The herald., 1896-05-14
THE FFTY-F0JR7H CONGRESS
The Amended Harbor Bill Passes
2 the Senate
Llmltiss Expenditures to Ten Millions
Year Is Defeated
The 0lll Ssnt q conisrsnes Prys,
Quay snd Vest Named % confsrses.
Bills Passed

Special 10 the Herald.
wAsHINGTON, May 1s.-This morn
ing saw nothing left of the battle OF the
harbors which has held the boards In
the senate for the past four days, save
the smiling countenances of the friends
and champions Of San Pedro. the bilious
physioenomy Of Lobbyist Boyd and
some bundles Of congratulatory tele-
Grams received by the California sena-
tors from grateful constituents and ad-
rniring friends. To this list should prob
ably be added the face of the senator
from Santa Monica. which came as near
being "long" as the naturally plump
countenafice Of that rotund and we'll
fed looking gentleman can well be-
come.
It 10 generally known around the capt.
tol today that the sudden abandonment
Of the contest by Huntington's leaders
yesterday was caused by the fact that
the publicity given the job by long
debate and Senator Whites exhaustive
speech had made It too heavy for some
Of Huntington's more independent sup
porters to carry. They notified his
leaders Of the detection in their ranks
and gave them q choice between sub
hitting gracefully or risking defeat on
q vote. The former was under conf
pulsion accepted. and proposition
made to the friends Of San Pedro to pro-
vide a commission such as Senator
white had at one time suggested, only
70 be met with a peremptory rejection
from Mr.. Huntingtons then confident
leader, the chairman Of the commerce
committee. The recent interest shown
in the matter by the president. who has
the appointing Of the commission, as
sures the appointment Of men Of the
highest integrity, and the amount Of
So. 900 provided in the bill for compensa-
tion Of the commissioners will secure
the services of the best engineering tai
cnt in the country.
When 1t is remembered that the only
civil engineers who have ever decided In
favor of Santa Monica were the en-
ployes of Huntington, there does not ap-
pear to be much risk to the cause OF the
people's harbor in the arrangement.
Tho friends Of San Pedro here. both in
the senate ana out Of 1t. are highly
pleased with q result which gives to
that place $392.00o to be expended at
once upon it's inner harbor, survey
ana estimate Tor obtaining additioii;i;
depth in the inner harbor of twenty-five
feet, and every honest chance to get an
appropriation Of 81, 900,000 carried blythe
bill for a deep water harbor. This is g.
wonderful change from the first bill
prepared by the house committee on
rivers and harbors, which carried w.
900 for Santa Monica and not cent
for San Pedro. And the fact that such
a change has been made in the face of
the strongest lobby known in Washing
ton for a quarter of a century shows
what may be accomplished bN brave,
honest and able representative OF the
neople. such as Los Angeles possesses
in her own senator.
THE DAYS PROCEEDINGS
WASHINGTON, May 13.-The river
and harbor appropriation bill was pass
ed by the senate today after an unusual
ly stormy experience, lasting many days.
As finally passed the bill makes appro-
priations of $12,200000 and authorizes
continuing contracts OF $S4, ,0OO coo, an
aggregate of about $4,000, 900. During
the debate today the statement was
made that this was the largest aggre-
gate for a river and harbor bill in the
history Of the government. Mr.. Cor
man sought to secure an amendment to
the bill limiting the contract expendi-
lures to $10,000,000 annually, but the
amendment was tabled; yeas 40, nays
.23.
Mr.. Frye, chairman of the commerce
committee, closed the debate on the bill
by a statement showing the remarka-
BILE development Of American commerce
and the consequent decrease of the
freight rates. On the final passage of the
bill nine senators voted in the negative
The Dupont contest case comes up by
agreement tomorrow.
The river and harbor bill was taken up
as soon as the senate convened, the
agreement being that the final vote be
taken at p. m. The pending question
was Mr.. Gorman's amendment directing
the secretary Of war to so apportion con-
tract appropriations that no more than
$lO,O0OO0O be expended on contracts in
any one year.
Before proceeding, Mr.. Vest gave no.
tioe of minority report on the filled
cheese bill by himself and Senators Wal
thall OF Mississippi, Harris Of Tennes-
see. Jones OF Arkansas and White Of
California.
The bill was passed for the appoint-
ment of guardians for pensioners in the
District Of Columbia found to be "sauane M
dering pension money by drinking or
vicious habits.''
Proceeding with the river and harbor
Dill, Mr.. Vest opposed the German
amendment, declaring 1t would permit
tne secretary of war to nullify the river
ana harbor bill and to substitute his
opinion IN lieu of that of congress. He
dId not believe there would be a partis-
IN IN the chamber who would give such
Erutocratic power to cabinet officer
ne nad never known a secretary of war
20 wnom he would extend such vast
power. While he was a Democrat and
~, LEY tne expenditures would be made
. uS Democratic officials up to March Ri
yee tnat was not factor to consider
- ne opposed any such abdication ~
one official. 10 'i"'s'er 10
=, MI; Gorman insisted that there was
~ ~ tIhuuication Of power. but a Limitation
~ .t .he power of the secretary Of war 60
la not more than $40. .O0O. 900 wo,,jd be
s,,s, p,rn. annually. 1t was a necessary nro-
vv.sion; said Mr.. German, in view If p tbe
n, tact mat this Is the first time in the
history OF the government that we bsve
kone INTO the wholesale business ~ an
snorlzing contracts" If he were sec
re.ary OF war. said Mr. German. he wonId
appIy the rule suggested by Sherman
or not officiating the government FOR
one dollar OF these contracts until CON.
oess MADE provisions for the revenues