Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-25
MONEY Fon FLOOD SUFFERERS,
Almost Three Million to lie Distrib-
nfrh IL fha Innl M 4 = sinn.

utet ny the TOM nilsNlous
NEW YORK. June 24.-The Mississippi
River commission convened in the Army
building here today and Immediately went
into executive session to deliberate on the
policy OF making changes in its annual re-
port. The report as soon as it has been put
10 the desired form. will be forwarded to the
secretary Of war sometime between the first
and tenth OF July. Until the report reaches
the secretary the commission will not dis
close it's tenor
The congressional appropriation for dam
ages to property from the overlooking OF the
Mississippi river amounts to 81 1888 333 FOR
the fiscal year ending June go, 1898. This
sum VIII be distributed by the commissioner
after the hearing Of testimony on damages
sustained in the three districts extending
from Carlo to the gulf and under the eN-
ecutive and disbursing supervision of the
cOmmiss ion secretary Captain H. +. Water
man of st. Louis and district officers, Cap
tain George Mace. Derby Of New Orleans
and Lieutenants II. C. Newcomer and NJ. NJ.
Patrick of Memphis These officers are in
attendance on the meeting of the commits
sion. There were present OF the commits
sion G. L. Gillespie Of New York, presi-
dent; Major y. NJ Hariod of New Orleans.
Colonels Henry Flad and Amos Stickney OF
st. Louis and Majors Hanbury and l..
Marinden OF Washington, d. c. Only one
member OF the commission former Judge X.
When the commission went into open ses-
sion Senator Berry of Arkansas addressed the
members. He said that the future of the
Mississippi river depended upon the report
which this commission would make. If the
report was favorable a sufficient sum OF
money would be appropriated TO protect the
banks. He eulogized Senator Frye and de-
tailed at considerable length the causes for
dissatisfaction which had arisen in the south
ern states against the levCe system. He re-
viewed the action OF congress in its ap-
proprlations and said that 1t was only by
the most strenuous efforts that 50 933 333 had
been granted He was not there to tell the
commission to make the apportionment, but
to emphasize the necessity that the money
should be so distributed as 10 cause no charge
Of partiality. Arkansas" he said. docs not
want to take what belengs to other states.
1t simply wants Justice"
Governor McLaurin Of Mississippi said II
was as mich the duty of the government TO
protect one side of the river as the other.
The people of the levee districts themselves
had expended a large amount. Two districts
alone had spent about S11,000 600 up to date
and, he declared. the people were taxed to
the limit to protect the levee
Continuing, Governor McLaurin said that
he thought one of the governments chief
duties lay in protecting navigation and
settlers along the banks of the Mississippi
He said that levees increased the current OF
the river and washed and improved the chan
mel. He hoped the commission would report
fav0rably, as appropriations from congress
depended upon it's action.
Congressman Catchings OF Mississippi fol-
lowed in the same lines as the preceding
speaker. He asked for fair treatment for his
state and declared that the future Of the Mis-
sissippi river greatly depended upon the re
port of the commission
Congressman McRae of Arkansas was the
sneaker.