Evening journal., 1898-06-10
MR.. HANDY'S VICTORY.
Official Story of the Passage
of the Harbor Amendment.
COMMERCE OF THE oHRIsTIANA

CLEVER EXPOSITION OF THE I'M
PORTANCE OF THE STREAM
MADE BY DELAWARE'S REPRE-
SENTATIVE IN CONGREsS-IN
TERESTING CHAPTER FROM A
DRY VOLUME.
This istheofficlal toryofCOngressman |
Handy's gallant fight in the House of
Representatives for the $2O5,O0O appro- |
priation for the permanent improve |
ment Of the Chrlstiana river. It Is
taken from the Congressional Records
account Of Wednesdays proceedings
Mn. Cannon-I call up the confer
ence report on the Sundry Civil bill.
THE speaker-The clerk will report |
THE next amendment.
The clerk read ais follows:
Page 70, after line IA, insert:
For continuing improvement of the
harbor of Wilmington and Christiana
river. Delaware, s2O5, ,S46."
NlI. AaUUOu-l UldhO luE 4OAAAAttA
tion that the House further insist on
its disagreement. Does the gentleman
from Delaware desire to move to con-
cur?
Mr.. Handy-Yes, Mr.. Speaker, l de-
sire to move that the House recede
from its disagreement and concur in
the Senate amendment.
Mr.. Cannonl-Now, if my friend will
allow me, as want to make haste with
this bill and then l will yield to him.
This work. authorizing the improve
ment Of Wilmington harbor was in the
river and harbor act for 1896 limit
was put upon THE cost of this work, 50
low as to render it impossible for the
chief of engineers to contract for the
complexion Of the work. Therefore, un-
der the law, HE could make no con-
tract. Now then, this is an effort 70
change that legislation, so as to go on
with that work, without reference to
the limit that was placed in the river
and harIbor act OF 1896; and will say
to the House, while I am not river
and haribOr expert, that this is real
river and harbor Improvement that, IN
nv Judgment, ought to be made, when
YOU are making river and harbor I'M
provements. But your committee, be.
ing an appropriation committee, anS
not a legislative committee, saw proper
not to deal with this question, but Z
leave it to tine House to deal with. Gen
tlemen understand that there has been
and lis to be, no general river and har
bor bill at this session Of Congress.
Many gentlemen that wanted rive
and harbor legislation for the portion
of The country they represent will no
get It. There are several river an
habor items in this bill. This is one
Oakland. Cal, is another; a small on
for Mobile harbor, and also at Yaquin
bay. I believe these four are all tn
river and harbor items upon the bill
Now, 1 state frankly to the House
touching this matter we reported bac
agreeing to the facts, and it is for tn
House to deal with it, l make n
question with the gentleman from De
aware as TO this being real harbC
that. if we are to follow out the rive
and harbor policy Of the country, ougl
to be improved; and having state
that. I am quite willing to let tn
House do. so far as I am concerne
whatever the majority desire, and
they see proper in these exception
cases to thus far make this river al
harbor bill, it is with them.
Mr. Handy-NIr. Speaker, think
The Speaker-Does the gentlemi
from Illinois yield?
Mr.. Cannon-I yield five minutes
the gentleman.
Mr.. Handy think that the gentl
man from Illinois CMr. CannOn), h
made a very fair statement of
facts involved in the case. This a
preparation is for an important hs
bor. and it is sorely needed without Fl
sher delay. This harbor is the seco
in Importance on the great waterw
known as Delaware river and bay. 7
city of Wilmington has some 70,'
people, and they are busy commerc
manufacturing people. The Christia
river bears their commerce for a sih
distance out to the deep channel of
Delaware.
The commerce which thus flo
amounts to s26,OOO,OOO in value ev
wear. "A number of great industl
establishments are located on
Christiana at Wilmington. My und
standing is that $1S,OOO,OOO is inves
in the plants there. Five thousand
ployes work there. It lis easy to
that the gentleman from Illinois {
Cannon) is quite right in his opln
4n,at fs,ie is .al real river and haribC