The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-06-10
tiou Of their occupancy Of pubic prop.

Referring 70 tie Presidents further
criticism 'ha' the bill contomp'a:es an
immediate cash expenditure of nearly
sl7. 100000. including 81 600 00o
carried 10 the suadry cici! appropria-
,ion bills for coutrac, work the con-,
mit,ee assert that he President is 10
error and tba; only S12,62l, 900 are 20
be expended during the swo dscai years
ending Juue 80. 1898 The ssatemep:
ia also made that the bill does no: ap-
propriate S62 100000 for contract
work. but ouly S59.616,000 1t is
also shown that if all the contracts au.
tlorized by the bill are promptly eoter-
ed into by the Secretary Of War the
maximum amount that can be. expeud-
ed in any one year is SIG 612. 900. and
not $40, 900. 600 as the President as
ser:s.
Referring to the Presidents further
criticism that the appropriations for
the smaller schemes not covered by
contracts which will fall due two
years hence will not be less than
$50, 900, the committee say that
the next river and harbor bill will
only cover the cost Of prosecuting
these smaller works for the two fiscal
years ending in 1900, and that no
additional appropriations for the
smaller ones will be made for the year
1898.
Passing to the Presidents accusa-
ton of extravaganza, the committee
show that the average appropriations
for the past six years have been Sl6,-
OOO,O year. while including the
present bill and the two others for
the remainder of this centary the
total amount for those six years will
only average s13, 100000 a year.
This is based partly upon the ground
that the committees experience with
the contract system i'll the past, TO-
gether with other knowledge, justihes
the belief that the contract work
which will be distributed over a
period of six years and which
amounts to $50, 100000, will be COM
p!eted for at least 80 per cent less
than amount stated, or, in others
words. for ST., 100000 The report
repeatedly emphasizes the commit
tees approval of the contract sys.
TEN as being less expensive toSthe
Government. and securing more
prompt and satisfactory results
This system is the distinctive feature
of the bill, and the committee strong
ly recommends its continuation The
report adds that no good reason has
been assigned by the President why
the House should recede from its
action with regard TO the measure.
.tIt must not be forgotten the
report concludes, "that if this bill
should fail there are hundreds of use
fal projects Of Improvements that
have been in process of completion
for number of years, and against
which the most captious critic could
urge no objection, which would be
suspended, whereby great waste
would be incurred and great loss
sustained. Notwithstanding all That
has been said against the bill your
c. .nmittee assert that if it should
yield most actual substantial benefit
to the farmers, the producers, the
consumers, the merchants >and the
business interests Of the country,
and contribute largely to its prosper
ity."
There was an unusually large num-
Der of members in their seats. and
they listened to the report with close
attention and applauded it warmly.
Mr.. r.Hooker stated that, in the opin-
ion Of the committee, the Presidents
veto raised every possible objection,
and it was the intention of the COM
mittee by its report to answer them.
He said that many gentlemen had
spoken to him about discussing the
veto, and if he had consented to give
them all the time asked for it would
run over three or four days The
matter was one for the House to de-
termine ;if it wanted to engage in
general debate, well and good. In
order to test the sense of the House
OF. the question, and without express.
ing any opinion as to the desirabillty
of the course indicated, he would
ask the previous question on the mo-
ton to pass the bill. (Applause.
Mr.. Dockery, Democrat, of Mis-
sonri, and several other members
were on their feet demanding recog
milton The former with great We.
hemency of manner denounced
the course of the gentleman :. ,nl
New York (Nr. Hooker, shouting
"The gentleman agreed with ne yes
terday that there should be oppor-
tunity for debate. 1t is unjust. un