The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-26
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Fear That the President May
Veto the Bill.
APPROPRIATION VERY LARGE.
Importance OF the Measure tn washing
ton-The Cabinet Takes the
Proper View.


harbor men are not little anxious as to
the fate of the river and harbor bill. This
measure is of greater importance to the
people and commercial interests of Wash
ington than any that has in previous
years become law; not so much for the
amount of appropriations for local rivers
contained therein. although in this
respect there is a great i'm
provement over the past, but because
authority is conferred by the act for good
many preliminary examinations and sur
veys, upon which will be based large APP
preparations in the future, for the con-
struction and completion of a
number of much needed and important
river and harbor works. As an illustration
of the value of these initiatory surveys, 1t
can be said that the present bill carries
appropriations for the rivers and
harbors of Oregon in the large
amount of sl,49o. 500. while but q
few years ago nothing of any account
was appropriated. First came the exami-
nations to determine the advisability of
Improvement; next the surveys to formu-
late the engineering projects, and then the
money with which the engineers can do
the work. 1t is only fair to add that in
some of these appropriations, which were
started by Oregon influence, and which are
credited to that state. the people of Wash
ington have an immediate local interest
and will derive direct results from their
completion. Such as the canal at the Cas-
cad, s, for which $4,000 is allowed; the
upper Columbia, including Snake river,
$4,000; and the mouth of Columbia river,
100000.
1t will be peculiarly unfortunate, there.
fore, if the pending measure shall not become
law. Aside from the direct appropria-
ton for Washington rivers, which show
a large increase over former years, the
total amount involved being $112,0
there are contained therein provisions for
nineteen surveys of local rivers and
harbors, all of which must be officially ex-
amined and surveyed before congress can
be expected to appropriate any money to
make them available as commercial routes.
In addition, survey is also authorized
of the upper Snake river in Idaho, up to
the Seven Devils mining districts, to con-
meet that territory with Washington by
steamboat navigation. ALI in all, this
particular river aud harbor bill is Of much
importance to the people of Washington.
As to the fate of the bill, it is hard to
judge. There can be no doubt of its pass
age by congress after the conference COM
mittee has adjusted the differences between
Senate and House, but the course the pres
ident will take awakens some anxiety. To
begin with, President Harrison has never
been, so far as his record shows, much of
a river and harbor man. The state of
which he is a citizen, Indiana, has few
streams susceptible of mprovement-only
two. to be exact-and the amounts al
lowed to them are comparatively insignifi-
can't Then there is but one harbor in In.
diana, Michigan City. under improvement.
When Mr.. Harrison was in the Senate his
action. no doubt, was largely controlled by
this interest, or rather want of local inter-
est, in river and harbor bills; but it is said
by his friends that as president he will
take more comprehensive and national
view of the necessities of the country in
this respect.
Again, it is well known that when the
pending blu was in course of preparation,
and clamorous petitions were coming up
from all sides for big appropriations for
special projects, the president notified the
Republican mem bers of the House COM
miitee on rivers and harbors that when the
measure is presented to him for approval
it must not exceed in the aggregate the al
lowances contained in the bill of August,
1883, which Clevelan d permitted to become
law, but did not sign, or about 500, 600 900.
As is known, high-water mark has been
long since passed with the present bill,
which now carries over SIS, 900, 600.
Another thing which gives rise to appre-
hension on the part of the friends of the
bill is that there now remains over SIS .OO0.-
600 of the appropriation of 1888 unex-
pended, which amount, it is contended by
the economists in the Senate, like Ed
munds OF Vermont, is ample enough to
carry the works through the present season,
or until congress meets again. Under this
argument. it is urged. that the bill might
with safety be postponed until the next
session. and its large appropriations thus
not re permitted to figure in the already
great expenditures authorized at this ses-
sion.
i have been thus precise in stating the
precarious situation of the bill, for the rea-
son that it is one of more than usual i'm
portance to Washington interests. In or
der to give favorable picture, however. it
should be said that the cabinet are nearly
all river and harbor men, and it is upon
them. OF course, the president relies for adj
vice, at least whenever in doubt. Blaine
and Window have ever been strong adyo-
Gates of large appropriations for water
transportation routes, and Rusk comes
from state which is possibly more than
any other interested in such appropria-
tons, owing to its numerous lake harbors.
The rest OF the cabinet give equal support
to improvements of this class.
1t is not necessary to give specific men
ton to the Washington items contained in
the bill, as recently showed their number
and character in this correspondence. The
only new features, as introduced in the
Senate. are the increase of the appropria-
ton for the Columbia river from the head
of Rock Island rapids to the foot of Priest
rapids, from 500 900 to $4,000, the extra
$4,000 TO pay for survey of the river from
the international boundary line to Rock
Island rapids, and the ordering of board
OF engineers to survey a ship canal route TO
connect the waters of Lake Union and
Lake Samamish with Puget sound. fer
which the allowance is $4,000
General Henderson. chairman of the riy-
ers and harbor committee. tells me that he
has the best of reasons for believing that
the president will let the bill became a law.
Meanwhile its friends are getting ready to
do battle in its behalf with all the vim and
enthusiasm of the crusaders of old.
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