The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-16
THE HOUSE.
Routine Observation-Disclosures of the River
and Harbor Bill.

and Harbor Bill.
WASHINGTON, April 15.-Mr. Singleton, OF
Mississippi, from the committee on the library.
reported a Senate bill accepting from Julia D.
Grant and William a. Vanderbilt certain objects
of art presented by foreign governments to the
late q. S. Grant Placed the House calen-
dar. Also Senate bill establishing commits
sion to report to Congress on manuscripts be-
longing to the government. Referred to the
committee of the whole.
Mr. Caldwell, of Tennessee, from the commit
tee on the presidential count, reported, with
amendments, Senate bill to fix the day for the
meeting of electors of President and Vice-presi-
dent. and to regulate the counting Of the VOTE
Placed on the House calendar
Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia, from the committee
on the Judiciary, submitted an adverse report on
the memorial OF John Nee. Perkins, for the i'm
parchment of Thomas l.. Nelson. United States
District Judge for the State OF Massachusetts,
and the memorial was laid upon the table.
Mr. McCreary, of Kentucky. from the commit
tee on coinage, weights and measures, reported
bill to establish sub treasury at Louisville,
KY Referred to the committee OF the whole.
Mr.. McCreary, of Kentucky, from the COM
mittee on foreign affairs, reported bill author
izng the President to arrange conference for
the purpose of promoting arbitration and en-
couraging reciprocal commercial relations be-
| tween the QnlteO states ana the republics u
Mexico and Central and South America and the
empire of Brazil Referred to the committee of
the whole.
Mr.. Hill, of Ohio from the committee on Ter
ritories, reported bin for the organization of
the Territory of Oklahoma. Placed on the
House calendar.
Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee, from the COM
mittee on Pacific railroads, reported resolu-
ton authorizing an investigation of the books
and accounts and system of accounts OF the Pa
off raitp Rafn tO ia cOm mi
whole
Mr.. Cobb, of Indiana, from the committee on
public lands reported bill repeating the pre-
emption, timber culture and desert land laws.
Placed on the calendar
On motion of Mr. Breckenridge, of Arkansas,
Senate bills were passed extending to Omaha,
Neb., and Portland. Ore, the provisions of the
law relative to the immediate transportation OF
dutiable goods.
On motion of Mr. Breckenridge, Of Kentucky,
a bill was passed amending Section 1886. Revised
Statutes, so as to provide that every brewer, on
fling notice of his intention to commence or
continue business, shall execute bond to the
United States in sum equal to three times the
amount Of the tax which the brewer will be liable
to pay during one month.
Pending consideration of bill to authorize the
establishment of an export tobacco manufact-
urers' association and drawback upon imported
the morning hour expired.
The House then went into committee of the
whole-Mr Wellborn, of Texas, in the chair-on
the river and harbor appropriation bill, all gen.
eral debate the bill being limited TO two hours
and q half
Mr. Willis, of Kentucky, briefly reviewed and
explained the provisions of the bill, which, he
commended called for no appropriation which was
not demanded by the interests of the country.
The most critical scrutiny of the measure would
show that the rivers and harbors enumerated in
it were worthy of improvement. and were of
public Importance.
IS fha
improvement of rivers as one means of securing
cheap transportation, criticised various items of
the bill being extravaganza.
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa. characterized some Of
the appropriations as prodigal and wasteful,
throwing away of the peoples money. He es-
pecially opposed the Galveston harbor appropri-
ation on the ground that the plan for the i'm
provement of that harbor had been shown to be
defective He also criticised the appropriation
for the lower Mississippi river; he would like to
see the navigation of that river improved, but he
had no faith ia the pretense that it was for the
improvement Of the navigation that these ex-
penditures were made. Strike out OF the plan
of the commission the leyee feature, and there
was not a member of the region of the lower
Mississippi who would raise his hand to secure
the appropriation
Mr. Jones' of Alabama, replied to what he
termed the blank cartridge attacks made on a
bill whose object it was to furnish cheap trans
portation for the people
Mr.. Stewart, of Texas, maintained that the
plan of improvement for Galveston harbor was
not defective, and in commenting upon the in
dustries of the State of Texas, remarked that
Texas was larger wool-raising State than Ohio.
''Oh we will take care of your wool interests
for you." promised Mr.. Reed of Maine.
MIR. Stewart replied that he would talk about
that when the proper bill was under considera-
tion
Mr.. Reed then proceeded to criticise the APP
preparation for the Mississippi river, the
ground that it was throwing money into the
river for the benefit of retaining the land along
its banks
The bill was then read by sections for amend
ments, and some little progress was made before