Morning journal and courier., 1886-07-09
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, July 8, 1886.

| OENATE.-Arter routine business the Sen
ate resumed consideration of the river ant
amendment being to reduce the appropria
ton for the Kentucky river from $3.50, 900 to
100000. Mr.. Beck spoke against the
amendment and Mr.. Vest advocated it. The
amendment was lost; yeas 81, nays 26.
The amendment striking out the paragraph
Muskingum river, Ohio, and accepting for
the United States from the State of Ohio the
| Musklngum river improvement was lost:
yeas %, nays 25.
The merits of the amendment appropriate
ing $3.50, 900 for the purchase of the Portage
Lake canal and the Lake Superior ship canal
were presented by Mr. Conger, who submit
ted resolutions of the legislatures of Illinois,
Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin in its
favor. The amendment was adopted with
out division.
The Hennepin canal amendment was
strongly advocated by Mr.. Cullom, who stat
ed that the canal was the most important
work of canal improvement now pressing on
Congress. He first addressed himself to the
constitutional question presented, contending
that that great chart had scope and breadth
enough to allow the people for whose benefit
it was formed to adopt such measures as may
from time to time become necessary in the
interests of business and progress. He cited
many presidents which would justify Con-
gress in entering upon the work and in
stanced the construction of the canal
around the Des Moines rapids, the Ohio ca
nal at Louisville and the Mussel shoals
canal. He made an exhaustive review of the
history of the Illinois and Michigan canal
and to call attention to the history of the
movement in favor of the construction of the
canal. He said the States and territories
lying in the vast expanse of the upper Mis-
souri, and Mississippi valleys produce more
than one-third of the food supplies necessary
for the consumption of the nation and they
are well consumers of the products of 9th
er parts of the extent of the purchasing ca
pacity of our own surplus products. The
great markets are reached with more difficult
ty and at greater expense from this produc-
tive region than from any other por-
it is that the thirteen million
people inhabiting this fertile domain bear
heavy burden in the shape of transportation
charges. Whatever Improvements can be
made that will reduce the carneage will tend
to reduce the cost to consumers everywhere
of one-third of our entire food supply. Even |
should the entire saving go only to the peck |
ct of consumers, the general government |
would be justified in making liberal expen- |
ditures for their benefit. But it must be |
plain that the millions saved would be ex- |
pended in making purchase of the products |
Of other sections which would reap like |
profits from the increased demand for their |
trlbution; therefore in either point of view |
said Mr.. Cullom, it is clear that whatever /
can be effected in the transportation tax will |
prove materially advantageous to West and |
East alike.
At the conclusion of Mr. Cullom's speech
Mr.. Riddleberger offered the following:
Whereas, 1t is generally understood that to-mor-
ow, July 9Th is to be devoted to objected execu-
i've nominations therefore
resolved, That the doors of the Senate shall not
'e closed during the time executive nominations
ire pending, discussed or voted.
Mr.. Frye Directing, the resolution was
aid over.
Mr. Van Horn took the floor in opposition
o the Hennepin clause. He did not intend |
O discuss the constitutionality of the propo- |
ition, but declared his belief that Congress
lad no right to construct canal within
anal State. 1t was proposed to appropriate |
300, 900 to construct canal which, accord |
ng to estimates of engineers, would cost
z 200, 900, perhaps more. If the benefits |
o be derived from the canal were as great
s asserted the proposition should have been |
rought in separate bill. A work of such |
normous magnitude should not be injected |
nto a river and harbor bill with paltry
ppropriation of $500, 900. It was an enter
ng wedge, and if Congress adopted the
mendment it would commit the government
o the construction of the work. The milk
n the cocoanut was the desire on the part of |
illinois to be relieved from the obligation of
eeping the canal in repair. The canal sys-
emAas bring supplanted by railways. The
secR Island railroad ran along the very
cute of the canal and the |
esult would be inevitable that the canal
ould not become material factor in COM
etition.
Mr.. Logan suggested that he had known
be Senator to be very earnest for appropria-
ions for the Mississippi river though rail
Dads ran on either side of it. He hoped
he time would come when the people when |
yer there was necessity for cheap trans
ortation would provide for it by canal or
therwise, and he could not see why this
roposition was not proper in a |
iver and harbor bill as in separate meas
re.
Pending action the Senate went into exec
tive session and when the doors were OPEN
Mr.. German announced the death of Mr.. |
ole, of Maryland, and as mark of respect to |
1e memory of the deceased the S enate at
m. adjourned.
HoUSE-Mr. Compton of MARYLAND sub