The record-union., 1894-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
Yesterdays Proceedings in the House
and Senate.

Yesterdays Proceedings in the House
and Senate.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-An attempt
was to have been made to-day by Josephs,
the New Mexico delegate, to pass the bill
for the admission of that Territory to
Statehood, under suspension of the rules,
but it being apparent that the emocrats
did not have quorum present. he de-
cided not TO make the effort.
Without transaeting any routine busi-
ness, the House went into Committee of
the Whole, and the consideration of the
sunury civil bill was resumed. The para
graph appropriating S750,0O0, to be eX-
pended under the direction Of the Mis-
souri, River Commission, was then pend
ing discussion.
Catchings continued for a brief time his
argument against the parcelling out by
restriction portions of the river and har-
Dor appropriations made under the con-
tinuing contract system.
Hermann (Rep.) of Oregon eulogized
the contract system of the waterways OF
the country, the Inauguration OF which.
he said, was one OF the grandest achieve
ments of the Fifty-frst Congress.
Loud of California criticised the in
Justice of the system to those who are
not in on the proposition" No man was
better able to defend the system than Mr..
Catchings, nor to second it than Mr..
Hermann, both of whom had projects
in which they were interested in the
system. His objections to the river and
harbor improvements were that they
were not made to benefit the whole coGn-
try, but to satisfy certain interests.
Hainer of Nebraska criticised severely
the work OF the Missouri River Commits
sion. OF the S4,000,000 appropriated ST.,
$4,000 had been used in the same reach
of fourteen miles at Jefferson City. AT
the present rate it would require SSO, O,000,-
00O and 10 years TO reach Sioux City.
The Missouri commission proposed the
expenditure of over S600,00U OF the sum
carried by this paragraph Oh the first
reach of the river above Kansas City.
Not one dollar was then expended at
Omaha. Atchison, Leayenworth, and the
other cities OH the river where the Mis-
souri, WAS making great encroachments.
Pickler OF South Dakota advocated an
amendment to divert the 100000 of the
appropriation for the Missouri TO the
stretch of / 800 miles above Sioux City.
Heard of Missouri defended the Mis-
souri, River Commission and the money
expended at Jefferson City.
Mercer of Nebraska advocated his
amendment to lay aside $4,000 for the re-
1novaI OF snags and Instructions above
Sioux City aud S150,000 for the construc-
ton and repair of revetments. dykes and
water works between tie south line OF
Nebraska and Sioux City.
After a few closing words by Catchings
warning the House against demoralizing
tie systematic work done by the COM
mission by parceling out portions OF the
appropriation. action was had on the
pending amendments.
The first was Broderick's, to set aside
$50 0o0 to strengthen the dykes at Atchi-
son and I,eavenworth, KS. Il was lost.
The Pickler and Mercer amendments
were also lost.
The next and last paragraph of the bill
was that relating to soldiers homes,
anainst two clauses OF which tplacihg
.i5a dishnrsing officers of the homes un-
Az bonds and recurring an annual re :
wi ue on the conditions of the homes to the
Secretary OF War Black had raised a
point of order.