Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-05-25
LIVE WASHINGTON TOPICS,
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT BILL
PASSED BY THE HOUSE.
The Confirmation of Nominee Fuller Eek
pected The River and Harbor Bill Re-
ported in the Senate-The Henepin
Canal Scheme-Other Matters

WASnINGToN, May 21-After the call of
the States in the House to-day, during
which q large number of unimportBnt
bills were introduced and referred, the
House discussed the bill to enlarge the
powers of the agricultural department,
suspended the rules and passed the bill,
232 to 10. The bill creates an executive
department known as the department of
agriculture, under the supervision Of a
secretary of agriculture and provides for
the appointment of a first assistant sec
Rotary Of agriculture. 1t also transfers
the weather service Of the United States
signal service from the war department
to the department Of agriculture.
The House then went into a committee
of the whole on the diplomatic and con
sular appropriation,bill. No.amendments
OF consequence were offered to the bill, and
after q short time spent in consideration
The committee rose and the bill was pass
cd. The District of Columbia appropriate
ton bill was also considered in committee
of the whole, and passed by the House.
representative Springer of Illinois to-
! day introduced bill ito provide for
/ placing on the free list articles, merchan-
! disc and productions which may be con
trOlled by trusts or ordinations"
/ EiIe River aud Harbor Bill in the Sc nate
! In the Senate to-day the bill for The
erection of postoftice buildings in small
/ places, after considerable discussion wen
over without final action. Senator Fry,
4 from the COMMITTEES on Commerce report
| ed back the river and harbor bill which
with amendments was ordered printed ant
recommitted, after which the Senate ad
/ journed.
The bill as amended by the Senate Com
mittee apprOprl8teS for the peDOb-cO
river $4,000, Eeunecbec river $4,000
! Thames river So 300. Portland harbor $40,
| 600, Mt Desert $4,000, back cove, Port
| land, $4,000, little harbor $4,000, Blocl
island 500, Eorwalk, Conn, IS, 600
| Milford, Conn, 5000
The following is the Henlepn cana
provision For the purpose of securing
continuous naYigable waterway between
| Lake Michigan and the Mississippi river
and having the capacity Snd facilitie.
I adequate for the passage OF the larges
/ Mississippi river steamboats, and uava
| vessels suitable for defense il time of war
the secretary Of war is authorized ant
! directed 20 CaCse to be made the prone
! surveys, plans and estimates for chanue
I improvement of locks anC dams in tht
beds Of illinois and Desplaines rivers from
/ La Sale to LO3ApOrt, so as to provide
/ navigable waterway not less than II feet
! deep and have surveyed and located
the channel rom Lockport to LAX
! Michigan at or near Chicago, sucl
/ emanuel to be suitable for the purpose,
aforesaid and carrying not less tnan 600,
900 cubic feet o. water per minute anC
flowing at the rate of two miles per hour
! The necessary expenses OF such survey
plans, etc. is 20 be paid out of the sun
! appropriated fer the improp ement of the
! Illinois river.
The secretary is further directed TO hav
located on such lac as he may apprOv
! ne canal from the Illinois river at or nea
I Ilennepn to the Mississippi river at o
above the mouth OF the Rock river. with
+ necessary feeder for the same said cana
20 he known as the Illinois and Mississippi
canal and to be &C feet wide at the waite
line and have a depth of not less thar
seven feet of water with locks 40 fee
long and 30 wide.
l.