The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-08

LIST, l immediately notified the senators
from Arkansas, Kansas and Cckrell, o.
Missouri, and went to the House and
notified Mr.. Phelan, and asked them all tc
be present at the hearing. l attended q,
the time and place, and made my state.
ment and left, as was compelled to be
present in the interstate commerce com.
mittee. For some reason, don't know
what, the hearing was postponed until to.
morrow, when Twill see that you shall
have the opportunlty Of being present, il
you desire. Both We. Phelan's bill and
mine, now pending before the committee,
are exact copies OF each other, except as to
hight Of bridge, his bill fixing il at sixty
five and mine at soventy-fye feet above
high water, and both bills arc exact and
literal copies OF the bill which passed the
Senate in December 1885, with the ex-
ception already noted us TO the rate OF toll
that freight and passengers should pay
over the bridge, and the additional ex-
ception that neither bill contains the clause
repeating the act Of 1885.
My bill was pending before the COM
mittee OH commerce when the House bill
came TO the Senate. The House bill was
referred, necessarily, TO the Same commit
tee. On tho very day that II was so re-
ferred ] called the attention OF Senator
Vest chairman OF the subcommittee hay
ing charge OF all bridge BILLS to the House
bill, informing him that il was exactly the
same as my bill, except rs to the hight OF
the bridge, and asked that the House bill
be considered and acted upon by tbs com.
mittee instead OF my own, as II had already
reached that advanced stage Of legislation,
having passed one house; and on lost
Wednesday, when the subcommittee met
to hear parties on the question, | again
asked the committee 10 consider and act
upon the House bill.
As TO the hight OF tho bridge, must
say that have not sufficient knowledge
OF the necessities OF navigation 10 de-
termine how high this bridge should I've
not 10 obstruct navigation. fixed seventy
five feet in my bill because that was the
hight fixed in the bill reported by the
committee and passed by the Senate In
1886. | supposed that IL had been so
fixed on consultation with the Secretary
Of War, but IL matters littlo rs 10 what
hight Is suggested in the bill, as no bridge
can be built until the plans and speciiica-
tons have been submitted toand approved
by the Secretary Of War. lie will not
likely approve the plans OF any bridge
which Is low enough TO obstruct naviga-
ton, but II he should, and the bridge
should be built, aud II shall be asce-tAined
that the bridge does obstruct navigation,
the bills clothe the Secretary Of War with
the power tO have IL elevated or removed
altogether at the expense Of the owners.
Hence the owners are 40 deeply interested
In the question OF proper hight that there
can be little, II any, danger OF low
bridge
have for years worked for and wanted
a bridge over the Mississippi riyerat Mem
phis, us the record will abundanlly show.
/ have never cared and do not now care
who builds II, but | should favor that
party who, IN my opinion, was most likely
TO build II, and build II at the earliest time
There has not been. and is not now, 30
far ~ know, the slightest want Of har-
mony amongst the delegations here, who
are most interested inthe Memphis bridge
nor do | know Of any apprehension on the
subject, except in the minds Of one class
OF people ut Memphis who misunderstood
and misrcprcscnt my position.
am ~ anxious 10 secure bridge at
Memphis ~ any citizen there, and trust
that you will pardon me for saving that
have done and AIN doing much more to
secure II than any one VI them, aud that
from my standpoint here, In constant con
tact with all the advocates Of the bridge, |
know quite ~ well how TO secure II IA the
average citizen OF that city. | am glad,
however, that they have sent you here
~ COMMITTEES, and, toqrotc the language
Of one OF your leading journals, "fo
compel a showdown on the part OF those
blocking the passage Of the Phelan bill. I"
trust that you will develop the obstruc-
tion.sls and report them 10 that journal
for the excCration OF IA readers.
Please inform TmE APFEAL that IN iis
editorial Of the 3oth ut. Il WIS q little pre-
yiOus In speaking OF and commenting up
on Senator Harris amendment 10 the
House bill" | have offered no amend
ment and Il is hardly probable that will
propose 10 amend bill that Is literally
the same with the exception OF ono i'm.
material point ~ n bill that introduced
myself Of this session aud that earnestly
supported in 1884.
But no matter to what extent have
been misund,ntood or my position mis-.
Represented, | think that loan safely as
sure YOU that YOU will got the bridge all
the same, and nj no distant day.
/ send you herewith q copy Of the bridge
bin which pasecd the Senate on December
NJ, 1856: also copy Of the bin introduced
by Mr. phclan, which passed the HOUSE,
aud l. nov pending before the Senate
committee aud refer you 10 act Of Fcbui.
AIRY ~, 1885. which you viii find at page
3S3 OF I'D volume Of statutes VI large,
a. 4. L. -. Ill. a i.
same a. the Senate and House bills now
pending. | shall be happy 10 give you
access 10 every possible avenue Of inform.
alton during your stay, aud 10 aid yon In
any way that ! can, aud thanking you for
the very kind and courteC,.s manner In
which you have thus far performed the
duties Of your mission, am, very respect.
fully, IsnAN q. llARRis.
This letter 10 oW minds makes Senator
Harris posiiion clear and unmislakable,
but you gcntlcmCn can mad Il aud dfaN
your Cwn exclusions and opinions The
matter Of amendment, which has given
our people 40 much concern. u fully ca
planned The bill introduced Ny the snn
ni0r and passed December, 1856, originally
provided lot not les than sixty-hye feet
above high water. but this Was amcndsd
by the committee aud made eycniy-fyc
iect, and ~ amended passed. the senate
In introducing bis bill In this Congress h,
adopted ihe amendment OF the committee
/ thinking Ecvrnty-iiye feet had been advised
by tie Secretary OF War.
will a,so read and make part Of tl,il
report the statements made by Scnaiol
Harris before the commerce committee q
the senate, before our arrival nj Washing
ton. submit the reporters notes ~ taker
1 DOM In shorthand,