The evening times., 1896-07-10
LAM0AI. BLOCKS THE .NiirI.
No River and Harbor Improve.
mentS This Year. --~--
COAST DEFENsEs FIRST
Plea That There Are Not Engineers
Enough to Superintend All the I'M
portant Fortification Work and At
tend to Rivers ana Harbors Also.
Cleyeland's Veto Made Effective.

1t now seems to be definitely settled tina
the river and harbor bill, which WAS re-
Gently passed over the Presidential veto
by both branches Of Congress, will core
to ma ugiIt So far as being carried into effect
is concerned.
It's failure will be due 10 the fact that
there will not be Il sufficient number Of
engineers available 10 oarHy into operation
its provisions. This scarcity of super
vising officials will result from design,
and not from the pressure of events.
The intention Of Secretary Lamont is to
utilizeall the members of the engineer corps
whocan bcspared from the work upon which
they are now engaged in pushing To COIN
pletion the improvements authorized in the
bill making appropriations for fortifica-
tions and seacoast defenses. With the
future contracts permitted there are be-
tween twelve and thirteen million dollars
now ready for expenditure under that bill.
WILL NULLIFY THE BILL.
The river and harbor bill, although it
carried an enormous aggregate in future
contracts, divided them over IL EeriOd OF
five years, leaving about ten and half
millions in cash to be distributed during the
present year. The President withheld his
approval from the bill because of these
contracts that were authorized, but with
its passage over his veto IL was supposed
by Congress that IL would become operative
in every particular.
But Secretary Lamont has it in his power
to practically nulify the bill, and it is
understood that this course will he pursued
Ali the improvements Of a public character
| on rivers and harbors are under the i'm
mediate supervision Of Some officer detailed
rom the corps Of engineers. But after all
| these engineers have been placed in charge
| Of work coming under the Notifications bill
| she Secretary can declare his inability to
| properly care for the river and harhor bill
FOR the simple reason that there are no en-
| sineers 10 superntend the work.
| In such contingencyailthec contemplated
improvements will be dropped, except con-
tinuous work which cannot be neglected.
| Hence the end intended to be'reached by the
Presidential veto will be attained not with
standing the Overwhelming sentiment in
| both the Senate md House b
DEFENSEs PARAMOUNT.
Secretary Lamont will he doubly fortified
N assuining this position. He can truth
sully assert that the foreign relations Of
! the United States are of s,ish character
as to make the completion of seacoast de-
fenses paramount to alnoSt+any other con-
sIleraiIon, and thus Justify, himself in Civ
| ing work OF that nature preference over
purely internal Improvements. In the sec
ond place he can point To the Impoverished
condition Of the Treasury as an excuse fol
shutting down on the cash appropriations
allowed for the ensuing wear.
Congress will be pswerless to take any
remedial action in the matter unless II
should be determined tn ino.esse the num-
Der OF engineers and that would be not only
regarded as inexpedient, but require Il
period Of time in whicIto make TIE increase
efficient. The Secretary OF War is given
considerable latitude in the prosecution o
public works and it would be. Il diffioul,
matter to override his decision without
changing the whole system Of making sucl
appropriations. In addition the fiscal veal
will have practically expired before Cor
rective legislation could lie enacted.