The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-31
A 4oo-FOOT CHANNEL.
Preliminary Steps to Improve Mar
ragansett Bay.
Resolution Directing Secretary Of War to
Submit Estimate Passed.

WASHINGTON, March 31.--The Senate
after brief attention to routine business
today proceeded to the consideration OF
the Dupont election case, and Mr.. George
OF Mississippi was recognized for a
speech in opposition to the claims OF Mr..
Dupont for seat in the Senate. 1t was
mainly legal argument on the question
Mr. George contended that the separa-
tion of the three branches of govern
ment-executive, legislative and judicial,
was the diction OF Montesquieu, but that
Madison and other American statesman
did not accept It, He showed that In
many States, governors acted as surrogates
or judges, and in some the upper branches
of the legislature was made judicial
body. From this Mr.. George argued that
Governor Watson of Delaware had a right
to vote az q Senator in the State Senate.
In The House.
Some preliminary routine business pre-
ceded the resumption OF the consideration
OF the sundry civil appropriation bill in
the House today.
Several resolutions presented by Mr..
Hooker, chairman of the rivers ana har-
bors committee, were adopted as follows !:
TO direct the Secretary Of War to submit
estimate for the improvement to the
depth OF 80 feet at mean low water of Port
land harbor, Maine; to direct the Secre-
tary Of War tc submit estimates for a
channel, 400 feet wide through Providence
river. and Narragansett bay and to au-
thorize the expenditure of $50, 600 of the
unexpended balance of the appropriation
for the Cascades of the Columbia river,
for the construction Of protection walls
necessary to the opening OF the canal to
navigation.
The House disagreed to the Senate
amendments to the executive legislative
and judicial appropriation bill, ,and agreed
to a conference. Messrs. Bingham kep.,
Pa Mccall (Rep., Tenn, ana Dockery
(Dem., No. were appointed conferees.
The consideration of the sundry civil bill
WAS then resumed.
During the consideration OF the items
under the head of coast and geodetic sur
vey Mr.. Cannon took occasion to criticize
sharply the admin istration for "freezing
out" Professor +. c. Mendenhall, the pre-
decessor of General Du field, the present
superintendent. He described Professor
Mendenhall as the most competent man
W no ever had presided as superintendent
and man whose scientific attainments
were recognized all over tAe country. He
referred to the present superint eDdent as
"new discovery but said he did not
desire to reflect in any way on his COM
potency or ability.
The appropriation for field work on the
Atlantic coast was increased $4,000 on the
motion of Mr.. Miles (Dem., Md Mr..
Adams (Rep. Pa. took advantage of the
latitude allowed In debate on an appro-
priation bill to arouse khe ire of the silver
Republicans from the West by bringing
up the question Of the current reports
about the Washington conference between
several of the silver Republicans and
some Philadelphia manufacturers which
are the subject of a formal meeting of the
manufacturers of that city last night. He
referred to the false and misleading re-
ports of an alleged compact between the
free silver Republicans and the manu-
tacturers by which he said
1t was even proposed TO yield the great
doctrine of protection. He called atten-
tion to the fact tnat one OF the Western
safes tSouth Dskota) had only few days
ago. rebuked her Senator by declaring for
protection and sound money. Last night
he said, the manufacturers club of Phila-
delphia, had responded by the passage of
strong resolutions denouncing and re-
pudiaitng this alleged compact. He had
the resolutions read at the desk.
Mr.. Hartman, (kep., Mont. } and Mr..
Allen, (Rep., Utah, both free silver men,
replied Indignantly to Mr.. Adams.