The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Fifteen Millions For the Father of Wa
ters- Sample Whisky For Legisla-
tors-Morgan's Sayings.
Especial Correspondencc.l

ho icGcHt AIOUuS alOlS tll0 M1SS1SS1pDl
will be made the text of an appeal next
winter for Il SI5, 200, 600 appropriation
at the next session. Representative
Catchings of Mississippi, who used to
be the chairman of the river and har-
bors committee, said recently that this
amount at least would be needed to
raise the levees along the Mississippi
four feet on an average in order to pre-
vent the recurrence of the disasters
which the states of Mississippi, Arkan-
sas and Louisiana havo recently expert
enced. Fifteen millions of dollars"
said he, seems to be Il very large sum,
but we have already lost $50 900, 600 in
the cotton and $40, 000, 600 in the sugar
plantations, to say nothing of the great
loss to railroads i'll tho tying up of trains
and the lack of ordinary freight traffic
that results from good crops
To Control the Mississippi.
Representative Sayers of Texas, who
was chairman of tho appropriations
committee i'll the last Democratic con-
gress and who has had much experience
i'll dealing with government works, sug-
gests plan for u comprehensive settle
mcnt of the Mississippi river problem.
Mr.. Sayers would have the United
States government invite the engineers
OF the world to consider the problem of
controlling the Mississippi river and to
present plans for permanent system,
so that tho government might adopt the
ideas OF the best engineering talent.
For this purpose he suggests that COM
petition might be brought about by an
offer of prizes, perhaps 500, 600 for the
plan which should bo considered best
and 40, 900 for the second best, induce
mcnts sufficient to attract the most skill
full engineers i'll the world, those who
have dealt with such works as the SucZ
canal and the dilleS of Holland. BY this
plan, Mr.. Saycrs believes, the govern
ment could secure tho ideas of the best
engineers of the world, who might be
induced by tho offer of large reward
to personally study tho great river and
tho possibilities Of controlling it.
Very Small Samples.
Washington is full of people who are
seeking the influence of tho Legislators.
Now and then business schemes are
planned to appeal to them.
Every senator and member of con-
gross was tho recipient RECENTLY of il
letter from u Kentucky distillcr, CON
tanning an order upon u local liquor
seller for II bottle of a new brand of
whisky. The orders wero in the form of
handsomely engraved drafts, such as
are used by banks generally, and were
numbered with IL check perforator to
prevent countcrfeiting. Not all senators
and members called to secure the aforc-
SAID bottle, but some of them did, and
very few orders indeed arc there that
have not been presented by some one.
congressman clerks i'll many cases
have presented them, and now and then
page, who has picked ono up from
the floor. besides il few colorcd tonsorial
artists and an occasional bootblack.
Was it good whisky, and how big
bottle was it?" asked ono congressman
of friend who had "cashed in" his
order the day before.
1.-The liquah was all right enough,
sub, - was the reply, but if man had
been thusty he would have needed two
or three bottles, sub.
Morgan and Reed.
Senator Morgnn's now name for
Speaker Reed, 'tho great white filibus-
ter, seems likely to stick to the speak
er, for 1T is being quoted and repeated
all over the country This reminds ono
OF the fact that Senator Morgan occa-
sionally hits the bullscye with phrase
that sticks. No one, says the Washing
ton Post, will ever forget his utteranco
that certain senators were cuclioos, who,
every time the White House clock struck
the time OF day, put out their heads and
repeated the hour Ii is not known,
however, that the senator got his sug-
gestion for his famous saying from
cuckoo clock in the house of personal
friend in this city Ono n;o,ht L;Io