Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-04
RIVERS AND HARBORS,
SENATOR FRYE EXPLAINS RE
suit OF THE CONFERENCE.
(By Telegraph 10 VIrrin,nn-pnA.

Washington, March S.-The cort,r
ees on the river and harbor bill today
agreed and signed n report. Senator
Frye made the following statement as
to tho result OF the conferences:
In the matter OF the Ncaraguan ca
nal the confcrees provided n substi-
tute for the Senate amendment giving
tull authority to the President to inves
tisate all lsthmian canal routes, espe-
cially the Nicaragua and Panama
routes. He is to have all the engineer
ana other employees he may need for
this purpose, and Is allowed to an
point the engineers either from the ar
my or civil life. He is then to report
his conclusions to the next Congress.
900. 900.
The Items concerning New York
harbor. Baltimore. Philadelphia, the
southwest Pass, and the Mississippi
river. Hudson river and nearly all the
important national projects as distin-
guished from those OF a purely local
character were agreed to practically
as inserted IN the Senate. In the mat
ter of the Miami project, which has at
tracied considerable attention, the
House confereos refused to agree to the
senate provisions. In this matter the
best we could do was to secure n pro
vision for the appointment of a board
or engineers, which is instructed to
make an estimate and report. The
Rouse conlerees also refused to accept
the Senatc's action placing the i'm
provements of st. Johns river. Fla.
upon Il continuing contract, but in this
matter we increased the appropriation
over the House figures to the extent of
about 100000, making the appropria-
ton $3.50 600
The continuing contract provision
ior SANDY Bay harbor of refuge, Massa-
chuSetts, was eliminated. but the i'm
mediate appropria ton of $25OOOO was
provided Tor and authority was given
TO appoint board of engineers TO make
survey and estimate.
we were also compelled to modify
the senate provision concerning the
proposed channel to Houston. Tex. In
ms matter we increased the Immediate
appropriation to the extent of sl00 O00
making 1t 100000 which Is sufficient to
insure twelve feet of water in the chan
mel TO the sea.
The House conferees accepted our
provision appropriating 100000 for the
Improvement of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
and also to the provision for the re-
moVal of the rocks in East river New
York. They refused to accent our
amendment for the Improvement Of An
acostia river. District of Columbia"
Senator Frye expressed the opinion
that the action of the conference on
the Nicaragua Canal matter would
prove satisfactory to the country The
Senate provision was, he said. neces-
sarily crude, owing to the haste which
attended its consideration and Congress
would be much better prepared to deal
with the question after getting the re-
ports provided for by the conference
agreement.
The agreement upon the New York
harbor item provides that the Secretary
of War may enter into n contract for
the forty-foot channel If the work can
be done for 100000: il not the gov
eminent is to enter upon the work and
eXpend. that amount in securing the
depth Of forty feet.
Many OF the large items We're com
promised. The appropriation for the
Southwest pass of the Mississippi river
is placed at 100000.