The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-31
INTER-LAKE
COM N UNICATION.
Plans for Deep Water Ways to
the Atlantic.
Advantages to the Shipping Interest Of the
NOTthWest-ThG Popular Vote Amend
mGlt-DGmOcTatiC Caucus.
Epeclal TO THE MORNING GALL

l!Ou OF Lne representatives OF t06 Deep
Water Way Convention held in Detroit in
December last were given hearing to-day
before the House Committee on Rivers and
Harbors and the Senate Committee on
Commerce, in joint session. These commit
tees have in charge the preparation of the
regular River and HarbOr Appropriation
Bill The purpose Of the delegation was to
urge the construction and maintenance Of
21-foot channel from the head Of Lake Su-
rerior through the various connecting lakes
between the great lakes and through Erie
Canal to the sea.
Delegate Thompson said the total expend-
lures in the improvement of the great
lakes has been less than $50 The
saving in the last year due 20 lake transport
tatiOn was $500 900 more than the cost of
Improvements. All that has been accom-
plished in the past by giving sixteen feet Of
water would not only be duplicated. but en-
hauced ten-fold by the expenditure of
something over SO, 600, 900 to secure depth
Of twenty feet. lie thought very little
need be added to secure the appropriation
desired.
Canada spent almost 100000 upon her
water ways. Inside Of five years there
would be a clear water way Of fourteen feet
through Canadian soil from the head Of
! Lake Superior to the Atlantic. When Can
| ada has fourteen feet OF water way and the
| United States only six feet through the
| Erie Canal we could no more compete with
| her than wheel barrow with freight
| train. Thompson said { there was going to
| be a revival Of American shipping the
| great lakes is the place to begin. Its vessel
| Interests were large and would be enormous
| If they could get ii TO the ocean and engage
| in ocean voyages during the five winter
| months, In which they were now idle.
/ Firms or the lake had undeTbid coast firms
| fer construction of American war-Yessels,
! and the bids we're rejected, not because they
! were not responsible bidders, but solely be-
cause of our treaty with Great Britain. EX-
\ State Senator Sloan Of New \ Y0Tk addressed
| himself to the resolution Of the Water Ways
| Convention, urging an appropriation Of
/ $1,000 for a complete survey from the
/ lOkes to the SeaboaTd.
The Secretary of War to-day transmitted
! to Congress Major Heuer's report on the
! San Joaquin River, the substance of which
/ has heretofore been printed in these dis
/ patches
ELECTIONS BY POPULAR VOTE.
The House Committee on the Election of
| President and Vice President and Congress
men BY 4 formal vote to-day approved the
/ principle that United States Senators
/ should be elected by the people Of the re-
| spective States. The question Of the de-
| tails Of an amendment to the Constitution
| TO this effect was referred 70 a special meet
/ ing TO be held next Wednesday.
! Senator Mitchell of Oregon feels very
| gratitied over the action of the House Con-
mittee on Elections of President, Vice
President and Congressman, in approving
| by formal vote to-day the principle that
| United States Senators should be elected by
| direct vote of the people. While the major
| ity OF the committee agree that the principle
| Is all right there is a diversity Of opinion as
| 10 whether this mode of election should be
optional with the several States or cOmpul-
sorry.
DENIAL FROM BLOUNT.
The Post Tomorrow will say that the
story that Blaine IS to be summoned before
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to
tell how it happened that there was so
much alleged delay in informing the Prtsi-
dent Of the reply to the ultimatum is denied
by BlOunt, Chairman of the committee. Il
am sure" said Mr.. BlOunt, when the Pres
ident sent the message to Congress that be
did not know that a reply to his note to
Chile had been received nor did any one
else. For, according to the best nfOrma-
tiOn | have been able to obtain, am con-
vinced that the reply did not come till
Tuesday, after. the reading OF the message
in the House"
THE CAUCUS ON RULES
The Democratic caucus called for tonight
for the purpose Of considering the action
upon the proposed rules Was poorly at
tended, only 12l members being present
Speaker Crisp took the floor for twenty-five
minutes in support of the code of rules
recommended by the Committee on Rules.
His remarks were vigorous and commanded
deep attention. After a great deal of de-
bate the rules were approved by a vote of
so to S, and though there was some OppOsi-
tiOn raised on the ground of no quorum,
the caucus adjourned.
REGAUGING OF SPIRITS.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenues
has issued a regulation to Collectors of In
ternal Revenue in regard to the regauging
Of spirits on Withdrawal from warehouses.
The regulation in effect authorizes the al
lowance for the loss actually Occasoned by
absorption, evaporation and leakage. after
a package OF spirits had been entered in a
warehouse, by providing for the collection
of the tax on the actual number of proof
gallons in the package at the time of with
drawal.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND LIBRARIES.
Representative Davis, the Alliance men,
Der from Kansas, to-day introduced a bill
authorizing the erection of Postoffice build
ings in places Of more than 5000 inhabIt-
ants, and in places Of less population where
such place is q county seat the buildings to
cost net less than $1,000 nor more than
S50,000. In the second stories of the build
ings there snail be public Libraries.
GRIDIRON CLUB BANQUET
The seventh annual anniversary dinner
Of the GridirOn Club was given tonight at
the Arlington. 1t was brilliant affair.
The guests included the President all the
members of the Cabinet except Blaine,
Tracy and Wanamaker; large number Of
the members Of Congress, officers of the
army aud navy, and a number of railway
officials.
WOODS CONFIRMATION PROBABLE.
No further hearings will be held by the
Senate Committee on Judiciary in the mat
ter Of the continuation of Judge Woods as
one OF the new Circuit Judges. 1t is said
the committee will report faYoraby upon
the confirmation of - udge Woods. together
with that Of the other Circuit Judges, upon
which action is postponed pending the set
tlement of the Woods case.
DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Mrs. Harrison entertained at dinner to-
night at the White House Mrs. John A.
Sleicher. wife of the editor of the New York
Mail and EXPRESS; Mrs. W. j. Arkell, Mrs.
Bernard Gillian and Mrs. George w.
Daniels, of New York. together with Mrs.
Russell Harrison and Mrs Dimmick. After
the dinner the party occupied box at the
National Theater.
CALIFORNIA PENSIONS.
Pensions have been granted to the fol-
lowing CalifOrnianS: Cortland II. Dodge,
Charles IL, AckermaD, William Falk, Amos
L. Crowell, z. Lyon. Thomas M. lngle,
William II. Walden Jr.. John Birmingham,
Conrad Carrolich, Philip r. Leroy, Levi II.
Gist Adam Pickel. William c. Ford, Ell
nathan Lewis, Patrick Maloney, Joseph K.
Kelly, Constantine Casser, Alexander Ed
wards and Mary Smith
DUBOIS TO KEEP HIS SEAT.
The Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections will submit report to the Senate
to-day, recommending that Senator Dubois
Of Idaho retain his seat.
RESTORED TO HEALTH.
Secretary Foster arrived this afternoon
from Fortress Monroe The tact, that he
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