The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-07
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL


Washington, April 1.-THE river and
harbor bill passed by the house today.
crries In actinl 1ppropri iions si0.55l. ~.
and authorizes contracts for thlrty-two
new projects, with q limit Of cost Of
E5i,72i.2l0
The reading OF the bill consumed one
and one-half hours At the conclusion OF
the reading Hooker asked that the time
for debate be extended until O'Clock
Hepburn protested. saying the bin In
volved an Appropriation OF 50 o0o. 600
Some amendment had been reported only
this morning. and he submitted that this
extraordinary expenditure should not be
authorized without due debate. He sug-
gested that the time for debate be ex-
tended until O'Clock
Mcguire asked whether an opportunity
would be afforded for amendment Be
ing informed there would not be, he OBJ
jected. Subsequently he attempted 10
withdraw his objection. but Grosvenor
renewed II and the debate was entered
upon
4 few minutes were given to Burton,
a member OF the river and harbor com
mittee. who particularly exploited the
contract system extended by the bill to
thirty-two new projects, This, he said.
was the most conspicuous. as well as the
most commendable feature OF the bill
Reports OF the engineer department of
the army showed that the contract sys-
TEN, inauguratcd by the Fifty-first con-
gress. had effected a saving OF 30 per
cent in all work so authorized.
Hepburn. OF Iowa, made a sensational
speech in opposition to the measure.
There was. he began. nothing In the bill
In the way OF OF pork for ais district:
but, he added, there was enough In Il
for other districts to insure its passage
Proceeding. he said that In the last ten
years there had been expended through
the Mississippi river commission. $780,
CO., most OF 1t money thrown away. The
scheme OF the Mississippi River commits
zion. he declared. had been fraud from
its conception. Its real purpose was to
reclaim swamp lands given to states on
condition OF their redemption Since the
scheme had been devised. two-thirds OF
the appropriations had been applied TO
this purpose. and but one-third 10 the
work OF deepening channels,
Dockery. who followed. concluded by
demanding vote.
In response to this particular request
for the ayes. the house seemed to rise en-
masse. Only here and there a member
retained his seat on the rising votN.
2O6 voted In the affirmative and but % In
the negative
Talbot called for the ayes and nays.
Lets put them on record" he shouted:
but only twenty-slx members rose TO
second his demand; and, when the speak
ero announced mot sufficient number"
the great mass of members cheercd.
The speaker then declared the bill passed.
The extent OF the vote" called ont
Hepburn, 'shows the evenness with
which the pork has been distributed"
IN THE SENATE.
Washington. April e.-The senate spent
the entire day on the postofiice appro-
priation bill. but did not complete II.
The bill served to bring out some sharp
criticisms by Senator German on the
of the postoffice depart
ment, and by Allen on alleged Irregular
tiles resulting from the civil service
system. Allen repeated the sensational
charges as 20 large money contributions
said to have been made in the interest
OF Cleveland and Harrison. The charge
that Wanamaker contributed $4,000 tow
ard Harrison's election led to an en-
phatic denial from Hawley. Mr. Allen
alluded TO the president as his majesty"
and as the chief mugwump of the coun-
try.
Abiding TO the president, Allen said:
He is disgrace to the great Office he
occupies. He could not and doubtless
will not be returned to the position
again"