National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-22

In the morning hour the House resumed
the consideration of the bill for the relief of
the Alabama food sufferers, but the morn
ing hour expired without action being
taken on the bill, which resumes its place
on the calendar. The House then went into
committee Of the whole (Mr. Hammond, Of
Georgia, In the chair on the river and har-
Dor appropriation bill. Mr.. Hepburn, OF
Iowa, moved TO strike out the paragraph
appropriating 800, 900 for the improve nent
OF Galveston harbor He could see no ma
terial difference between the proposed plan
Of Improvement and that which had been
denounced by the Galveston representative
(Mr. 0chiltree) during last Congress. The
points Of difference between the two plans
were detailed by Messrs. Stewart, Reagan
and Grain, OF Texas, who also pointed out
the great Importance OF Galveston harbor
TO the commerce Of the country.
Mr.. Grain inquired whether there was
any appropriation In the bill for the dis
trict represented by the gentleman from
Iowa, and Mr. Hepburn replied In the neg
alive. stating that there were no navigable
rivers in Iowa.
Mr.. Grain regarded that fact as the "mllk
in the cocoanut." II the gentlemen had
share of pork he would not have made any
complaint.
Mr.. Hepburn suggested that the gentle
mans remark seemed to imply that no one
u
those who had some pork in the barrel. The
motion to strike out was lost-33 to So
but IL was agreed that vote should be
taken upon IL In the House.
On motion Of Mr.. Markham, OF California,
the appropriation for the survey Of San
Francisco harbor, San Pablo bay, Suisun
bay, and the mouths of the San joaquin and
Sacramento rivers was reduced from $50, 900
to 81, 900. This was done In accordance
with the recommendation OF a supple
mentary report of the chief OF engineers.
Mr.. Warner, OF Ohio, sought to have the
appropriation for the harbor Mt the mouth
OF the Musklngum river increased from
$4,000 TO $4,000. Mr.. spooner, of Rhode
Island, made fight to secure SD, 900 in
crease for Providence river, while the New
Jersey delegation, under the lead OF Mr.
Lehlbach, endeavored to increase from
$4,000 to $4,000 the appropriation for the
Passaic river. But they were all doomed
to disappointment, as each amendment was
voted down.
burne's amendment approprlatlng $40 900
for the removal OF rock in Hudson river
at Van Weis Point.
MIR. Negley, OF Pennsylvania, raised q
point of order against the clause OF the
bill which directs the Secretary Of War to
negotiate for the purchase OF the works OF
the Monongahela Navigation Company,
the value OF the works TO be ascertained by
commission OF three engineers Of the en-
gineer corps. II the company refuses to
sell its works or demands price deemed by
the Secretary to be excessive, the Secretary
is directed to acquire the works by con-
domination, or In tho exercise Of his discre.
ton to take possession Of the works.
A prolonged debate ensued upon this pro-
vision In tho bill, Messrs. Negley, Reagan,
Bayne, Blanchard, Kelley, Hewitt, Of New
York, and others participating.
On motion OF Mr.. Willis, OF Kentucky,
that portion OF the clause was stricken out
which gives the Secretary of War dscretlon'
airy power to seize the works OF the naviga'
tion company.
Pending further action the committee
rose, and the House, at $50, adjourned,