The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-07
Warm Debate in the Senate, Caused by
an Item in the River and HarbOr Bill.
The House Not Ready to Tackle the Presi-
dents Pension YetOes-Further Consid-
GRAFTON of the Deficiency Bill.
THE SENATE.
An Item in the River and Harbor Bill Pro-
vokes a Spirited Debate.

form and are those that have been got up and
signed through the exertions os the Knights of
Labor
Mr.. Cockrell, from the committee on military
affairs, reported bill to regulate the pay of
army and navy officers who refuse or neglect to
provide for their families. Placed on the calen-
dar.
Mr. Ingalls,. at the request of the Social Purity
Alliance of the District of Columbia, introduced
three bills for the protection of women and
children in the District of Columbia Re
ferred.
The Senate took up the bill to secure to the
Cherokee freedmen and Others their proportion
of certain proceeds of land sales.
Mr.. Ingalls, from the committee on Indian
affairs, reported substitute for this bill 1t ap-
propriates 5000 for the purpose, and directs
now the amount shall be distributed The sub
sttute was agreed to- and the bill passed.
The Senate then proceeded 10 consider the
amendments to the river and harbor bill. The
first amendment that questioned was an
item appropriating $3.50, 900 for the purchase OF
the Sturgeon Bay & Lake Michigan ship canal
and harbor of refuge.
Mr.. ingalls, made the point of order that the
paragraph was new legislation. This was not
bill to buy canals. The item was general iegls-
tioE, not connected with the bill
The Chair overruled the point of order, hold
standing committee 1.-THE committee on com-
rlerce) and in pursuance of an estimate of the
head of the Wa. Department, it was in order.
Mr. Edmunds made new point-that this
commercial transaction-the buying of lot of
private property-had nothing to do with the
general scope of this bill, which was for inn
proving rivers aud harbors 1t was therefore
irrelevant
The Chair submitted the question of relevancy
to the Senate, and the amendment was decided
IN hn relay in 81
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the amendment tie
said that at least 200, 600 acres of land IN that
region--and he did not know how much more
had been granted to the State of Wisconsin to
build this canal, and the government was
asked to buy the property which it had already
| paid for-for the reason, as he supposed first,
| that it would be refuge to mariners, and sec
| ond, refuge to the stockholders. He put 1t IL
| that way so as to be polite.
| Mr.. Ingalls, characterized the amendment
| 'simpudent and shameless private speculation"
| 1t was an old custom-an ancient and venerable
| corner. But he had no doubt that by means OF
| combinations that had been formed this donation
| of $4,000 would be given to this company for
| work in which the company said it had no fur
| ther pecuniary interest
Mr.. Mcmillan advocated the amendment, and
said that this discussion was an admirable illus
tration of the way in which opinions in regard to
| the river and harbor bill were formed. The
| amendment had been reported. not at the re-
! quest of the canal company but in the interest
of the commerce of the country and to relieve
the vessels engaged In this waterway of the tolls
which they now have to pay
Mr.. Butler asked whether he was to under
stand that the company did not desire to sell.
Mr.. Mcmillan replied that, so far as the com
mittee on commerce knew, that was
Mr.. Butler did not think it shoald be taken
from the company against ts will.
Mr.. Mcmillan suggested that private property
was constantly taken for public use. That Was
being done now for library site in Washington
co cfa fad in tn a aarly nf
Mr.. ingalls,, that he did rot now or ever own any
interest in the canal company.
Mr.. Ednunds analysed the reports and ac-
| counts of the canal company, in order to show
that, as the matter now stood the property was
paid for and paid for by the United States, ex-
cept as to the sam of $4,000, being the amount
actually paid in stocks. and account of
that the company had, cash on hand. so, 900. At
least that was the condition of the company four
years ago. when the last report of the company
was printed.
Mr.. ingalls, showed, from the company's re-
port, that the directors had voted to themselves
$40, 600 of stork for services rendered and ex-
penses incurred prior to the time when the canal
was commenced. He characterized this trans
action absolute larceny. as so much money
deliberately stolen by the directors. There
was no public record OF what the company
had realized from the 200 900 acres of
valuable pine lands granted by the United
States, although the act of Congress required an
account to be rendered of the proceeds of these
lands. The company had presented simulated
and fabricated account of $202, 796, for money
paid to its own directors and officers They were
items built up out of moonshine ard fog, and he
was surprised that the chairman of the commit
| tee commerce would put forward such an ac-
count as foundation for reporting this amend
meDG.
Mr.. Conger replied to the speeches of Mr. Ed
munds and Mr.. Ingalls, and complained that the
latter Senator had held UP to the country the
committee on commerce as not only untrue to
its trusts, but also as remarkably ignorant. He
thought it pity that the Senator from Kansas
| could not get away from his arduous duties on
the District Of Columbia committee and give the
committee on commerce the benefit of his vast
erudition. AS to the vote of stock to the direc-
tors, Mr.. Conger declared that the stock never
was worth and never could be worth, the
snap of finger He was not special adj
vocate of the amendment except as it was for
the general interest of the people along the whole
chain of lakes. This was the only harbor
of refuge for an extent of probably one hundred
and fifty miles of the worst coast on Lake Mich
igan The appropriation for harbor of refuge
at Burlington, Vt, could be doubled in this bill.
Storms might get upon Lake Champlain--boys
with bellows and dog carts could start them at
any time, but God makes the storms on Lake
Michigan, and men trembled. And yet it was
the item for this harbor of refuge that was at
tacked-not the other. Without fear of contra
diction from Senators, or from the press, he as
serted that there was no committee in the SEN
ate which came to the performance of its duty
with more painstakiDg or more conscienti-
business than the committee on commerce.
Mr. Miller defended the committee on COM
merce for its action in reporting the amendment.
He had never been indicted for heinous crime;
but when he listened to the speeches of the Sem
ators from Vermont and Kansas, he felt as if he
and all the other members of the committee on
commerce might find themselves in prison before
night. There was no more important work IN
the country, considering its cost than this canal
and it was of great importance to make
it free to all the commerce of the
lakes. he denied that there was a charge in
the company accounts that was not perfectly
legitimate The government had built at the
head of St Marys river the greatest ship lock in
the world, at cost of between one and two
million dollars, and an additional lock was now
le.--. Il l.ls - -. -