The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-02
FLATTERlNG.
Such are the Prospects for the Henne-
pin Canal Bill According to
Postmaster Russell.

Postmaster Russell.
SATURDAY, evening, says the Davenport
Democrat. MIR. Edward Russell, who has
spent the past three weeks in Washington,
as member of the Michigan and Missis-
sippi canal commission, arrived home
having left the national capital, in spite
of the protests of the members of cons
grcss interested in the project, and of the
commission, because of the pressure of
official duties here
Mr.. Russell brings encouraging opinN
ions concerning the prospect OF the pas
sage of the canal bill He says the work
in its behalf has been more systematic.
more far-reaching more convincing than
ever before. The facts and figures which
demand the construction of the canal
have been presented in better shape for
reading and argument, and members of
congress have studied the project more
than they could be induced to hereto
fore
The undoubted result is, the winning
of good number of votes in the house
for the project; members who were indif>
ferent or uncertain have ranged them>
selves with the friends of the measure,
and some members who were radical and
active in their opposition have Quoted
down, and are not SO determined as they
were.
Mr. Russell states that the joint action
Of the New York legislature in endorsing
the project by two,thirds vote of the
members of the senate present, after an
earnest debate over it for two days, and
the almost unanimous adoption OF it by
the house, had splendid effect in congress.
1t fixed New York congressman who were
rather Indifferent and would have voted
against it but for such request from their
own legislature, on the side of the bill,
and quellcd the open opposition of others.
Congressman from New York who would
say nothing in favor of the bill will talk
in favor Of it from this time until the vote
comes.
In reply to direct question as to what
his foundation of belief is concerning the
prospects of the passage of the appropri-
alton, Mr.. Russell sand he believed it will
pass. Still we are all liable to err in judg
ment in these things, but he has no doubt
that the Hennepin has the requisite num-
Der of votes to pass the house, As for
the senate, there was no doubt about its
passage in that body if it goes through
the house.
The reporter called Mr. Russells attcn>
ton to Il paragraph in the Des Moines
Register Of Friday last, which stated that
the Hennepir canal received its quietus
III the house on Thursday, Goth, and Jerry
Murphy was in the dumps. Speaker Car
Isle killed it in not appointing the chair
man Jerry wanted" Mr.. Russell said
there was no foundation for that report.
1t is true that the speaker appointed new
chairman Of the committee of the whole
instead of retaining the member from
Texas who presided over the committee
last session, bat it was because the gems
tlcman from Texas declined to serve, as
he was very much interested in the Gall
weston harbor appropriation, and thought
it would be exactly proper for him to
accept the position under the circum-
stances. Nevertheless the new chairman,
Mr. Humphrics, Of Georgia, is fair man,
and will not rule unfairly towards the
measure However. if he should rule
that the Iennepin clause was not proper
in the river and harbor bill, but leave it
to the committee to decide the question,
Mr.. r. believed it would be retained
The committee took up the river and
harbor bill last Thursday, and the canal
clause is pretty far down in it, coming
after the Galveston harbor clause. the
vote on which will be watched with in>
tense interest by the friends Of the canal
1t is not likely that the Henncpin clause
will be reached before several days have
passed.
Mr. Russell added that one thing was
now ccrtaiu-that the Hennepiu canal
project would not die should it be de
feated again in this congress, It's friends
had believed defeat now would be the
last of IT. Not so-if The house should
reject it, it will be in better condition to
be placed before the next house as Il
commercial demand that must be salts
fed than it has been when brought up
in previous congresses. 1t will have
stronger, more powerful, and far more
Influential backing than ever before.
BURGLARY.