The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-03
SAVANNAH'S SMALL SUM
ruH HOUSE FAILS TO VOTE OVER
$4,000 FOR THE RIVER.

Project Recognized in the Btll-Mr.
blanchard Leads the Opposition
BECAUSE the Measure Inaugurates
No New Schemes.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.--The Georgia dele
oaton. except Mr. Norwood, who is de-
famed IN Savannah, made determined
fobt in the House this afternoon to secure
recognition by 100000 appropriation for
the 2s-foot project for improving Savannah
harbor. 1t was defeated by the opposition
of the committee on rivers and harbors, the
vote standing on the division 20 in the
affirmative to 81 in the negative.
Mr. Crisp brought the proposition for
ward, stating as be offered the amendment
lappropriating 700 to begin work on
tbs project to give Savannah a 2S-foot
channeD that he did it at the sug-
qestion of Mr.. Norwood Mr.. Grip
said it was not necessary to enlarge on the
commercial importance of Savannah har-
bor. A former project for its improvement
had been completed, and new project to
give it 28-foot channel was now proposed.
The committee on rivers and harbors had
simply ignored it, putting in the bill only
a $4,000 appropriation TO maintain the
existing Improvement. The estimate for
the last project had been duly made and
submitted under the act of Congress direct
ing that this could be done. The estimate
called for q much larger sum than that sug
gestel in this amendment.
BLANCHARD REPLIES.
Chairman Blanchard replied on behalf of
the river and harbor committee, that the
appropriation of S1S0,000 made last year
to complete the Improvement, had not been
extended vet nor had the project been
completed, hence the committee, which had
determined to make no appropriation for
new projects, had simply appropriated
$4,000 to maintain the existing work. The
only recOmme dation the committee or the
House had from the chief Of engineers or
the war department was of $50, 900 to MAIN
tain existing work. The new project had
not been recommended by either the board
of engineers, chief engineer or the war de-
partment 1t rested simply on the report
made by the local engineer. That report,
which the committee saw last session, indi-
Gates that the proposed improvement would
cost eventually nearly 100000. This, the
committee thought, was too big work to
begin in a bill brought in the short session
of congress when no other new projects
were to begin.
THE 26-FOoT PROJECT.
Mr. Turner asked Mr.. Blanchard whether
it was not true that the engineers had made
an estimate of an Improvement looking to
q twenty-sx foot channel at a much less
cost.
Mr. Blanchard said he was not aware Of
it. The only recommendation from the
chief of engineers was for the maintenance
of the existing improvements.
AIr. Crisp rose again to read some extracts
from Lieut. Carriers report, showing the
lmp0rta zee of Savannah harbor, and the
gradual increase in Savanuah's commerce
II proportion as SavanHah's chanuel was
improved. He contended that such a ha
Dor demanded and deserved large appro-
prlations, and that $500, 900 was
Ommende1. He thou zht that the
house had all the information it needed
and ali the estimates it needed to show the
neceS ty for the work The only ground
for objection on the part OF the river and
haTbor committee seemed to be that it
lad determined not to enter upon
any new projects, but at Savannah they
must do SO. Their own bill showed that
the old project was completed. They ap-
propnated for its maintenance. 1t was
time to 90 forward and further improve
the harbor.
BLANCHARD STICKS TO IT.
Mr. Blanchard, in replying, insisted that
The committee had no estimate except that
from tie Local engineer, and they admitted
mat That was the only kind of estimate the
committee ever had, and that the only
Fecommendations ever made by the chief
OF engineers or the Secretary Of War were
IA cases where projects lad been adopted
Oy congress. However, he insisted that the
great cost OF the new project oIgnt to make
lAe House hesitate, as it had made tue
committee hesitate, until the old project
was iin he'd A vote was then had on the
sIendment. The nays had it ON viva voce,
put Mr.. Crisp insisted on a division. The
ueorgla members present stood up in the
eiIufGmatiye, al Ge, and with them Messrs Elliott
VI south Carroll a, Amos Cumming, Kill
gore and Grain of Texas, and few others,
Twelve in all,
THE OPPOSITION.
IN the negative were the river and harbor
SSgGHqttee and their a herents, including
MT; davidson Of Florida, thirty-one in all
mr. Sowden of Pennsylvania made an at
@ ,ack upon the bill as being extravagant and
%aSteIui, and directed his criticism espe-
TsnJ against the improvements IN Texas.
@ 4n5s Drought rejoinder from Messrs. Grain
- U o.e"art OF Texas. Mr.. Grain moved
p Posl increase the appropriation for Arkansas
ass from $4,000 to $l47, 200. The amend
ment was rejected.
Ia sole -, L. heeler of Alabama expressed him
rivoo as IN Iavor of liberal expenditures for
~ 'nu harDor Improvement
GRAINS PERsIsTENCY
oraaI. ~ Nraln made various endeavors to in
SIe StI"oe Vhe appropriations for Aransas Pass.
wi
erd standing the persistency of his efforts
tbo igl .ue emphasis with which he dwelt upon
in euaI, Importance Of his propositions, he was
"Teyery case voted down.
fo.t Cutcleon Of Michigan, made an ef-
ton fo soI secure an increase Of the appropra-
laGaiAoor Aor the harbor Of refuge at Portage
bot iT iTanu would have been successful bad
Go @ mr. CheadIe of Indiana interiected
PoiuI oI no quorum
49o o' committee then rose and the House at
tbe g Nolqmtt will make an effort to have
scto. senate commerce committee repeat it's
s6S ooo Oh last session by Incorporating a
bar ~ ~ appropriation for Savannah har-
oysr ~ ~ lne ne river and harbor bill when it goes
cee5 ;" .he Sen to. He will probably sue
mem ana also in keeping the amend
6t >. the bill in the Senate.
il sa1 Sne house will not agree to
in tba tib'a, ,anah ,ahnah will probably have to wait
ccpero.. .ePublican party begins in the next
and bsstC Cne liberal appropriation for rivers
irepdts' t'i ~ oors 9 which are expected to win it
III the south aud west.