The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-29
TOUR OF THE CoNGREssMEN.
RIVER AND HARBOR COMMITTEE
TO REMAIN UNTIL TOMORROW.

DAnDer AT the DC SOTO AO-hiEht-
Who Are in the PaFty-Their Visit
of Inspection south.
The river and harbor committee of Con-
gress arrived from Jacksonville last night.
and the members, with the ladies accom-
panying them, are at the De Soto.
The party arrived at 10 o'clock by the
Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad.
Capt Henry T. Williams. president of the
Cotton Exchange. and DR.. W. W. Owens
Of the board of aldermen met the COM
msttee At the train and escorted it to the
De Soto.
The early arrival of the party broke
into the programme which had been ar
ranged somewhat, but not to any serious
extent. 1t had been understood that the
committee would arrive at midnight, in
which case the Savannah commit
tee would not have taken it
in hand until this morning.
Mayor Meldrim was notified in time and
proper steps for the reception of the com
mittee We're taken.
The party comprises some Of the most
distinguished members of Congress. With
1t are Congressman Warren b. Hooker.
chairman, Of New York, and Mrs, Hook
er; Congressman Walter Reeves of Hi
nois, and Mrs. Reeves; Congressman
Blackburn b. Governor of West Virginia,
Congressman Roswell P. Bishop of Michi-
gan, and Mrs. Bishop; Congressman Pope
Morris of sMinnensota and Mrs Morris,
Congressman Rufus +. Lester of Georgia
and Mrs. Lester, Congressman P D. Nc
Cullough Of Arkansas and Mrs. McCul-
Tough, Congressman A. S. Berry of Ken
lucky, Mrs. Berry and Miss Berry; Con-
gresham S. NJ. Sparkmah of Florida and
Miss SToarlSman, Congressman w. L.
Ward of New York and Mrs Ward, Con-
gresham G. N. Southwick of New York.
Congressman William Elliott of South
Carolina, Congressman V. Warner of New
York, and Mrs. Warner, and Messrs. Will
lam Dovennir, II. A Walters, H. NJ Bank
head, G. E. Dyckman, r. S. Dean, and
Julian McAfee.
Congressman John H. Bankhead of Ala
bama left the committee in Florida, but
Mrs. Bankhead is with the party
The programme for to-day includes a
trip down the river on the City Of Augusta
and carriage drive around the city The
party will leave the De Soto at 10 O'Clock
in carriages for the Ocean steamship
wharf. The steamer win leave the dock at
IL o'clock The trip down the river will
probably consume about hours. Carriages
will be in waiting on the return and
drive will be taken to points of interest in
and around the city.
There was some talk among the congress-
men last night of making the inspection
of the harbor this morning and leaving at
O'Clock for the North, which would place
them in Washington at 7:4O o'clock TO-
morrow morning. If they should take the
night train tonight, this being a slow
train, they would not reach Washington
until 11:30 tomorrow night. The party has
been travelling steadily for a week, and
some of the members are anxious to get
back to Washington
Congressman Lester would not hear
however, of cutting short the visit The
programme could not be possibly gotten
through with by o'clock to-day he said
and the people of Savannah would not be
satisfied with such a hasty visit He sug-
gested instead that the committee remain
In Savannah tonight and take the
O'Clock train Sunday, which will place
them In Washington early Monday morn
ing in ample time to prepare for the ses-
sion of Congress on that day Some of
the members of the committee suggested
that this might be taxing the hospitality
OF Savannah, but Col Lester told them
that this was impossible and the members
OF the Savannah committee backed him
cfded that the committee remain in Sa-
vannah until 1 o'clock tomorrow.
Ihe majority OF the party went 10 their
rooms shortly after their arrival at the
hotel. A few remained in the lobby and
discussed the events of their trim
The party has been on the wing iust a
week In that time it has visited Charles
ton. Tampa, Pensacola, Jacksonville ST
Augustine, Fernandiua and Brunswick
To-day it will take in Savannah, after
y fab vrvtII
TO the capital There was some talk of
visiting the Tennessee river on tour of
inspection, on account of the improvements
desired in Georgia and Tennessee, but il
was decided to postpone this to some other
time.
The New York Congressman are promi-
nent and active members of the partv.
Among them are Chairman Hooker. Con-
Eressmen Southwick, Ward and Warner.
Congressman Southwick is an old news
paper man from Albany, and is said TO
be an authority on river and harbor mat
ters.
We have visited and carefully inspect
ed every harbor of prominence in this Sec
ton" said Mr.. Southwick TO a Morning
News reporter. we find them all in good
shape. The government has dealt yerv
generously with the ports on the South
east Atlantic and Gulf during The
last few years. Charleston anG
Savapnah have had about $4,000 600
each, Galveston has had 10000 Cumber-
land sound and other points have receiv-
ed large appropriations. Do YOU know
that each one of these southern ports has
received more than the port of New York
IN the same time. Tampa is the only
port which has not Jared we'll In fact.
Tampa has not been treated right. She
has received only a measly little 100000
and that was not enough for a good START
Tampa is / think, entitled to something
Savannah, being on the continuing appro-
priation list. which comes under the sun
dry civil bill, is all right. so far as the
completion of the present improvements
Is concerned.
This is the first visit of the majority of
the members of the committee to Savan-
nah, and they are DESTROYS of seeing some
thing of the city as well the port
The following committees will have
charge of the party to-day: Mayor Mel
drim and members of the board of alder
men, representing the city, President Hen
ry r. Williams Vice President John H.
Hunter, Capt. j. F. Wheaton, j. NJ Bar
nard, Jr., +. A. Cults, Capt f.. G.
Strachan, and Maj. Edward Karow. rep
resenting the Cotton Exchange; President
ID. G. Purse, Vice President w. C. Pow
ell. and Messrs c. G. Dahl I r Ttia1a-