The advocate., 1896-12-23
1896.

gauges: Continuing improvement, three hum
drsd thousand dollars, to be expended under
the direction of the Secretary Of War In the
systematic improvement Of the river accord
ing to the plans and specifications Of the Mis-
souri, River Commission, aS approved by the
Chief Of Engineers: Provided, That on and
after the passage OF this act additional con-
tracts may be entered into by the Secretary OF
War for such material and work as may DO
necessary to carry on continuously the plans
OF the Missouri River Commission for the Inn
proyement OF said river, or said material may
be purchased and work may be done other
wise than by contract, to be paid for as dpprO-
priati0ns mag from time to time be made by tdlC'
not exceeding In the aggregate three hundred
thousand dollars per annum for three gears
commencing July first, eighteen hundred and
ninety-seVen.
Much of the moneys proposed by
this bill to be used in the next four or
fve years may never be appropriated
or used at all, because Congress may
change the plans in some cases, and in
others the Secretary Of War may not
deem IL wise to expend any money or
any more money. And In still other
cases, the project may be abandoned.
But If it be all appropriated and, ex.
pended, the grand total for the four
years will not exceed the total sppro-
pristed during the last four years for
like improvements, and q great deal
more work will be done with 1t.
The plan of providing for continu
Ing contracts has been adopted because
1t is more economical than the old way
Of contracting for only one years work
at time on large jobs. In case of an
important work which necessarily
must extend over a long period Of
time-ss, for example, Galveston hsr-
bor-if the War Department Is allowed
to contract with one person or firm for
the whole work, subject to approval Of
Congress, and to be paid for as the
work proceeds out Of appropriations
made from year to year, but not to ex-
ceed certain amount in the sggre-
gate, a saving estimated TO average
about 30 per cent. Is effected. In such
cases the contractor can calculate on
the use Of his necessary machinery for
several years instead of for only one;
he can procure his supplies in larger |
quantities and therefore get them
cheaper; he can make better terms with |
his Workmen; and In other respects he
can reduce the aggregate cost Of his
work, and is consequently able to do it |
for less money than If he had to run
the risk of stopping at the end Of one
year.
FUth-BeCsuse of the four Senators
who spoke in opposition to the passage
of the bill, not one of them objected to
any one item of the proposed spprO-
prlstlons, as the following extracts
from their speeches show:
Mr.. Bate of Tennessee opposed the
bill, as he esid-
Because regard 1t as an extFsvagsnt appro-
pristion Of the public money at most inop-
perfume moment.
Mr.. Smith Of New Jersey said:
Whilst the appropriations contained In thig |
bin are extremely large, under ordinary con-
ditions they would not receive any objection
Of my hands, nor should my voice be raised or |
my vote be cast against them; but with the
revenues Of this government sSO,OOO,OOO less
this year than the expenditures, for Senators
to vote for the passage Of q bill Of this charac.
ter, knowing the facts which surround us,
without providing any means whatever for |
the payment OF the expenditures, does not |