The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-05-14
Ipaclnl plnpnlch 10 the 1ntoIllrenear.

Special Dispatch to the 1ntGlligenceF.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May BAN
attack upon the rivers and harbors bill
was successfully thR1rted to-day BY
the prompt action Of Senators ElIdns.
Vest, P1GCo and others, and the measure
seems now to be secure In, the hands OF
It's champions. The senate has not been
as speedy as WaBlanticlpated In itG con-
BlderhtIon Of the bill. This 10 not q
matter OF special complaint, but where a
measure has the ass4nt OF 40 large q
majority, II, indeed any uutSpoken OPP
ponentcRn be found, II II trying to Us
friends to have II dragging.
Senatorial c0urts9y and parliament
ary usage required that TWO days be
given to dlScui hon Of an apparently
innocent but really far-reachlng amend
ment proposed by Senator German
which. In 10 many words, restricted the
expenditures under existing and future
contacts provided for In the bill to
$l0,0Oo.0O0 par onnuri.
Senator Vest moved yesterday after
noon to lay the amendment on the table,
but his motion was not adopted. In ad-
tiresglnG his colleagues to-day he ex-
preaaed RBtoniHhmSnt at the result Of the
vote, lind asked for q reconsideration.
Tho MiSaoutian declared that the
amendment would have an effect, which
even the mover could not endorse. for
under II the secretary Of war Wotlld be
able absolutely To dictate where expen-
ditureS should be made. He would not.
ne RRid, vote 70 give and cabinet otticer
such power. II was an Invasion OF the
autonomy Of the government, and the
result OF the adoption Of the amend
mont would be that the SECRETARY could
nullIfy any provision Of the bill
Senator German defended tho amend
ment. He meant no attack upon the
r1verH and harboFa bill, but were he SEC
rotary OF war he would refuse to enter
Into any contract authorized by It until
Congress made provision 70 have the
money In the treasury.
Senator Allison favored the amend-
ment. and Senator Villas suggested q
mobilization Of II, % ~ 10 make excep-
tiOns OF certain improvements.
An Interruption was made IN the
course OF Mr.. AlllRon'R remarks by an
inquiry from Senator ElkInA He de-
monded TO know whether MeBsra. Cor
man and AlliBOn Egra agreed Rs to the
tnQanfnE OF the amendment. = No two
senators, :" Mr.. FslktnS declared, "can take
the eamendmentAnd, after half an hours
examination, tell what Its meaning Is.
No accounting officer OF the treasury, no
secretary. Of war or engineer. can COM
NtrIie It, and Il. therefore, undaugerR tho
whole measure" Senator Elkins hoped
the bill would be pasSfd a. II came from
the committee. The committee on aps
preparations. represented BY Senators
Allison and. GoFTnan, should not be per-
mitted to come IN and change Il, II the
amendment had something concealed IN
Il, for example the exemption OF some
particular work, It was outrageous dis
elimination. Tho amendment he rO-
Rarded rs mlschieV0uR. fun OF danger.
full OF doubt. Nobody knew what u
meant. and the safer thing to do would
be 70 pass the bill in It's original form.
He hoped the amendment would be
voted down. McaNrs, Pasco, Mitchell
and Berry also opposed the amendment,
the former arguing that II II should be
agreed 10 there would b. no expenditure
Rt all under contracts, rs the direct hp-
preparations carried by the bill would
absorb the 3lO0oo.0O0.
The amendment was defeated by a
vote OF 40 to23
An amendment by Mr.. Gray was ae-
ceptcd. making the ten million TeStrlc-
ton npply specifically TO contracts, and
not 10 direct appropriations,
The bllr passed the SENATE by vote
OF 61 TO 2,
Those who voted in the negative were
Bate, Chiffon, Harris, Hlll. Smith and
Villas. Democrats: Bry'wn, Republican;
Allen and Kyle PopuliGts.
A finally passed the bill makes direct
appropriations OF fI2,2oO.0oo. and Nu-
thnriEpS continuing contracts Of tst.O00,s
900. an aggregate OF about F6,0o0oOo,
During the debate to-day the statement
whs made that this was the largest aE-
grekatc for a river and hArboF bill In the
history Of the government.