The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-13
A Comparison of conRressmen.

a comparison of COngreSsm
| A week or so ago Mr. Blanchard, chair
man of the River and Harbor Committee
wrote letter to his constituents relative 10
the appropriations for the rivers and har-
| bors of Louisiana, extracts from which
were published in the New Orleans Pic
aysne. In the course of that letter Mr..
/ Blanchard said: II write to say that Louisi-
ana's Representatives here are alive to the
I importance of Bayou Lafourche as a high
/ way of commerce. The Louisiana delega-
'tion appears TO have been alive not only to
/ the Importance of Bayou Lafourche, for
which very handsome appropriation is
made, but, a'so. TO that of all the other
/ bayous, rivers and harbors of that State.
/ They were so active and energetic that Mr.
! Blanchard wrote that Louisiana had not
been so well taken care of in any previous
river and barbor bill
| The energy and activity of the Louisiana
delegation in behalf of public works in
] that State are not mentioned for any other
purpose than to show what can be done for
State by the earnest and united efforts Of
its delegation in Congress. Louisiana has
reason to be satisfied with those who rep
resent her at Washington, because they
look out for her Interests The members
of the delegation are not only watchful of
the wants of their respective districts, but
they also keep sharp lookout for the
needs of every part of their State Each
member is earnest in his efforts to promote
the welfare of the whole of his State. Can
the same be said of each member of the
Georgia delegationl
There is no part of Georgia that is not
either directly or indirectly interested in
\ the improvement of Savannah harbor
Savannah is her great seaport. Her great
est railroad system-a system that is con-
nected with all her other railroads-has its
seaboard outlet here. The greater part of
her products is shipped abroad from here,
and large portion of her supplies is re-
ceived through this port. Her products
and her supplies, therefore, are affected in
some degree by the condition of the harbor
here. In proportion as the harbor is inn
proved and its distractions to commerce
removed the rates of freghts and insurance
will decrease. A decrease in these rates will
benefit the people throughout the State. But
if any of the Georgia Representatives, outside
of the member from this district, lent a
helping hand to get from the River and
Harbor Committee fair and just appro-
priation for Savannah harbor the people do
not know it. They may say that their
assistance was not asked, but are they to
wait to be asked to discharge duty which
is apparent to theme Is il not their bust
ness to keep an eye on all the
interests of the great State which
they represent. The Chairman of the River
and Harbor Committee says that the Louis
lana Representatives We're alive to the inn
portance of little bayou in that State. 1t
appears that the Georgia Representatives
we're not alive to the Importance of the
greatest harbor of their State-a harbor
which accommodates 500, O0O, 900 commerce
a year.
If the Georgia delegation had gone in a
body before the River and Harbor Commit
tee, and urged the necessity for a liberal
appropriation for Savannah harbor, there
is scarcely a doubt that an amount sufficient
to complete the 22-foot improvement and to
begin the 2S-foot improvement would have
been appropriated Because of their neglect
of plain duty, and want of pride in the
greatest seaport in their State, an amount
was given to Savannah harbor that cannot
be used to advantage, and when expended
the permanent condition of the harbor will
be no better than it is at present Under
the circumstances can it be said that Geor-
gia's Representatives compare favorably
with those of Louisiana?