The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-29
The House.

Mr.. Hatch Mo. from the Commit
tee on Agriculture, reported bill de-
fining butter and imposing a tax upon
aud regulating the manufacture, sale,
expectation and Importation OF oleo.
margarine. Committee OF the whole.
AT the conclusion OF the morning
hour the house went into committee
OF the whole, Mr.. Wellborn Tex in
the chaii, on the river and barbor bill.
The appropriation for the improve
ment Of the Yellowstone river having
been reached, Mr.. Beach IN. Y. said
that three years ago he had tried to
catch fish in that river and his efforts
had been rs iruitlets as this appropri-
alton would be TO improve its navigs-
ton. The Yellowstone was q beauti-
full river. It's waters were like those
Of the broad Juniata, and as they
leaped tumultously over the graveled
bay they cleaned in the sunshine
with silvery CLEAN which attracted
and fascinated the eye laughter and
applause, but the course of the
stream was crooked, and the swift cur
rent threw up shoals Here he was
again greeted with applause, which
lasted 50 long that he was compelled
to yield the floor aud obtrin leave to
print his remarks in the Record
Mr.. Warner Mo. offered an amend
ment increasing from $500 900 TO $780,
600 the appropriation for the Missouri
river from its mouth to Sioux City,
and earnestly advocated II as being In
the interest OF cheap transportation.
Mr.. Hale Mo offered an amend
ment providing that the appropriation
shall be expended in projecting the
banks Of the Missouri river from wash.
ing and c1nfning the stream to it's
natural channel. Lost, as was the
original amendment.
Mr.. Hepburn la. offered an amend.
mendment 10 the same section provid-
ing for the expenditure OF the appro-
priation by the Secretary of War
without the intervention OF the Mis-
souri, River Commission. He attacked
the commission, charging that their
salaries, amounting to $4,000 per
aunum, were more than one-third Of
the entire appropriation made in the
section under consideration, "a
half penny worth OF thread
20 an iltinite deal Of sack"
il seemed to him. He asserted aud
challenged contradiction that there
was no commerce worthy OF the name
on the Missouri river. Ten steamboats,
had passed Council Bluff in five years.
Again the river meandered all over
the country. He had known 1t to
change its course eight miles in a night.
Mr. Willis humorously suggested
that the river might make it's way into
Iowa next year, and the gentleman
would then regret his speech.
Mr.. Warner Mol defended tie
commission, declaring that its mem.
bers were actuRted by motives Of
honesty, and that their only purpose
was to utilize the river and cut down
the eXorbitant freight rates of rail
roads.
Mr.. Blanchard ia ! quoted fiom q
letter written by Mr.. Hepburn to the
Missouri River Convention, in which
he expressed his sympathy with all
honest efforts to improve the water
ways OF the county. Now the gentle
man had said that the Missouri river
wss not one Of the waterways OF the
county. And the worst Of 1t il, suR
gested Mr.. Reed Of Msine, he hal
proved it. A man, he continued, who
was not in favor of ali honest improve
. ments Of waterways was foolish man
But did that mean that Congress wa
in favor Of throwing money into every
waterway
Mr.. Grosvsnor 70 defended tn,
Committee on Rivers and Harbors
and intimsted that Mr.. Hepburn's CD
position to the Missouri river appro
pTiatiou arose from the fact that twt
lines Of railway ran along the river.
Mr.. Hepburn repealed the insinua
iion. He had no interest in any rail
way more than sny other citizen, bu
he was not one OF those, like the gen
tleman from Ohio, who were Away
ready to howl sgeinst corporations be
cause in certain circles votes could b
giinsd by IL.
Mr.. Bland and Mr.. Dcckery Mo.
defended the Missouri riverappropria
ton, and d8elt upon the necessity o
securing cheap transportation for In
people.
Pending vote on the amendment
the COMMITTEES rose, and the Hous
adjourned.
In the Committed Rooms.