The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-25
T-.ELlEGRAP1:!HE1IC !
A GREAT CALAMITY
Declared to be Hanging Over the
City of New Orleans.
The Father of Waters Threatening
to Flood the Southern Metropolis
---Asking Congress for Aid---
Washington Items.

WASHINGTON CITY, March 25.-In the
senate, Sherman presiding, a communication
was presented from the attorney general re-
commencing the appropriation of Sl0,0O0 for |
defending the United States before the court |
of claims Dawes reported favorably from
the committee on Indian affairs bill grant |
ing the right of way through the Sioux reser- |
vation i'll Dakota to the Chicago, Milwaukee |
& St Paul for the Dakota Central railway |
Among the bills introduced were the fol |
lowing: By Platt, for the formation of the
patent Office into an independent depart |
ment; Garland, granting right Of way
through Indian Territory to the Southern
Kansas railroad Riddleberger offered a
resolution directing the committee on com.
merce to investigate the merits of the vari-
Gus buoys Illuminated by gas; adopted.
Van Wyck offered a resolution asking
the attorney generals reasons for not
informing the senate, as directed by
resolution, as to the compensation paid
special attorneys in the star route cases;
went over.
Harrison moved to make the bill for the
admission of southern Dakota into the union
the special order for Thursday week Cock
rell opposed the motion, saying it would be
waste of time to take up the measure thi
session. Harrison said no senator, when the
facts were properly presented, could offer
reasonable opposition to the bill. He would be
able to show stronger argument, better
reasons, and safer conditions for the admis-
sion of Dakota than often existed in the cases
of states admitted. Vest said he was equally
confident of being able to show that there
was no earthly reason for pressing the measure
at this time. He could prove that the terri
tory hasn't the population emitting it to be
raised into a state. The motion, which re-
quired two-thirds vote, was lost-23 yeas
% nays.
Consideration of the bill to fix the
salaries of United States district judges
was resumed, and the amendment making
the salaries $4,000 rejected. Cook offered
an additional section to the effect that no
person connected with the judges by ties of
consanguinity or affinity shall hold position in
the courts over which they preside.
Hoar-Does the senator acknowledge Adam
as the father of mankind3
Cook Tartlyl-I will discuss that question
some other time. The terms l used are per-
fectly well understood by everybody except
the senator from Massachusetts, The terms
are defined in all the law books
| Hoar offered an amendment modifying
the clause so as to limit the prohibition of
| appointment of relatives within the degree of
| first cousin.
Morgan spoke against the bill, and said it
was grossly extravagant legislation. The
debate continued until 2 o'clock, when I'M
! finished business, Blairs educational bill,
was taken up.
| In the house, Ellis asked unanimous con
sent to introduce resolution reciting that
the waters of the Mississippi had reached al
| New Orleans the high-water mark of 1874
| the highest known, and are rising between
St Louis and New Orleans; that the appall
ing calamity of the overflow of the city O.
New Orleans is imminent and appropri
ating $500, 900 to be Immediately available
to be placed under the control of the secre
tary of war add used to prevent the overflow
of the city and country adjacent. Money
moved to refer to the committee on appro
priations with instructions to report a sun
of $500, 900, the relief to include the sufferer
by the flood
Dunn reserved his objection until he SHOULD
hear some explanation Of the resolution. H
wished to know by what sort of legerdemail
the committee on appropriations had leape
from the Ohio river to the city of New
Orleans, disregarding the appeals made b,
100000 people in Arkansas and Mississippi.
Ellis excepted to the word "ingerdemain,
used so glibly by the gentleman from Arkau
sas The object of the resolution wRs no
for the relief of sufferers, but to prever
what might be the most appalling calamit.
of the age. The water in the river wa
up to the top of the levees, an
whenever the food of waters went owe
levee that levee was doomed. Their
was nothing between the city of Ne1
Orleans and a river sixteen feet above th
level city, but a dirt wall. The calamit
could not be depicted by the human tongue
1t would be the calamity of the age.
Dunn withdrew any objection, bu
called attention to the fact that in his ai
trict the Mississippi was ninety milt
wide. There was a rise coming frol
the Missouri river, supplements
by the great rise out of the overflow of tt
Ohio river There were now in his distri
10000 people whose homes were flooded.
Rice objected to the resolution, saying
should be considered by the committee o
appropriations.
Ellis appealed to Rice to withdraw the ol
lection, predicting that if there was ar
delay the house would be called upon to cor
slider not an ounce of prevention. but mar
pounds of cure. The city of New Orleal
was doing all it could to prevent a cata
trorhe, but the state legislature was not
session. The resolution was rejected-95
1l5-but by unanimous consent it was rel
troduced by Mr.. Ellis and referred to t
Committee on appropriations.
At 80 O'Clock the speaker called the stat
and territories for the introduction of bi
and resolutions.