The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-14

with the expenditure of $3,00O000 for
an outer harbor. If the senate insisted
on providing an outer harbor now, then
Mr.. Vest favored the amendment of Mr..
White, referring the question to another
government board. He believed another
board was needed to inquire into points
the former board had not examined.
The senator suggested that the White
amendment should be changed so that
no army engineer would serve on it as
Cragill, chief of engineers. already had
made report and any subordinate of
his would naturally share the views of
his superior or labor under embarrass-
ment.
Moreover, Mr. Vest said, the report of
the next board ought to be final to go into
effect on the instant, for said the sena-
tor, it was one of his fOndest hopes that
he would never hear of this question
again.
Mr.. White said he was not at liberty to
accept the suggestion as to changing his
amendment without comforting with his
associates, but said he desired board
of suitable qualification and experience.
Mr. Caffery (Dem) of Louisiana, an
other member of the committee, believed
the present need of deep water harbor
at either of the points urged was not ap-
any sudden spasm over the condition of
the treasury to influence him. He did
not share in the views stated by Mr.. Vest,
he added, as to the serious condition of
the treasury. There is comforta BILE
balance of $27O,000,000 in the treasury.
Such trouble as existed came from con-
slant agitation of the financial question.
AS the operations of the Wilson bill pro-
ceeded, MIR. Caffery said he expected to
see the revenues increased and made ad-
equate to the government needs.
When the Louisiana senator spoke of
the desirabiity of sustaining the army
engineers, Mr.. Mitchell (Rep) of Ore
between the army engineers and Capt.
Eads concerning the Mississippi river i'm
provement. The army engineers had pre-
dicted that the Eads improvement would
be a failure, and yet it was one of the
greatest engineering accomplishments in
the country.
The debate then branched off to the
Eads improvements.
MIR. Caffery said he did not consider
the connection of Mr.. Huntington with
santa Monica as prejudicial to it, but he
dld consider that the representations of
the two California senator's, the army
engineers, local commercial bodies. etc,
should be conclusive as between the two
points. He would follow the lead of the
representatives of the locality of such an
improvement.
Mr.. Frye, chairman of the commerce
committee, next spoke. He explained the
natural advantages of Santa Monica and
declared that other roads than the South
ern Pacific were given ample rights by
the amendment. He referred to the state
ments made by Senators White and
Berry concerning Mr.. Huntington.
Pausing midway in his speech. Mr.. FRYE
exclaimed: This savors of the slogan
of the sand lots of the golden gate, where
the name of Huntington is conjured to
frighten babies with and used by dema-
gogues to make Weakened politicians
tremble."
Mr.. Frye poke of the vast business en-
terprises of Mr.. Huntington. his develop
ment at Newport News of the first ship
yard in the world, his ships running to
Norfolk. New Orleans and other points.
So, said Mr.. Frye, the senate must cut
off these localities from the benefits of
the river and harbor bill because Hunting
ton was there. No, it was too paltry, ad-
ded MIR. Frye, to stop any legislation with
the demagOgic cry of Huntington.
Mr.. Frye will resume tomorrow.
Mr.. German gave notice of an amend
ment to the pending bill directing the sec
retary of war to limit the contracts for
harbor and river work to $10,000,00O for
next year.
Then, at $50. the senate adjourned.