Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-19
RIVERSANDHARB0RS
REFORM DEMANDED IN TIE APPRo-
PRiATloNS FOR WATERWAYS.
How the james River Suffers from the
Present system-The Appropriations
for Public Buildings Unjust.
From Our Regular Correspondent

lFrom Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 1s.-During the first
session Of the Fifty-frst Congress large
river and harbor bill was passed carrying
nearly twenty-five million dollars OF appro-
priations. These bills have been falling
pretty regularly every other year, and no.
thing was voted for the improvement Oh
the waterways Of the country stlthe last
session for the reason that leading states
men considered there was already enough
available available money to carry oS ON tne
Besides, 1t was late IN the session when
the money now available was Appropriated,
and very little work could be done that
year. That the uncompleted worh on
many of the rivers and harbors has suner-
ed there is not the slightest doubt; AS
soon as the weather becomes settled the
engineers will begin operations generally.
In the far South they have been working
on the various projects.
GREAT MISTAKE.
The leading men in Congress all admit
that it is great mistake to DO voting IN:
adequate sums Of money for projects that
will undoubtedly be Of the greatest i'm
portance to the commerce OF certain sec
tons, but as long as river and haroor Oils
are passed on the log-rolling plan no re-
form may be expected, Inc money 10
spread over such q vast territory ana IL
distributed in such fashion that at least
one fifth that is appropriated goes to
projects that are not worthy to be IN
cluded in the bill. The James river, Tor
instance, usually gets not one third OF the
sum that the engineers report can be
proftsbly expended within year. and
..yl,s III. AGA hn IN
not only of the contiguous territory IN
Virginia, but would be of advantage TO 80
many other States that the Improvement
sought becomes national in its character.
GROSS INJUSTICE.
Not less than $400,0 900 should have been
appropriated for James river In the last
bill that WAS passed: but the Jerk-water
streams in various portions of the country
had to come in for "pickings," and the
consequence is that one OF the most I'M
portant works in the United States
has to be kept waiting, and the
money that is allotted to this work
is given out in such driblets that
il will take many years to carry out the
plans of the engineers with regard TO the
James river. What is true of this river
applies TO many others, not only In VIZ
ginia but in other States. Some day there
may be different system OF making the
appropriations, but il can hardly be e1-
pected as long as log-rolling goes on among
the members of Congress.
ANOTHER REFORM REQUIRED.
In the matter of public-building appro-
preparations there will also have to be o
change if equal distribution of the funds
in the Treasury is TO be made.i The Repub-
licans in the last Congress raked every
thing that was in sight and allowed the
Democrats TO get comparatively little. OF
the soft pick-ups that were floating
around. Probably in the next few
years the proposition TO make O
general appropriation for public buildings
in the smaller cities will be carried out.
II will be remembered that there was
bill reported tavorably in the last Con-
gress to appropriate the sum OF $4,000, 600
annually for buildings, none under the
general act, however, to cost over go, COG.
For buildings to cost more special bills
would have 10 be passed.
MONEY WASTED.
A great deal Of money is now wasted un-
der the system that prevails. For instance,
cities of the smaller grades get approprla:
tons of $4,000 and 800, 900, whereas half
these amounts would erect buildings amply
large for the requirements of the public
service. IL a general law could be passed
a saving in the end would not only be the
result, but the town of 10000 and $4,000 in
hsbitants could have post-office buildings
eventually which would cost only from
SlO,O 900 to 800, 900, though large enough for
these places.
THE LYNCHBURG PosTslAsTERsHIP.
The department officials are quite re-
ticent regarding the Lynchburg post-office
matter. Undoubtedly the enemies OF
James NJ. Mclaughlin are doing their ut
most to prevent his appointment during
the recess and they have filed, 80 1t IS re-
ported some new charges against him.
Just what they are cannot be learned, as
the officials at the department refuse to
allow any one to peep at the re-
cords in the case. Some Of them admit that
there is great opposition to Mclaughlin,
and really If the truth were known
IL is likely that the Postmaster-G General is
not particularly anxious to aid McLaugh-
lin. Mr.. Wanamaker was not tor him IN
the first place, and il he could have had
his way the nomination of Bocock would
have been sent to the Senate before the
adjournment instead of the name Of Nc.
Laughlin. 1t was stated on the best OF
authority several days before the President
took action that the papers at the depart
ment were made out for Bocock, and the
name of Mclaughlin was substituted al
most at the last moment.
MLAUGHLlN CHANCES.
The President usually sticks TO his selec-
tions. and for this reason il is believed
here by most persons that he will appoint
Mclaughlin unless there should be very
damaging charges preferred against HIM
rejecting upon his integrity. &c, far 1t ls
not known that there are any charges OF
this nature, but they are rather OF a po-
litical character and the result of the bit
ter feeling between the rival Republican
factions at Lynchburg and in other ,por-
tions of the State. Pat. McCaull has been
enthusiastic for Mclaughlin and is still for
him. The President will probably settle
the matter one way or the other IN the
course of few days.
OTHER APPOINTMENTS.
II tho President intends to take up
again all of the men who We're not con-
frmed by the Senate he will appoint
shortly not only Mclaughlin as postmaster
at Lynchburg, but Hill, the colored man,
postmaster at Vicksburg, and Young, the
collector of customs at Wilmington. The
North Carolina Republicans, who have
been bitterly opposing Young, profess 70
want another colored man appointed.
His name is Taylor, but he is no i'm
provement over Young, and If there
is to be a negro collector the Democrats OF
that city and section would probably Just
as soon have Young as Taylor or any
other negro. Not much difference, but OF
course there Is general resentment of the
selection of any colored man when there
ought TO be material enough In the Re
publican party of Wilmington to find
capable white man for tue office.
PosT-oFFICRs AND PosrMAsTEBs.
Post-offices have been established in Viz
GINA as follows: Hutchinson. Wise county.
Nancy j. Hutchinson. postmaster; Lard,
Dinwiddie county, Matte Il. Gibbs, post
master.
North Carolina postmasters were APP
pointed to-day as follows: 4. =. Hayes,
n IL. l. .,,kt s~fN II n