The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-03-20
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
River and HarbOr Appropriations
Provoke Warm Debate.

Washington, March 19.-An attempt
was to have been made today by Mr..
Josephs, the New Mexico delegate, to
pass the bill for the admission of that
territory to statehood, under suspen-
sion of the rules, but it being apparent
that the Democrats did not have
quorum present, he decided not to make
the effort.
Without transacting any routine bust
ness, the House went into committee
of the whole and the consideration of
the sundry civil bill was resumed.
The paragraph appropriating $750,000
! to be expended under the direction of
the Missouri river commission was then
pending discussion.
Mr.. Catchings continued. for Il brief
time, his argument against parceling
out by restrictions portions of the river
and harbor appropriations made under
the continuing contract system.
Mr.. Hermann (Repablican), of Ore
gon, eulogized the contract system for
| the waterways of the country; the in
Iauguration of which, he said. Was enc
of the grandest achievements Of the
Fffty-first Congress.
Mr.. Loud, of California, criticized the
injustice 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
their projects in which they we're in
| terested in the system. His objection
| to the river and harbor improvements
were that they were not made to bene-
fit the whole country, bu- to satisfy
certain interests.
/ Mr.. Hainer of Nebraska, criticized
severely the work of the Missouri river
commission. OF the $4,000 600 so far APP
! propriated, $1,5O0,O 900 had been used on
! the same reach of fourteen miles at
Jefferson city. At the present rate it
to reach Sioux City. The Missouri river
commission proposed TO expand over
! 100000 of the sum carried by this para
graph on the first reach of the river
/ above Kansas City. Not one dollar
was to be used at Omaha, Atchison,
( Leavenworth and the other cities on the
river where the Missouri was making
great encroachments.
| Mr.. Picker, of South Dakota, advo-
Gated an amendment to divert 500, 900
of the appropriation for the Missouri to
the stretch of 1900 miles above Sioux
City.
! Mr.. Heard, of Missouri, defended the
| Missouri river commission and the
money expended at Jefferson City.
Mr.. Mercer. of Nebraska, advocated
his amendment to set aside $4,000 of
the Missouri appropriation for the re-
moval of snags and distractions above
Sioux City and $150,000 for the con-
struction and repair of revetments,
bikes and waterworks between the
south line of Nebraska and Sioux City
After a few closing words by Mr..
Catchings, warning the House against
demoralizing the systematic work done
l.
portions of the appropriations, action
was had on the pending amendments
The first was Mr.. Broderick's to set
aside $4,000 to strengthen the bikes at
Atchison and Lavenworth, Kansas. II
was lost.
The Picker and Mercer amendments
were also lost.
The next and last paragraph in the
bill was that relating to soldiers homes
against two clauses of which (placine
the disbursing officers of the homes
under bonds and requiring an annual
report on the conditions of the homes
to the secretary of war;, Mr.. Black haC
raised a point of order.
Mr. Black, of Illinois, one of the mem
bers of the board of managers of ma.
tional homes, opposed the two clause;
referred to. Congress he said, haC
dealt munifcentIy with this board
ated: not one dollar had been lost
Suits for recovery were pending
against General Buffers estate il
Massachusetts and a recent treasurer
in Wisconsin. Some $4,000 old soldier:
were maintained at these homes. Ht
was opposed to the change as proposed
by the bill 1t might handicap the
managers.
Mr.. Cannon advocated the change
An agreement was reached that furthe
debate on the pending paragraph b.
terminated in thirty minutes, afte
which the committee rose.
Mr.. Cultivate, chairman of the com
mittee on military affairs presented tn,
army appropriation bill and then a
$40 the house adjourned