Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-26
DEFICIENCY BILL IN THE SENATE.
The Water Works Extension Discussed
THE CASE OF EDITOR CUTTING.
LAND FORFEITURE IN THE HOUSE.
The Senate.

anenoment to the Constitution in relation to
| alcoholic liquors and other poisonous beverages.
! Calendar.
Also, House bill to grant fifteen days
| annual leave OF absence to the employees of the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and ap-
proprlatlng S14 45O for the purpose. Calendar.
Mr.. George, from the Judiciary committee,
reported back House bill removing the politi-
Passed
The resolution offered by Mr.. Gibson last
terror tor information as to the progress made
Ing and adjusting land claims in that state,
was taken up and adopted.
THE SURPLUS RESOLUTION
The resolution offered by Mr.. Coke last Satur-
day discharging the committee on finance
from further consideration of the joint House
resolution directing payment Of the surplus in
the Treasury on the public debt was taken up,
put ON statement by MIR. Sherman that in all
human probability the joint resolution would
Oe reported tomorrow for action by the Senate
the matter went over.
THE CASE OF EDITOR CUTTING.
Mr.. ingalls, offered a resolution (which was
adopted requesting the President to communi-
cate information concerning the alleged deten-
ton OF A. h. Cutting, an American citizen, by
the Mexican authorities, at Ell Paso del Norte;
troops nave been recently ordered to Fort Bliss.
THE DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATION BILL
consideration of the deficiency appropriation
bill.
THE POTOMAC WATER WORKS EXTENSION
when the paragraph in relation to the COM
plet1on of the Potomac water works extension
was reached Mr.. Sherman earnestly protested
against the clause to require that the whole
work shall be stopped until a board of engl-
neers shall report to the Secretary of War as
to the plan or method of the work. Mr.. Sher-
man declared that the paragraph as reported
would stop the work for no telling how long,
that 1t Is required that board shall report to
the Secretary of War, and then he would have
to report back to Congress at the next session.
and then Congress will not be prepared to
promptly determine engineering question,
He urged change that would authorize the
work to go on without interruption:
Mr.. Hale said there was no disposition on the
part of the committee to stop the work He
was entirely willing to leave the whole matter
In the discretion OF the Secretary OF War.
Mr.. Plumb said 1t was charged that the new
reservoir was fuil OF quicksand at the bottom
and would not hold water; that the bottom
would have TO be covered with at least ten feet
OF clay, pounded down. He said also that there
are charges that the tunnel is very ilnperiectly
constructed; that in sections the bottom is soft
and detective, and 1t was feared that the defec-
tive work might be covered over and great
imposition practiced upon the people. 1t was
question whether the work tor which SO much
money had been expended should be thrown
away or should be properly and safely pursued.
Mr.. Sherman said he regarded the talk ABOUT
the new reservoir leaking simply a scare
He did not credit any report OF the reservoir
leaking. 1t had been constructed with care by
competent engineers, and he asserted that it
old reservoirs. Mr.. Sherman regarded all this
talk about the defective work as a scare TO pro-
cure new contract. When the original water
works we're being constructed 1t was CHARGED
that tue reservoirs would not hold water: out
they had held water. He moved to strike out
sumed."
MIR. Hale, who had charge OF the bill, was
willing to accept the amendment.
NJ rVVno m Tod tfo,ti ti<,,,t 81,
Capt. HOxie, who planned the Improvement,
Charged that the work is detective. He called
attention to Capt. Hoxies letter, and said the
line OF the tunnel had been DETECTED and its
original design changed; that Compel tent engi-
neers declare that tue tunnel must be lined at
where it passes under Rock creek there must be
facility Tor getting the water out in case OF
necessity otherwise than by pumping. AS to
the tunnel, Mr.. German said it will not hold
water. He declared that the charges of defects
came from competent engineers. He was on
the committee that made provision for this ex-
tension, and the assurance was given that the
entire Improvement would cost only 81 ,5OO,-
OOO IL was now apparent that it would cost
81, 500, 600, and all the trouble and increased
expense arises from the fact that young engi-
neers who thought more of Washington society
fhan ina hssp IN perecng ana great work
that rigid examination should be had before the
work proceeds.
trict com mmittee since the inception of the work,
and had followed it closely, and he said most of
the trouble arises from Insufficient appropria-
tions; that money enough was not supplied and
damage had been done by the infiltration of
water Every days delay adds to tue damage
az apa cost he &c could @ not countenance the idea
wasted, but it Was economy to finish the work
under existing plans. He had talked with
stated that not more difficulty with quick
sand, etc., had been encountered at the new
reservoir tnan was anticipated: The engineers
are doing their best to protect the work from
Injury, but II should be proceeded with and
completed without delay.
Mr. voorhees, called attention to the fact that
the House had agreed to stop the work until
an inquiry can be had and he deemed such
an inquiry necessary. He did not think every
been properly carried out. He paid a high
tribute to Capt. Hoxie's engineering skill and
been taken away from the work. II there is a
doubt as to the permanency and utility of the
work that doubt should be cleared away before
any more money shall be buried in the rocks
and hills He saw the original plans had been
changed and no more public money ought to
be expended until an investigation is had. He
thought that not only the change Of plan but
''other things also" should be Investigated.
Mr. Plumb deemed it the part of wisdom to
expend1ng any more money, otherwise the cost
might 90 on, piling up with each year.
MI. Faimer opposed any stoppage Of the work.
THE WORK SUSPENDED.
Mr.. Sherman's amendment was lost and the
committees amendment to suspend the work
was % ASSA W., ~ q SotC VI . W <AS uO pOlnL
was made on the absence of quorum the vote
was permitted to stand.
1.-THE appropriation is 100000 to complete
the reservoir and 1896 200 to complete the
tunnel, but the Secretary OF War was directed
before resumtng work on the tunnel to submit
20 the board OF engineers for fortlfications and
Tor river and harbOr Improvements the Ques-
tlOn as 10 the method OF lining the tunnel. The
comnittee on appropriations reported an
amendment, substituting for such board of
engineers board consisting OF two expert
CIVILIAN engineers and two officers OF the
corps OF United States engineers and extend
Ing the inquiry 70 "the entire system OF water
supply, Including the reservoir and the method
OF constructing and lining the tunnel" report
to be made before the work is resumed. The
amendment was adopted
THE FoRrIFIcATIoN AND NAVAL ESTABLISH
MENT BILL.
The reading of the bill was interrupted to per-
NIT Mr.. Dawes to report from the committee
on appropriations the fortification bill He
gave notice that he would call 1t up as soon as
the deficiency was passed.
The House bill to increase the naval estab-
ltShment was laid before the Senate and refer.
red to the committee on naval affairs.
The reading Of the deficiency bill was re-
sumed.
SERVICES In THE GUITEAU CASE.
An item was inserted In the deficiency bill to
pay Edwin B. Smith % 900 for legal services
rendered the government in the Guiteau case
House Of Representatives.
THE LEGISLATIVE, ETC., APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
Mr.. Holman, Of Indiana, from the conference
committee on the larislafiva oxecutiv0 and