The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-28
FIRST DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
col. LESTER ON MEASURES BE-
FORE CONGRESS.

The Harbor Improvements Appropria-
tons for Georgia-The Public Build
ing Rills-The Force Bill Fight-Col.
Lester to Visit Bis District Before
Returning to Washington.
Hon. Rufus e. Lester was seen by a
MORNING News reporter yesterday, and
was asked as to the status Of legislation
affecting the First district. When it is
considered that he has confined himself so
closely TO the duties of a Congressman, miss
ing no meetings except until his recent
illness, no one is better prepared to speak OF
pending legislation.
Col. Lester says that the appropriation in
the river and harbor bill for this port will
stand. He succeeded in getting the
three million dollar project Endorsed,
and this will insure an appropriation Of
$3.50, 900 this year if the bill passes the Sen
ate and is received with favor by the Presi-
dent, which Col. Lester believes will follow.
THE BRUNSWICK APPROPRIATION.
Col. Lester says it is hoped to get large
appropriation for the Brunswick hsrbor as
a sequence to the bill passed providing for
q
with a view TO deepen the approaches TO
that port.
An appropriation of S25, coo is provided
for the port Of Darien in the river and
harbor bill. so that Congressman Lester has
lost no opportunity to look after harbor
interests of the Georgia coast, his
district including every seaport III the
state. Deep harbors being necessary adJuncts
to the prosperity of the entire state, as the
- AaI1 foracf and must
pass through these waterways to the mar
kets of the world, Col. Lester has done
faithful service to the district and state on
the river and harbor committee, and with
marked success, as his views have been
Endorsed by the action OF the committee and
the House.
THE DISTRICTS PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The bills for an appropriation for public
building at Brunswick, and for an in
crease for the public building at Sa-
vannah have been favorably re-
ported upon, and are ready to be
taken up by the committee of the whole,
but Col. Lester says the republicans have
run short Of money and the bills are hang
ing fire.
The bill authorizing the construction of
the South Bound railroad bridge over the
Savannah river near Kuklux ferry Col.
Lester says has passed the House, but has
not yet been acted upon by the Senate, but
it will not be antagonfzed.
TO GO OVER THE DISTRICT.
The question was asked Col. Lester II,
the force bill will become a law
In reply he said it is hard to predict the re-
suit. Reed, Lodge and Chandler have de-
termined upon that plan for reversing the
wishes of the people at the polls. but Col
Lester added that the more conservative re-
publicans in the Senate do not appear TO
think that the party can afford to go before
the country after the passage of such bill,
which would disturb the present peaceable
and prosperous condition of the south,
taking the position that the southern states
should be left to conduct their own cleo
tions, as the states of the north do, and let
the southern people decide on other issues
in the natural way. Still, Col. Lester
thinks that an effort may be made to force
the republican Senate TO follow the leader
ship of Reed and change its rules and pass
the bill This is the only way it can be
carried, Col. Lester says, as under the pres
ent rules of the Senate the opposition can
talk the bill to death.
COL TESTERS OPPOSITION.
"What are your chances for a renomi-
nation" Col. Lester was asked.
Col Lester replied that he had not been
giving the matter mucn attention, as he
had been kept very close in congress until
his recent attack of chills and fever, and as
result he had not time to give much
thought to the convention. In fact, he said
that up to last week he was not aware that
there would be any opposition to his renom-
ination. He added that he does not know
what is the situation in the district, but he
understands that the greater part of the
counties have selected delegates.
Col Lester expects to visit portions OF the
district before he returns to Washington,
and while there are some counties which
have favorite sons they desire to compli-
ment for ballot or so in the convention, it
is not believed here by Col Testers friends
that the district will depart from the usual
custom and fail to return him to congress
after having made such fair record in the
present House.
Col. Lester left last night for Appling
county, and will probably make tour of
the counties on the other side Of the Alta
maha before his return. His friends do not
propose to remain idle from now until the
convention, which will convene at Way
cross Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Col. Lester prepared a letter yesterday in
reply to one received from friend, and it
is understood the answer deals with public
affairs. 1t will doubtless be given to the
press during the week.