Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-30
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
Numerous Senate Amendments
THE TARIFF BILL IN THE HOUSE.
The Senate.


The Senate.
The Senate met at IL a. m. with less than o
dozen Senators present, and resumed the consid-
Grafton OF the river aud harbor bill Various
amendments were agreed TO, among them the fol-
lowing Inserting in the item OF $500, 600 for the
Mississippi River (from the mouth OF the Illinois
River to the mouth OF the Ohio the words sand the
appropriation for the Mississippi tfrom the head
OF the passes TO the mouth OF the Ohio from ST.
600 600 to s. 500 0O0 Inserting item OF 81 900
for the Missouri River from Its mouth TO Fort Ben
ton. Increasing the appropriations for the canal
at Cascades, Oregon, from $4,000 to 100000:
ior the mouth OF the Columbia River, oregon.
and Columbia rivers (below Portland, Oreg.I from
$4,000 To SlOO,OOO. Inserting two new sections
authorizing the construction (under direction OF
the Secretary OF War; OF practical and Sufficient
nshways and the establishment OF harbor lines
wherever essential to the preservation and protec
tion OF haIoors. Inserting provision On lieu OF
one struck out for an examination and survey OF
Rock Island rapids for canal around the rapids
lout making no appropriation. Also similar pro-
East River, New York, from Broome street TO 23d
street with view OF removing ledge OF rocks.
Inc amendment to reduce the appropriation for
dredging Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, from $50 600
TO $25, 600 was ION Recommendation OF the commit
tee) disagreed TO.
OPPOSITION TO sHIP-cANAL SCHEMES.
An amendment directing q survey for ship
canal from La Sale, ILL.,, to Lake Michigan, near
Chicago, Q6O feet wide and IA feet deep) was op-
posed by Mr.. Sherman on the ground that II might
lower the level OF the lake. and that its principal
utility would be to provide sewerage for Chicago.
He also expressed opposition to similar provision
as TO the Hennepin Canal.
Mr.. Teller advocated both propositions as being
In the interest OF trade and commerce.
Mr. Dolph expressed doubts as to the practtca-
bility or wisdom OF the Illinois River scheme, but
he saw no reason why the survey should not be
made.
Mr. Vest said he had persstently and con-
isto is the 'ppSero a.Ser and s haroOr % bill p.''f If
the friends Of the Hennepin canal wanted the
appropriation made they should bring it before
fairly discussed; but the putting OF such subjects
into river and harbor bills would bring tie whole
system OF internal Improvements into scandal and
odium.
Mr.. sherman spoke OF the magnitude OF the pro-
posed Ship canal. He said that the distance from
Chicago to the mouth OF the Illinois River at
La Sale was 250 miles, greater distance than the
proposed Nicaragua canal from ocean TO ocean,
ana the stated cost OF the Nicaragua canal was
$9o, o,0O0,000
the discussion was further continued by Sena-
tors Teller, Vest. Call and Aison-Senators Teller
and Allison advocating both propositions; Mr.
Vest arguing against the Hennepin project, but
having less objection TO the proposed survey OF
the canal from LaSalle TO Chicago; Mr.. Call favor
Ing all internal Improvement
MR.. ALLIsoNs VIEWS
Mr.. Allison stated that as far back as 1854 ship
canal between the lakes and the Mississippi was
regarded by military men and by the people
as OF the utmost importance. II the river
and harbor bill was worth the paper
on which 1t was written, this was
the most important waterway project in
It, 1t ran through densely populated region,
teeming with Industries and commerce, and was
Congress, he asked, TO appropriate s22 100000 for
rivers and harbors. and TO higgle about a PROPOSE
tion which was intended to connect the
great lake system with the Mississippi River. He
regarded the two propositions as two OF the most
"whistled down the wind" and all the little
streams OF the country were to be dug out and en-
laryed, he would feel very little interest to swab
the guns" OF the bill
He WARNED SENATORS
that, II they ran the bill on the mere local idea
that all that was desirable was to get $ 900 for
a little creek or 81, 900 fer little harbor they had
mistaken the feeling and sense OF the people as
respected internal commerce. Every civilized
nation, except the United states. made large eX-
pendtures OF public money for canals and water
ways. France and Great Britain were honey
combed with canals.
MIR. GoRMANs AMENDMENT.
Mr.. German favored the proposition for the sur.
vey Of canal from LaSalle to Lake Michigan, but
moved to strike out the words "and capable OF
carrying not less than 600 0OO cubic feet OF water
per minute, flowing at the rate Of two miles per
hour"
THE CLAUSE AS PASSED.
The motion was agreed to, and the amendment,
SO modified, was agreed to. 1t reads: "For the
purpose OF securing continuous navigable water
way between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi
River, having capacity and facilities adequate for
boats and OF usual vessels suitable for defense In
time OF war, the Secretary OF War Is au-
thorzed and directed to cause to be made the
proper surveys, plans, and estimates for
channel improvement ard locks and dams in the
beds OF the Illinois and Desplaines Rivers from La
SALE to LocGp9rt 50 as o TO proyiase navigabe
than IA feet deep, and to have surveyed and
located a channel from Lockport to Lake MichigA n
suitable for the purposes aforesaid, the necessary
expenses OF such surveys, estimates plans and To-
cation 10 be paid out OF the sum herein appropri-
ared for the improvement OF the Illinois River
THE HENNEPIN CANAL PROJECT.
The amendment directing the Secretary OF War
to locate a canal from the Illinois River at Henne-
pin to the Mississippi River at the mouth OF Rock
River was then agreed TO, after a protest by M
Vest that IL would commit the Government abso-
German and Beck denying that 1t did SO and Mr.
Allison declining to commit himself one way or
the other.
THE LAST AMENDMENT TO BE ACTED UPON
was the insertion OF provision abolishing the
Missouri River Commission.
Mr.. Vest spoke of the utter decay of commerce
on rivers and canals, there not being now single
steamboat on the Missouri River between Kansas
City and st. Louis That was something beyond
was the great element in commerce. He recog-
niZed, however, that canals and rivers were I'm.
measurably valuable factors In checking the ex.
Orbitant rates OF railroads, and therefore he IA
vOred them.
House Of Representatives.
Speaker Carlisle was in the chair when the
House met this morning.
On motion OF Mr.. stone (Ky.) the bill for the
payment OF the Fourth of July claims was taken
up and passed.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The House then went into committee OF the
whole, Mr.. springer, OF illinois, in the chair on
the tarin bill
Mr.. Breckenridge (Ark.) moved to increase the
rate OF duty on fax-seed and linseed Oil from 10
MT Perkins Kan.) ofYered an amendment liking
the rate at 20 cents gallon after January l. 1885,
He contended that the reduction from 25 cents
Uhe existing duty to 20 cents would render the
growing OF hax.seed Improbable to the farmers OF
that the change Of duty should not 60 into effect
until the farmers had garnered and disposed Of the
crop which had been planted while the existing
The amendment was re,ected-eo-7a
Mr.. Breckinrtdge (Ark.) offered an amendment
increasing from TO cents per pound the
duty on ncorice paste or rolls. Agreed To-
On motion OF Mr.. Breck1nri0ge, an amendment
was adopted fixing the duty on hcorice juice at 25
per cent ad valorem.
Mr.. Dingiey QGe.) moved to reduce the rate OF
duty on btchromate OF potash from 2k cents to
cent per pound He urged In support OF his
amendment that bi-chromate Of potash was con-
troled by trust In the city OF Baltimore. which
had secured the control OF every bed OF ore In the
M. Kelley pa, followed In the same vein, ana