The Russellville Democrat., 1893-09-21
GIVE US A CHANCE.
The South is interested ia the River and
 Harbor Bill.
NUMEROUS WATERWAYS
In Southern Sfatea--Its Commerce De. mAnds Liberal Expenditure of
 Money Upon the Rivers.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-Repre- sentative Ssyers, of Texas, chair man of house committee on ap- propriations, in conversation with a newspaper correspondent, said ] that he was inclined to think from what he had heard various members say, that there would be no re cess of congress in October or No vember, but that the session would go right along. He said also that he was aware of the fact that quite a number of the most prominent members thought it would be a good plan to take a recess as soon as the seaate disposes of the financial bill, but the present indications were that 1t might be two months or more before vote Is reached in the senate on the Voor- hees bill, and in the meantime the house would go on with general leg islation. There were, he added, a great many matters that could be taken up, and in about three weeks the treasury department would have ready the estimates so that the ap- propriations committee could pro- ceed with the bills.
 If congress remains in continu- ous session, 1t Is the purpose of the rivers and harbors committee to 1 frame their bill for the improvement of the waterways within the next three months. They are not doing anything at present, for the reason that, like the appropriations com mittee, they have not been furnished with the estimates by the treasury department. Gen. Casey, the chief of the bureau of engineers, adopted new policy this year of not giving out the annual reports made by the local engineers of the various pro- jects under way Heretofore this information has been furnished to the press, and through the papers the interested localities have been given much of value about their i'm provements and the probable amounts necessary to carry on the work for the coming year. Just why Gen. Casey adopted this plan no one seems to know.
 The South is greatly interested in the success of the river and harbor bill. It scatters more money in that section than anything passed by congress. The South has immense waterways, and its commerce de- mands a liberal expenditure of money upon the rivers. The South has to pay it's full share of the enorm- ous sums required annually to pay the pensions, and of course gets very l'ttle back. The amount paid to Mexican veterans is insignificant.
 It has been two years since a river and harbor bill was passed. Presi dent Cleveland has never been over friendly to these appropriations be- cause he claims that along with the worthy items are included a great many that have no merit, and which ought not to be in cluded in the measure, but as he cannot veto separate items he has accepted the whole, though with a very wry face. He has urged upon congressman the necessity of guard ing against the 'duck stream" ap- propriations, and when one con- '9- CTS the large number of rivers and harbors appropriated for it will be readily seen that some bad projects slip in, but as the total sum is vast aid to commerce it will make but little difference.
 Some of the more economical statesmen insist that the state of the treasury is so low that it is nonsense to talk of passing river and harbor bill this session, but as sure as the session ends so sure will the coun- try have a river and harbor bill. It is believed that should the president see it to veto it the measure would be passed over his head. The con- gressmen want these appropriations, and they are going to have them, though the chances are the lump sum will not be so large as is usu ally voted.
 Many enemies of the plan of inn proving the great rivers of the coun- try such as the Mississippi, Missou- II, Arkansas and Ohio, make the convenient excuse of no money in the treasury, but the friends of the rivers understand their schemes. These men do not want the Father of Waters properly improved be- cause they know it would divert trade from the East For the same req son they are opposed to doing any thing for the Gulf of Mexico, and they are as much opposed to pro- viding a deep harbor on the Pacific slope. As regards the Mississippi, they charge that a great portion of the money is spent on levees and that it is used for the protection of private property, forgetting that levees are necessary to eonfne the the water to the river and thus maintain the channel.
 As previously noted in this cor the river and harbor committee of the house is fortunate in having such strong friends on it as Chairman Blanchard and Gen.