Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-02
THE INAUGURAL BALL.
What a Cynical Correspondent Says
of Such Occasions.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFAIR
The FOOlishly Expensive Policy Of
Congress as Exhibited Very
Clearly ia
THE RIVER AND HARsoR SUBSTITUTE.
Special 10 tie Sanddy Register.


WASHINGTON, D. c., March 1.-The
House passed the s., 900, 900 River and Har-
Dor bill Saturday aud sent it to the
Senate, where it was summsrily laid on the
table. 1t is little absurd to undertake
pairing down expenses as contemplated IN
the bill in question. The measure as drawn
upsSy the committee was based on the prin-
ciple of allowing to each river and harbor
improvement 25 per cent. of what was
needed to do the work well, that ought to
be done during the coming year.
The committee could not crowd
the bill through the House
and now it proposes to grant IS, 1000, 900, not
to be expended where it is most needed, but
to be divided on pro rata scheme among
the works named in the beaten bill, each to
have share of the Sj,000,000 equal to its
proportion of the Sl3,000,000 originally
appropriated. In other words. about ten
per cent. is granted on the estimates OF the
amount necessary, which were made by
competent engineers in each locality. Wind
and tides and torrents are not In any way
mitigated by the application of inscrutable
Congressional logic to the situation. Asa
result, the work done under the $5,000OOO
provision will in nine cases out Of ten be
wasted away before another appropriation is
available, and the next Congress is liable to
90 through with the same operation again.
The whole system needs radical correction.
A proposition has been made by some of
the wisest men in the Lower House, which
on its face looks plausible. In every local
ity where commerce really demands such
expenditure, commerce is willing to
pay small percentage to
such town. Let it be adopted
as an in6exible rule that government money
shall be applied only to works which re-
quire an expenditure, two per cent OF
which is to be borne, and can be borne, by
the commercial interests benefited and
there will no longer be any danger Of ex-
travsgance in appropriating the full amount
required under the estimates OF engineers
There is scarcely any chance that the bill
passed hast night by. the House will be-
come law. 1t would be wise enough
measure, however, if the money were
to be spent at the discretion
of the Secretary OF War. Many Democrats
and some Republicans would object to this
rs squirting toward Capitalization. But
the time will come in the normal develop
ment of our governmental tendencies when
this plan will be very generally adopted, not
only in regard to river and harbor appropri.
ations, but also in connection with those to
ha used for pnhlir huildiDus
The House also got rid OF the Sundry
Civil bill, passing it under the
suspension Of the rules. This method Of
passing an appropriation bill is not alto
gether satisfactory to the sound judgment of
the House, but it was regarded as infinitely
preferable 70 q course which might involve
on extra session. A very strong protest
was made by Mr.. James against the favor,
ltism which had led to the introduction OF
various clauses raising the limit OF cost
for public buildings in districts which were
so fortunate as to have their representatives
on the Appropriation Committee. But the
hands Of its opponents were tied with the
bonds of discretion and the ghostly fear Of
q failure to get through with necessary
work was even grading on the men who
did nothing so energetically during the 6rst
half Of the session.
There is now only one appropriation bill
that has not passed the House. That is
the Fertilization bill and it can be disposed of
in half an hour without difficulty.
The failure of Mr.. Cleveland to prevent
the majority of Democrats from a course
adverse to his own wishes on the bill to
suspend the coinage of the silver dollar is
loosed upon here as one of the most unfor-
tunate omens for the incoming admins
tration. At least that is the view of Repub-
ican Congressman and Of the Democrats
who favor a continuation of the coinage of
the S5-cent dollar. The anti-silver men
claim, however, that he took the wisest pos
sible course, and that the defeat is better
for him than the results which would have
followed tempOrizing course on the part
of the President elect. j. A,