Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-11
IN CONGRESS TODAY
Routine Business in Both Senate
and House.
TIE RIVER and HARBOR BILL
Discussion Cen in. 81 en- the Pa.
cific Coast Harbor Appropriation.
MATTERS IN THE HOUSE

In a memorial presented to the Senate to-
day by Mr.. Lodge (Mass), the legislature
of Massachusetts expresses it's satisfaction
at the prospective honorable adjustment Of
the Venezuelan question on a basis of rec
ognition of the Monroe doctrine.
Bills were passed authorizing the state of
South Dakota to select Fort Suily military
reservation as post lands granted to the
state under the act of admission; for the
restoration of lands within Fort Lewis
Col, military reservation to the public do
main; to validate the acts Of certain depu-
ty United States marshals in the Indian
territory
The Bankruptcy Dill.
In reporting the bankruptcy bill from the
judiciary committee, Mr.. Teller stated th:>a
it favored the substitution of the Senate
bankruptcy bill for that passed by the
House.
Mr.. Mitchell (Oreg3 added that the mi
nority of the committee favored the House
bill.
Ford's Thcnter Sufferers.
report was made favoring compensa-
ton for such sufferers from the Ford Thea
ter disaster were not provided for In
former act. and Mr.. Faulkner offered an
amendment to the urgent deficiency bill
covering the amounts to be paid.
The joint resolution was passed authoriz-
ing foreign exhibitors at the Tennessee
centennial exposition to be held in Nash
vile, Tenn, in 1871 to bring to this coun
try foreign laborers from their respective
countr es for the purpose of preparing for
and making their exhibits, and allowing arti
cies imported from foreign countries for the
sole purpose of exhibition at said EXPOSE
ton to be imported free of duty, under
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of
the Treasury.
Bills Were passed for the use of national
military parks fields for military manel-
vers by the state or federal forces; author
iZing the county of Navajo. AriZ., to issue
bonds for court house, &c; House bill
providing a life-saving station az Port
Bonita, at the Golden Gate, California;
apDropriating s6IO.oo0 additional for the
pubic building at Portland, Greg. and fix
ing this as the limit of cost.
River and Harbor Bill.
The river and narbor bill was then taken
up. the question being on the only remain
irg amendment for deep water harbor al
Santa Monica, Cal. Mr.. Berry (Ark9, a
member of the commerce committee, spoke
in opposition to the amendment. He de-
clared that this proposed expenditure OF
$i.GdD,UD against the recommendation of
government engineers ard against the adj
vice of he California Senators was the
most unjust and inexcusabie proposition he
had ever seen in connection with rivers ana
harbors. 1t was disregard of public in
terest and a disregard of public sentiment.
and an apprcpriat ton of public money for
uses which will benefit private individuals
only. 1t was the first effort yet made said
Mir. Berry. to override the government en-
gineers 10y private engineers hired by pri-
vate interests and having only private in
tereStS at stake.
liz 49,
the river and harbor bill. Mr. Berry de-
c!ared that If this amendment was forced
on the bill it would probably defeat the bill
for this session. The Senator reviewed the
recommendations of army boards in favor
Of San Pedro as the proper place for the
Pacific coast harbor. and spoke of the action
OF the commerce committee in setting aside
these reports and accepting the Judgment
of the chairman of the committee (F'rye)
Who bad visited Santa Monica.
Mr.. Berry's Statement
1T would be better to dump this three
millions into the Pacific ocean, exclaimed
Mr.. Berry. rather than that the country
should know that this Serate is ready to
override its army engineers, override public
sentiment. in the interest of private greed
and private gain"
Mr.. Berry said that the evidence showed
the Southern Pacific railroad could dictate
terms for an entrance to Santa Monica. He
dld not believe there was man in the
United States-save and excepting c. p
HuntinGton-who, in the face of the repre-
sensations of the army engineers, would
come to Congress and ask it to give him
three millions to build breakwater
Mr. Vests Ground of OppOsItion.
MIR. Vest CMo.). member Of the committee
on commerce. said he could not see the
necessity Of this expenditure either at San
ia Monica or San Pedro. He took no stock,
ne said, III the attacks on Mr. Huntington
be, ause he was a railroad president and
rich man. Like other men he looked af-
ter his own interests. Mr Vest believed
MIR. Huntington was sincere in saying
Santa Monica was the best point for a
harbor. The Senator said he dropped out
of account all talk of MOI opoles and lob
bies Any United States Senator who
would permit a lobby 70 control him was
unworthy of a seat here, said Mr. Vest
He based his objection to the fact that the
country did not have full treasury, the
river and harbor bill already reached an
enormous aggregate.
THE HOUSE.
Some preliminary routine business was
transacted when the House met TODAY