 more wouldn't
satisfy him. He wanted $4,000 added for his
share Ii proved however, bigger piece than even
his Democratic friends would allow him to swallow.
Envy possessed their souls and they refused to
indulge his appetite any longer. The amendment
defeated
Once more the discussion permitted to drift
on and item after item disposed of promptly
and until paragraph apprOpriating $1,000 for the
improvement of Steee's Bayou, Missisc ippi was
reached This had been stricken out by the Senate
Committee. Senator George with hungry look III
his eye rose and in indignant terms denounced such
a course. In his opinion the commerce of the world
would float on Steele's Bayou, if it was only I'M
| proved Steee's Bayou was destined to rival the
Thames If only 81, 800 was spent upon it. Steeles
Bayou, improved, would bring prosperity to that
section of the country. Steele's Bayou, remaining
in its present condition, would retard civilization,
and prove a blot upon the fair fame of this country
Mr. Conger assured his friend from Mississippi at
this point that the appropriation had been struck
ont by mistake. The committee, he said meant to
have recommended 1t. This did not satisfy Mr.
George He wanted to make of it. Not less
than four different times did he ask whether
Steees Bayou would receive its share of the money
appropriated under the bill. Being assured that
Steele's Bayou was safe he sank down in his seat
satisfied only to- repeat the tactics in the case
of the Big Black River, the Iallabusha River and
the Bayou. Bllck. Having swallowed III all
| SD 500 he to-. looked gorged and happy.
The Senate evidently was IN lberal frame OF
mind. Mr.. Ppgh, encouraged 10y the success Oh ms
colleagues protested vehemently against the pro
posed reduction of the amount appropriated for inc
improvement of the Tennessee River HIS energetic
language secured the restoration of the amount APP
| proprated by the House
senator Williams, too, who can be counted upon
to grow eloquent whenever there's prospect Of
getting money out of the public treasury, declared
with much earnestness that the River and tarD0r
bill passed two years ago, which, he said, had been
called by the people abOmnatOn, was one OF the
| best river and harbor bills Congress bad ever
passed lie protested against the reduction OF the
appropriation for the improyement OF the ONO
River near Louisville. Here the debate closed Tor
Mr. Mcmillan gave notice that he would move on
Monday to have the debate restricted to nYe minute
speeches This is generally the surest incentive for
Senator'S to make speeches lasting an hour or more
ITEMS OF INTEREST TO NEw-YORK.
Among the items passed to-day of special interest
to New-York is one which appropriates $25OOO0
for the deepening of Gedneys Channel and the i'm
provement of Sandy Hook bar. This is an entirely
new amendment put IN by the Senate. Still another
amendment of considerable length, provides that no
ballast refuse dirt or other substances, shall be
dumped or discharged in the HarbOr of New York,
or its adjacent waters, and it also provides suitable
penalties Ills aulcuullcul VII DC NOlCu upOh Oh
Monday.
SOME ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN STRICKEN OUT
The Democratic members of the House Committee
Oh Rivers and Harbors are both mad and unhappy.
In framing the River and Harbor bill they had
taken the best possible of their own districts.
The Michigan member, for example, had secured an
item of SI5 900 for rvulet in his district the only
commerce upon which, il is asserted, consists OF saw
logs which float upon its bosom at the sprlng fresh
cts The engineers seem not to have discovered this
great highway of commerce. for the report OF the
Chief of Engineers contained no estimate for, or
recommendation of the Improvement. In order to
add this item and keep the balance true, the com
mittee il is understood found it necessary to reduce
the appropriation for the continuation of a neceS-
sary work begun several years ago in another part
of the State where there are more Republicans than
Democrats.
The senate Committee, it seems, detected the
pettv scheme Of the House Committee, and struck
ont the item mentioned, together with many Others
of the same sort and also inserted or increased
number of items which had been omitted or reduced
by the House.
Chairman Willis and other Democratic members
of tLe House Committee to-day declared that the
bill shall fail altogether unless the Senate with
draws its mcddlcsOme interference with the pre-
rogatiyes and perquisites of the House Committee.