Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-07-25

a yisduct over the railroad tracks at the
foot of Twenty>fourth street, was prac-
tically killed in the senate on Saturday
last, as is already too well known. The
dispatches from Washington simply stat
cd that Senator Edmunds moved to rein.
sert the clause which had been stricken
out requiring the city of Rock Island TO
deposit one-half the cost of construction
in the treasury of the United States; and
on account of the lateness of the hour.
Senator Allison had agreed to it. Later
reports, however, disclose the fact that
Allison failed to show the friendship he
had claimed for the measure, and instead
of attempting to defeat Edmunds' motion,
readily aauiesced in it, and seemed to be
a party to the scheme to defeat it. The
people of the three cities had been led to
confidently believe that the viaduct bill
was all right, which supposition would
have been correct had it not been me-
elected and betrayed in the house of its
professed trends.
The appropriation for the development
OF the water power pool was also attacked
by the vicious Vermonter. but with only
slight concession, was agreed to, Senators
Allison, and Cullom making determined
stand for its retention. for wonder.
The Congressional Record contains full
report of the discussion upon these two
subjects, part of which we append:
Mr.. Edmunds. l move to amend the
till on page 63. line 70. beginning after
the word that" to the end of line %.
Down TO line 10, including the lend, in
the print / have, it has already been
stricken out. | move to strike out the
rest of what appears in the print;
That so much Of the conditions attached to said
appropriation in said sundry civil set as requires
the work shall not be commenced until the city OF
Rock Island shall deposit in the treasury of the
United States one-han OF said appropriation to-
wards rembursing the United States for the eX
pendture be, and the same is hereby, repealed.
Now, Mr. President. have this to say
upon this question: II was only year
and q half ago, when, as supposed after
a full considerstion-perhap the same
sort of consideration that we give to
these SUBJECTS tonight-tbe congress of
the United States on the I'd day of March.
1889. in the appropriation bill made this
provision about this viaduct-
Mr.. Allison. II the senator will allow
me one moment.
MIR. Edmunds. Certainly.
Mr.. Allison. At this hour of the night
| would rather. as far as l am concerned
or have any authority about this ques-
ton or any voice about it, consent to the
striking all of the proposition rather than
have any more time spent in the debate.
Here is q nice confession, surely. Mr..
Allison says, las far as | am concerned or
hsye any authority" The natural infer
ence of this language is that the Iowa
senator had no interest whatever in the
measure, and that no attempt had been
made by our valuable (3) member to Sc
cure his influence. He had no delegated
authority to look after the matter and it
wss simply allowed to go by default.
The Record continues:
The Presiding Officer. The chair will
call the attention of the senator from YER
mont TO the fact that in line 2 the word
provided" has been stricken out by the
committee, so that il will be necessary to
go back to that.
Mr.. Edmunds. 1 do not mind about
that. II the senator from Iowa in charge
of this bill, since we had small discus
sion about this matter day or twO ago,
has become satisfied that it is for the pub
lie interest to strike that thing out, then,
of course, if the other senators agree with
him, have nothing to say; but there is
history about this business that would be
interesting if anybody insisted that pro-
vision ought to stay in.
Mr.. Allison. If there is any history
about it, | shall sit down patiently and
hear it, II the senator from Vermont
supposes or indicates by that observation
of his that this provision was inserted in
the bill in 1889 without full discussion
and understanding of every provision and
every detail of it., then | shall be glad to
hear him explain how that is.
Mr.. Edmunds. 1t is exactly the re-
verse, Mr.. President. | seem TO be very
unfortunate today in exciting the sensi-
bilities of my friends, because it was ex-
actly what was going to say, that the
provision OF 1889 was undoubtedly
adopted after careful consideration, and
that / was endeavoring now 10 show to
the senate that it ought not to be reversed
in less than a year and half without
some very potent reason for it. That is
my point IL the senator from Iowa
agrees with me about that then il is not
necessary for me TO say anything more
upon that point certainly did not mean
to imply any reflection upon him.
Mr.. Allison. will say merely this:
OF course this is a matter OF public inter-
est. in which every senator here does the
best he can This matter came to us
from the house of representatives upon
the statement made by those who knew
most about it, that it was impossible to
secure the assent of the city of Rock ISIS
and to pay its half of this property, and
that this was necessary in the interests of
the government, and in public interests.
That may be so, or it may not be SO.
think the world will not come to an
end if this matter should be postponed
for another year, or even five years, and
therefore am perfectly willing TO let it
60.
Mr.. Edmunds. am satisfied.
The Presiding Officer. The question
is on the amendment Of the senator from
Vermont to strike out the lines indicated.
The amendment was agreed to.
And thus ended all chances of secur>
ing an appropriation for the much
lied viaduct at this session OF con-
os.
iihe water power pool appropriation
y came up for consideration:
ar. Edmunds-Now. Mr.. President
&c to strike out on page 50. lines II