The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-13
MS RIVER ana Harhor BIZ.

Jn9 6lVer ana darcOr Bill
According to our dispatches yesterday
there is strong probability that the river
and harbor bill VIII not be passed at this
session Of congress There is disposition
among the republicans TO let it go over until
the next session, for the reason that they
are afraid that if it should bs passed there
would be deficiency. They want - make
large appropriations for pensions and sub
sides, and they think thoss things are of
far more importance than the Improvement
Of the waterways and harbors. In other
words, they want to use all the money that
is available for those things which they
thi1k will help the Republican party in the
congressional elections next fall.
a. There ought to be strong protests against
such partisan and selfish policy from every
part of the country in which there is the
least interest felt in rivers or hArbors.
Already the river aud harbor improvements
have been neglected so long that they have
suffered great damage. 1t will require
many thousands Of dollars to put them in as
good condition as they were when work
upon them was stopped If they should be
virtually abandoned for another year it
would take very large part of any appro-
priation that might. be made to repair the
damage that would be done to them in their
unfinished state by the currents and storms.
The Republican party, however, does not
seem TO care whether the public money is
wasted or not. Its chief purpose is to re-
tain control of the government, and it
thinks that the appropriation Of $50, 100000
or $4,000, 900 more to pensions will help it
do that. The fact that commerce is suffer
ing for improved waterways and harbors
does not make any impression upon it.
1t was suspected a few days ago when the
republican majority refused to take up the
river and harbor bill that there was an in
tention not to pass the bill at this
session. 1t would not be at all surprising if
it should appear that the republican
caucus had acted upon the question whether
or not this bill should be passed at this ses-
sion. Nearly all legislation is now shaped
in the republican caucus. The minority are
not consulted about anything. They are
permitted to make few speeches on meas
ures that come before the House for the
sake Of appearances, but it makes little diff
ference what they say. The voice of the
caucus is obeyed even though the democrats
are able to show that the caucus has de-
cided wrongly.
As a matter of fact, very small minor
ity are directing the bufiness of the House.
A majority of the caucus rules, and that
majority are not more than third of the
House. That third, however, with Mr..
Reed in the chair, are sufficient to decide
the fate of any bill.
Savannah has been waiting patiently for
this congress to give her liberal appropri-
alton for her harbor. She needs deeper
water to the sea. Her commerce is suffer-
ing for it. The sooner she gets it the better
it viii be for all her great interests. No
doubt the same thing could be truthfully
said about other important harbors.
Is there any probability that the country
viii be in better financial condition next
year? There is not. The additional amount
that will be voted to pensions this year is
not for this year alone. 1t is for next year
also, and every succeeding year as long as
the pensioners live. Indeed, there is every
probability that the annual pension burden
will be steadily increased. and that the
financial condition of the country will not
be so good next year as it is this.
The west is as deeply interested in the
rivers and harbors as the south, and the
west and south should join forces and de-
mand that the bill be passed at this session.
Unless some such action is taken the chances
are that there will be no appropriation for
rivers and harbors this year.