The record-union., 1896-05-14

appropriations for the Improvement OF
sixteen different creeks and OF one
mill pond. He did not recall any d1tch,
although he believed there was one
ditch in New York provided for AS
soon as they got through with estuaries
and lagoons and bayous and creeks and
bitches, he supposed they would provide
for the mill ponds.
Frye declared angrily that the Sena-
ator from Nebraska had been talking of
a thing he knew nothing about. The
Senator from Nebraska had better in
vestigate the bill before he undertook
to talk about bayOus and creeks and
mill ponds
The question being then on the pas
sage of the bill, Frye made his closing
speech in defense of the Committee on
Commerce, of which he is Chairman.
There had never been time, he said,
in his experience when there was such
a universal demand for river and har-
bor improvements as this very year.
There was hardly a great harbor in the
country, hitherto regarded ample Tor
all requirements of commerce that had
not been persistent in its demands for
wider and deeper channels to accom-
modate the great freight ships OF the
world. The commerce of the United
States had grown in the last quarter
of a century SO that it had been the
marvel of the whole world and with
out parallel in history. He had heard
it estimated that from twenty to forty
billions dollars worth of domestic COM
merce was transported every year over
175,000 miles of "all rail" and
by 100000 tonnage of docu-
mented and undocumented YES
sels-a commerce three times greater
than the combined commerce of France,
Germany, Italy, Spain and England.
He had recently read a speech of Mr..
Depew declaring that the commerce
moved on American railroads exceeded
by 200, 100000 tons the commerce of
the whole world. Twenty years ago
the freight charge of the railroads was
three and one-half cents a ton per mile,
and the cost to them was two and one
half cents. Last year the charge was
seventy -eight-hundredths of a cent, and
the cost half a cent. And the people
were not content. They were demand
ing still lower freights. But the rail-
roads could not reduce them unless
some new motive power was discovered
that should economize in the matter of
fuel.
How could freights be made cheaper?
By water, and no where else, and for
that reason the people Of the United
States-intelligent business people
were demanding improved water routes.
For the last ten years Congress had
been responding with a reasonable de-
of these
Millions had been spent on the great
Mississippi River. Was it money thrown
away? The year before last it took
:, 900, 900 tons of documented and un-
documented vessels to carry the freight
on the Mississippi River.
He admitted that the Mississippi was
vexatious, troublesome river, but he
asked whether the United States should
refuse to make appropriations for it and
let it become useless river. Appro-
priations had been made for a eeep-
water harbor at Galveston. Texas, and
the reports of the engineer officer in
charge showed that the depth of water
had increased from thirteen in 1898 to
fourteen feet in 1894, fifteen feet in 1895
and twenty-five feet in 1896. Was
that wasting the money of the people?
Frye gave several other instances of
the advantages gained by river and
harbor appropriations, and then asked
for a vote on the bill.
The vote was then taken, and the
river and harbor bill was passed by
vote of 81 to 9. Those voting against
the bill were: Allen, Bate, Brown, Chill
ton. Harris, Hill, Kyle, Smith and Villas.
On motion of Frye the following con-
ferrees were appointed: Frye, Quay and
Vest
The following bills were taken from
the calendar and passed: Authorizing
the construction of a bridge over the
Mississippi River to the city of ST.
Louis; amending an Act granting pen
sions to the survivors of the Indian
wars of 1872 to 1912, so as to include
q remnant Of old and decrepit men who
served in these early Indian wars not
Yet on the pension rolls; amending the
Acts relating to the United States
Courts in the Indian Territory.
The latter bill called forth a, discussion
of the subject of contempt of court, AL
len (Pop) Of Nebraska seeking to at
tsch am amendment providing that in
case OF an arrest for contempt of court
the accused should have the right of a
trial by jury.
Hill DeGn) of New York, Pugh Dem)
OF Alabama, George Dem) of Missis-
sippi and several others assured Allen
that when that matter came up in its
proper order on the bill reported from
the Committee on Judiciary they would
cooperate with him. whereupon Alien
withdrew the amendment
\ - Cd L.
previous notice by stating that he would
call up the resolution for am amendment
to the Constitution providing for the
election of United States Senators by
popular vote after the conclusion of all
appropriation bills. save the general de-
fciency bill.
Hill gave notice that as soon as that
order was disposed of he would call up
the contempt of court bill recently re-
ported from the Committee on Judi
ciary.
The unobjected House bills on the cal
endar were taken up, and the following,
among others, were passed: Fixing at
ten cents the maximum price for uncer-
tilted printed copies Of specifications and
drawings of patents; permitting the
Secretary of the Navy to accept certi-
fed checks in lieu of the bond now re-
ouired of contractors for naval supplies:
making one years residence in Terri
terry prerequisite to obtain a divorce
there with amendments)
At 6 p. m. the Senate adjourned until
tomorrow.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON. May 13,-The House
was mainly occupied to-day in the con-
sideration of the Rnaler-Downing con-