Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-27
CLAIMS OF THE HARB0BS.
THE SOUTHERN DELEGATION
BACH FROM WASHINGTON.

THE SOUTHERN DGLEG ALTON
BACK FROM WASHINGTON.
Its Hearing Before the River aud Mar
Dor Committee or Copgreas-Ehe Presi-
dent Expresses His Interest In the I'm
provement OF the south Atlantic Hsr-
bors-The Delegation TO Have Another
Hearing Before the Senate Committee.
The delegation which appeared before
the River and Har5or Committee OF Con
gress last week IN tbeinterest Of the south
Atlantic harhors has returned from W ash
ington. Tue delegation, as appointed by
the savannah convention last fan, con
sists OF Capt. $. Y. Topper, OF South Caro-.
lima, who is its chairman; Col. John
sereven, of Georgia, and Messrs. c. H..
Jones, of Florida; S. II. Dent, Of Ala
bama: r. w. kerchner, Of North Caro-.
nina; TomIinsOn Fort, OF Tennessee, and
William Lamb, Of Virginia.
The object Of the delegation was to pre-
fent to Congress a memorial ombodying
tue views and action Of the savannah
convention. Messrs. Dent and Fort did
not appear before the committee, although
tney fully approved the memorial.
Col. Screven said t0 NEWS represen-
tative Yesterday that the delegation is
fayOrably impressed with the results to
be derived from It's mission. The delega-
ton met In w ashington last Tuesday.
The memorial WAS presented in the Senate
by Gen. Butler. Oh south Carolina, aud
in the House by Representative Norwood,
and was Immediately referred to the
respective committees on commerce and
rivers and harOors. Through the cOur-
tosy Of Senator McMIieu. Chairman OF the
Senate committee, a hearing was appoint
ed at once, but IN con sequence Of the
committees time having been con-
eumed by presentation Of the Eads
ITehuanteDec strip railway interests,
She hearing amounted to nothing farther
than q mere appearance. The delegation
was cOurteOusly assured, however, that
1he committee would be pleased to receive
any documents that 10 might desire to
submit, aud a further hearing was prom
Used when the river and barbOr bill comes
before the Senate.
A hearing had also been appointed for
tine same day with the House committee,
but before II was had phe committee adj
5Ourned until two days later and had made
appointments at its next session TO near
large delegations from the ST. Paul and
other Western waterway conventions.
The DELEGATION waited upon the committee
when it met, but the morning recess
hours were fuuy occupied in hearing the
however. very GouTteOusly exceeded its
time, and remained in session to give the
Southern delegation an opportunity 20 be
heard. Approaching the consideration OF
the committee and not desiring 10 con
sumo it's time unnecessarily the memorial
was introduced by Capt. upper with a
few appropriate anil fOreible remarks.
Capt. Topper was followed by Col.
Screven in urgency OF the resolutions
q no oh "a nd
embodied in the memorial The addresses
We're listened 10 by the committee with
close interest and attention.
The hearing was cut short by an abrupt
call for the committee from the body of
the House, ana no opportunity was af-
fDrded the other mem bers OF the delega-
1i0u to speak. Before the adjournment,
however, they were assured that the in
terests OF each harDOr should hayean OPP
porunity OF beng presented aud cOnsid-
cred when the matter OF appropriations
comes up for the action of the committee.
The delegation had Tree and very salts
factory conferences with its immediate
Representatives and prominent members
Of both houses, and 10 has reason TO be-
heve that the Western delegations VIII
unite with the representatives Of the
South Atlantic ports in promoting their
mutual interests. The promised support
from the West, although quite uneNDect-
ed, is not less to be dIsregarded. The in
Iereste of the two sections are the same.
The delegation, before leaving Wash
ington was, by special appointment. pre-
scented to the President. IL is stated that
the President said, in the interview, that
his views concerning river and harb0r
improvements have changed much since
''as Governor of New York he expressed
his idea regarding the transportation
question. He As now profoundly impressed
with the importance ofdeveloping the nat
Nral waterways OF the country, aud be-
lieVes that the public money JudiciOus-
~ expended upon such improvements is
wisely expended. The reason. ne SAID
why he had not treated the subject in his
message was not because he under-esti-
mated It's Importance, but because he did
not have time 70 give it that close and
careful study without which he was re-
luctant to commit himself TO recOmmen-
cations upon any point OF public poiicy.
He hopes, he said, TO see the commercial
facilities Of every section improved and
developed as rapidly as is consistent with
The wise and economical expenditure Of
public funds.
The delegation was.mOst fav0Eably i'm
pressed with the mingled dignity, sim
pllcty and4lnduess with which the men,
hers were met by the President, and the OPP
pOrtunlty Of seeing him personally
siren gthened hehigh opinion that they al
ready entertained Of bis character and
presence.
IL VIII probably be "a month vet before
the committee reaches the south Atlantic
harbors IN the preparation Of the river and
harbor bill. IL is Understood that the
committee viii recommend that the total
appropriation snail notexceed So 1 ,OOO. 600,
nut that the pressure that has been
brought 10 bear upon Congress- and the
great necessity for the Improvement of
osSe rivers and harDors of tire country will
tiender 10 necessary that the appropriation
Ihall not be limited % an amount 20 to-
tally inadequate.
OPERA AND TnE DRAMA.
EInna OF fhn A hh...t r....-..-------. -.