Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-28
THE DOODLE BORE.
Report Of the Committee on the
Washington Aqueduct Tunnel
MUCH MONEY FOUND TO BE WASTED.
Chances of the Oklahoma Bill Being Con-
sidered-Programme of the Inaugu-
ration of President-eIect Hsr-
riSOn.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The long looked
for report of the Joint Congressional Com
mittee on the aqueduct was presented to
the Senate by Senator Edmunds, the
chairman of the committee, yesterday
afternoon. The report is voluminous and
is accompanied by report of the COM
mittee of experts which, under direction
of committee, made an investigation OF
the condition of the tunnel.
The committee says that it appears from
the report of the experts and from the
testimony taken to be beyond all ques-
ton that substantially the whole and
every part of the lining of the tunnel is alb
solutely and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, and that
there is not ten feet of the lining where
the backing is not wanted. The committee
has no just grounds to believe, from the
evidence, that either Major Leidecker or
Lieutenant Townsend was guilty of any
corruption, or had any personal knowl-
edge of such, but that they, with the chief
inspector, must have been guilty of great
negligence of duty, for it seems impossible
to conceive that the sham work could have
gone on without being discovered if any
of the engineers connected with the work
of the inspectors had done their duty.
The committee thinks 1t would cost
5000, 900 to put the tunnel in the condition
in which it should be. The report crit
icises the original plan of the work and
says if it had been submitted to the board
of engineers at the time the work was I'M
dertaken it would never have been
adopted.
The fact that so great an amount of
money has been expended, the committee
says, does not furnish the ground for
spending more. The committee does
not favor spending any more money
on this tunnel, and thinks that
for the present it should be left in the
condition in which it is. The committee
therefore reports an amendment intended
to be reported to the Deficiency bill ap-
propriating $4,000 for the survey of line
for substantial surface gravity conduit
from the present distribution reservoir
in the city of Washington to be made
by the chief of engineers, under the
direction of the Secretary of War.
This survey when made is to be reported
to Congress- together with detailed plans
and drawings, showing its location, char
acter and statement of the length of time
required for its construction, with de-
tailed estimate of the cost including land
damages, and all other things perta ming
thereto, for the information and considera-
ton Of Congress, one-half of the appro-
priation to be paid out of the United
States treasury aud one-half by the Dis
trict of Columbia.
OKLAHOMA CHANCES.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The continual
ton of the Appropriation bill in the Senate
yesterday again precluded action in favor
of any other of the pending measures.
What is now left for consideration must
be forced before the Senate, and one of
the bills which will be presented with much
force will be Oklahoma. The lateness of
the day and the threats of the small oppo-
sition has discouraged many of the
friends, and their ranks are so added to
every day that the matter is delayed. Still,
Senator Cullom and Representatives Peters
and Springer entertain the strongest hope
that it may get through. They evince nc
signs of Encouragement While the time
is short they assure themselves that the
bill will go through if brought up, as the
small opposition will find it necessary to
forego much to accomplish other ends in
which they are more interested. 1t is to
be hoped that this will be the right solu-
ton.
The outsiders who have remained here
have quit work, and all now depends upoI
the few members of Congress having the
question in charge. If the bill should be
one of the last passed, it will have to &c
through another ordeal in reaching the
favorable consideration and signature OF
the President, though it is said that he is
prepared to sign it. 1t is now said that il
will be called up to-day.