New-York tribune., 1886-07-07
EXPOSING A SHAMELESS JOB.

ATTEMPT TO FOIsrA SHIP CANAL UPON THE Gov
ERNMrNT.
WASHINGTON, July tSpscon.-The Senate spent
the entire day in the consi ieaon of single item in
the River and HarDor bl appropriatng Sl3o,ooo
for the purchase of the Sturgeon Bay aud Lake
Michigan Ship Canal. If Messrs. ingalls, and
Fdmunds are 10 be believed this Is one OF the worst
Jobs which has ever been attached TO "a River and
Har1or bill MI Ingalls, denounced it as an impudent
and shameless speculation. Mr.. Edmunds was scarce
ly less i'll having some of the features o the
scheme bare In the debate which ensued the Com
nittee on Commerce which recommended this item
came in for a large share of abuse. Senator Mcmillan
the chairman attempted TO defend lis action but his
argument did not impress the senate much.
lie was aided by Mr.. CongeI. auoher member OF the
committee. senator Mlller's sense of loyalty TO the
conmte induced him to defend the item. but In the
running fire OF debate with Mr.. ingalls, he suffered
from the weakness OF the cause he sought to cham
pon The history of the scheme as brought out In
the course OF the debate briefly put, Is as follows:
About twenty years ago the United Statss gave to
the State of Wisconsin 100000 acres of land with
the understanding that out of the proceeds OF tie sale
of the land there to be constructed canal con-
Meeting Green Bay with Lake Michigan, a harbor AT
the pout the canal where it entered the lake and
breakwaiei. The State of Wisconsin constructed
neither tarboi nor bieakwaer and surrendered the
grant OF 100000 acres to a company which II Is
understood was chiefly composed of two men-Jesse
Spaudiug, the late Collector of Customs.at Chicago.
and William f. Strong also of Chicago. The company
constructed the canal which is only about, 200
S DOO feet long only after the Federal Government
had built the harbor refuge which by the terms oil
the original grant the State OF Wisconsin was to CON-
struct. The canal tapped rich numbering district
Its principal object in fact the only one was to oat
logs. When the pine wac gone, there was of course,
no further use of the canal In this emergency It's
owners decided 10 sell it to the Government. But
they had already received 2OOOOO acres OF land,
which at the lowest calculations ought TO have been
worth $3.50 600. They had, moreover, collected tolls
snd created other OF revenue to thsmel os.
In was scarcely 10 be expected that the Government
would nav for the canal after having contributed
onarer of n million dollars its construction at least
not its full price. SO the owners a. Messrs Ingalls,
and Edmunds asserted to-day. III presenting an estl
mate the amount OF money which had been expended
In the construction OF tie canal cooked " their
accounts. In other words they presented hcuuons
charges in order 10 swell the sum total spent III con-
struciion TO amount which might impress CongIess
with the importance and cost OF the wOlk. thus, MT
INGALLS, pointed out that the company while a'ng u
the engineers Who surveyed the route OF the canal,
only $500 distributed among its direc ors 900 IN
stock gratis before work had begun Oi this ransac-
ton "a solutey explanation was given by the friends
of II till senator Conser. 1t Is true told the Senate
thai the company poor In its early days thai IT
couldn't give Their officers ANYTHING ana tha Tue iater
served gratuousy. Yet 10 the account presented 10
Congres, there appear regular charges Tor salaries
10 officers OF the compaLy, which the Government is
now expected TO pay. 80
Upon other points friends Of tn, measure were
moi well informed as Mr. Ingalls, proved when he con-
fronted Mr.. Conger with compound interest charges
after that gentleman had asserted that no such Interest
had ever been computed by the company IN It's est
mates submitted TO Congress. Senator Edmunds
created a laugh BY stating in his diiest manner that
according TO the estimate appeared that the Issue
OF sDD0 in bonds had cost the company exactly
sc $50 25 OF this amount W. L. Scudder, who is
Chicago Mugwump, got S4,25O tor negotiating the
GALE OF these bonds. Al times the DISCUSSIONS Unreal
sned to become rather personal. especially between
Messrs Miller and Ingalls, but all i'll feeling, such
existed buried in 81 ort executive session which
wound up the days work vote on this item VIII
probably be taken tomorrow.
WAITING FOR THE NEw-YORK ABsENTEEs.
WASHINGTON, July 9 (SpeciaD. Neither Mr..
Bliss Feix Campbell. Timothy j. Campbell nor Mr..
Mahoney returned 10 Washington to-day in to
demand An Investigation Of the charge That while be
WAS absent from the House Thursday last biz vote
was recorded in Affirmative tue Barthold Statue
alton There considerable comment to-day
among Representatives the assertion that It is by
rneaus infrrqu.nt occurrence for member of the
House by previous arrangement to have himself re-
corded voting, when matter OF fact he Is absent
OF courss such practice gross violation not only OF
the rules Hou1c but OF the integrity OF legislative
procesdiDgs we'll Unless the members whose nameA
have been published In this instance are on hand to.
morrow to demand investigs,ion the demand will be
made by some other Representative.
CONFIRMATION OF MR.. THOMPSON.
WASHINGTON, July 6 lSpeciaD.-The Senate