The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-04-10
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENTS.
Washlugton, D. @, April 4. 1879

Washington, y, c., April 4, 1897.
DR.. A. j. PHELPs, Nitta Yuma. Mlss
Dear Doclor:-I have yours Of the
3lst ult., aud AN very sorry indeed Ia
learn of your poor state Of health
The telegram from Mr.. Jayne, 10
which you refer, was duly received
and | Immediately wired the applica,
tion to the MlIslssippI River CommiI.
sion then at New Orleans. 1t will not
be possible 10 obtain q specific appro
priAtion of 100000 to be used IN clos.
ing crcvasses in our District, for the
same demand will exist in behalf of all
othOr Districts where creyasses have
occurred or may occur. Tue Sundry
Civil Bill, now pending in tho Senate,
carries all appropriation of $2,5S0,00
for the fscal year ending July l, 1898,
The special resolution passed some
days ago appropriated $4,000 of that
In advance Of the passage of the Sun
dry Civil BIZ. Twill ondeavor to have
that bill 80 amended as to make all the
balance available Immediately upon
the passage of the bill This would
place the whole of 1t at the diJposal OF
the Commission without waiting un-
| til July 1st, as ordinarily would be the
case. II this can be done | have no
doubt whatever that the Commission
will Immediately make use of whatever
sum may be necessary to close the
crcvaSSes as soon as the river reCedes
sufficiently for that purpose and |
will direct my efforts to that end.
am very greatly distressed over the
situation, aud also much disappointed
that our leyees prev 'nted so feeble q
barrier. 1t simply indicates that the
work OF protection is beyond our local
power even with such liberal aid az we
have lately been receiving from the
Government, aud that nothing will Rn-
swor except absolute Government CON-
troll.
received yesterday, from Mr.. Chas
Scott, telegram in the following
words:
"L9Roy Percy and EvermRu, repre-
senting Washington County people,
camo here on special boat yesterday
aud want Inc to visit Washington with
delegation in interest of levee system.
Wire what you think Of it and when
we bad best reach the city"
have no copy of my reply but 1t
was iu substance as follows:
That Mr.. Reeds program is that tho
House shall transact no general legis-
lslative business until the tariff bill has
| passed the Senate; that he has ap-
pointed DO committees of tho Houge
aud does not intend to do so. and that
if he should come with the delegation
SO far as the House is concerned there
would be nobody before whom he
could appear that doubted whether
anything could be done now but lhLt
might be mistaken as to that. |
will add that becsuse of Mr. Reeds
progrEm that the House shall transact
no business but continue to adjourn
for three days at time, the great ma.
iority OF members have gone to their
homes aud that have no idea that he
would reverse his program and sum-
mon members back here for the pur-
pose of dealing with the river situ-
alton. OF course it is matter of
doubt whether congress would do
what we wish even if it we're III rsgu-
lar working train. | no not belisve,
especially in view of The fact that un.
| der the prOvislous OF the last river and
harbor bill something like seven and
half millions of dollars have already
been provided ior in connection with
river Improvement and lcvee protGC-
ton that We could expect or hope for
any greater appropriation until the
tariff bill has become \ law whereby
ample revenue for the Treasury will
be provided. My own notion ia that
nothing would be accomplished by
making an effort during this extra ses.
sion but If you all differ with me of
course | am at your service aud will
ai3 you to the very utmost of my abil-
ity. | believe that when we meet next
December in regular session we should
make 3 concerted and carefully pre-
pared effort backed up by every ill.,
fluence that we can command through
out the United States to have the Gov
ernment take absolute charge of the
leVces south of Cairo and make al ap-
preparation sufficient to construct e-
wees of size sufficient 10 absolutely
withstand any flood which may CONS
down upon us. AS preliminary to
that, in view of the light shed upon
the question 10y his flood we should
have report from Inc Mississippi
River Commission giving their opin.
ions as to just how high and strong
the levees should be built and what
tho cost OF them would be. A great
Gcheme OF this sort oSunot be accom-
plished in an hour aud before making
the fight We should carefully prepare
for the conflict and buttress ourselves
by every argument aud influence that
can be advanced or controlled.
do not think that our people should
suffer themselves to be discouraged or
for moment entertain the thought OF
giving up the fight. The present ex-
perience simply demonstrates beyond
all peradvonlure that such flood as
that which We now contend with, aud
which may be repeated at any time,
must necessarily produce a calamity
of such consequence as to be national,
and that we have the right to appeal
to tho country to takS such measures
TO avert ii in the future. As to my
self l am prepared to take my stand
upon this positioa, (Which, indeed, |
have always openly avowed whenever
| have been called upon to discuss the
question: and to do everything to
press its acceptance aud adoption by
congress. l will be obliged if you
will lay this communication before