The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-02
DEBATE ON THE RIVER
and HARbOR BILL
Mr.. Hepburn Severely Criti-
ciSes the Measure.
The Appropriation for Texas City
Is Stricken Out.
Il Is Probable n Vote VIII BE Taken
This Aftern0on-Fcw Changes
VIII BE Made.

bor bill yesterday, the House witnessed
the peculiar spectacle of member pro-
testing vigorously against the expenditure
of a quarter OF million dollars in his
own district.
Mr. Hawley, the only Republican from
Texas, apparently nettled by certain re-
marks of Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa in the
general debate, in regard to the character
OF Texas items in the bill, for the harbor
at Texas City, said that he should move
substitute for the clause providing
$3.50. 600 for excayating a channel between
Galveston and Texas City.
When the paragraph was read, Mr..
Burton moved to amend by adding a pro-
yiso that no work should be done under
the section until the Secretary of War
should make a favorable report on the
project. This amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Hawley then moved to strike out the
paragraph and adopt one directing the
Secretary OF War to make a survey and
report on the feasibility and advisability
of the proposed channel.
After few words from Mr.. Burton. the
substitute was defeated, and Mr.. Burton
then moved to strike out the whole para
graph. This was done, this being the
first and almost the only amendment TO
the bill that was adopted.
Mr.. HawIey's Reasons.
The real reason, though not SO stated
on the floor OF the House. why Mr.. Hawley
objected to the paragraph, was that the
$3.50, ,0G0 was appropriated in the bill for
deepening the channel at Texas City, which
he thought was q useless expenditure of
money. Texas City is boom town, large
! ly owned. it is said. by a syndicate from
| Cleveland, Ohio the home Of Mr. Burton
chairman Of the committee. Representa-
| tives of the syndicate came here from
Cleveland and appeared before the CON-
mittee, and asked that n large apprGpria
| tiOn be made for the harbor at the new
| town.
To this Mr.. Hawley objected, claiming
that there was need for its expenditure
| in other portions of his district, where it
| would do more good. Texas City is a
small place, and Mr.. Hawley claimed it
would be years before the place had grown
| TO such size as to warrant an expenditure
of any money on harbor Improvements, as
there was not sufficient volume of business
| 10 require any action by Congress at the
present time
1t is stated by those who are in posi-
| tiOn to know that the Cleveland syndicate
misTepresented the facts to the committee
! and in this way may have oyerpersuaded
| Chairman Burton to permit the appro-
priation to be made a part of the bill.
| General debate occupied the House for
an hour and half. Mr.. Burton, in pre-
senting the bill, said that the country was
| entering upon an era of Commercial eXpan-
| sion. The greatest factor in this expansion
was the Improvement of our rivers and
harboTs. thereby cheapening the cost Of
transportation. The United States had ex-
pended in all 1920 600 900 in river and har-
Dor work. The estimates upon which this
bill was based aggregated 5000 600, 0C0. The
committee recommended a little over
$50 600 600. The bill was symmetrical as
far as it went, and he begged members not
to press amendments.
Iowa Has No Harbors.
Mr.. Perkins of Iowa was then recognized
in opposition. Iowa has never harbor
and scarcely river to be improved, and
always opposed the river and harbor lis
lie declared that the committee had a most
| wholly neglected the Missouri River, the
only provision for that stream being $50 00j
for 'snagging." He asked that the banks
OF the river should be protected
Representative Moon OF Tennessee gave
notice of an amendment to increase the
appropriation for the Tennessee River tc
$1O0, 900.
| Representative Hepburn of Iowa made
his annual speech objecting to the bill as
whole He said that friends of these ap-
propriations had some years ago resortet
to a scheme by which to hide part of thi
! loot carried off each year by dividing II VI
and putting part of it in the sundTy civi
bill This year the latter bill would carry
Sl3, ,000, ,OO0 for rivers and harbors, making
the total expenditures this year $43, ,O0OO 900
instead of about $l25O0, coo.
| He did not object to such work wher
| aat lr, int fn ali hut Ia.
charged that much OF the money was real.
ly spent for other purposes. Thus So, 900.
Goo had been spent on the Mississippi
| River, resulting in deepening il just Eve
inches, but building an elaborate system
of levees to protect the bordering State!
from floods.
Other cases were where people had 10.
Gated themselves ut inaccessible points ant
then asked Congress to make their prop.
erty valuable by making it accessible. HI
noted Texas City and Buffalo Bayou, Tex.
the first asking 100000 TO open
channel to a town whose assessed valua.
tion WAS less than 10000, and the seconC
asking the Improvement of river VI
which a friend of his had to back hii
boat for ten miles before he could get room
enough to turn around"
He objected to the proposed storage ba
sins to hold back the food waters of tn
Mississippi. arguing that the real food
entered the rivers from tributaries beloy
the site of the basins.
He said that he knew il was useless t.
fight the bill The votes had been fixed
the majority obtained and the bill woul
go through triumphanily.
Mr.. Catchinss Favors the Hill.
Mr.. Catchngs of Mississippi defende
the Mississippi River. Representative Bal
OF Texas replied to Mr.. Hepburn's criti
cism of Texas schemes Representaliv
Hawley of Texas practically admitted tn
justice of Mr.. Hepburns remarks regard
ing Texas City. and said that he shouI
move to strike it out.
Mr.. Burton, in closing said that tn