The times., 1900-12-31
DESTINED TO Be VETOED
Probable Fate Of the Rivers and
Harbors Appropriation Bill.
Many Senators Believe the President
Will Not Approve the Measure If
Passed ns Reported to the House
Amount Called for Considered
Much Larger Than Necessary.

It is the opinion of many members OF
the Senate tn t the President viii veto
the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation
bill should it be passed, as reported by
the House committee. The bill is refer
red to rs the most eXtravagant measure
of the kind ever reported TO the House
The report of the House committee which
gives 500 O0O, 600 as the total of appro-
priaticns desired is misleading. The cor
rect amount, is is said. according to the
bill taken in detail, is $50, ,O0o This
together with the rivers and harbors
items in the Sundry Civil Appropriation
bill will bring the amount close to $780,
O0o, 900.
It is claimed by some Senators that
the total will be much greater
when the Senate adds its items,
and that a veto is inevitable. The mem
bers of the steering committee point out
that s30,000,0 900 ought TO suffice. Presi-
dent Arthur vetoed a rivers and harbors
bill carrying s12.Oe0.OOO as excessive.
while President Cleveland during his sec
ond Administration vetoed a similar
measure because it carried $4,000, 600.
When the House committee decided to
report the bill the total was fixed at $780,
O0G, ,000. This was thought too large for a
starter and items providing for work al
ready authorized by Congress were cut
from the measure. This brought the os-
tensible total down 10 s60, 900, 600. but the
$50, 0,000. .000 being already authorized, must
be added later, either on this bill or as
separate appropriations. thus making the
rivers and harbors total SSo,G00, 900.
Many Senators are highly indignant at
what they term foolish extravaganza, and
it is rumored that every back district
with a millpond was favored by its Rep
resentative. a majority of the items being
classed as unusual and unnecessary.
One item alone calls for no less q sum
than 81 900 600 This is for the improve
ment OF a river at West Neebish, Mich,
and $500. 600 is made available inmedi-
ately 1t is such items this. II is said,
that have made the enormous total.
According to one Senator the Western
members of the House have 4 scheme to
add to the bill provisions for extensive
storage reservoirs - The expressed
object OF these is TO improve the water
ways. but it is known that the idea was
brought to he fore by the lobby sent here
by the National Irrigation Congress. and
heads of streams and in mountains where
watersheds supply small streams The
idef is said to be the first step in a
scheme for vast syHtem Of irrigating
canals TO redeem the arid lands. II this
is added to the bill as an amendment il
will carry from 50, Gee coo to S1e.0e0, ,G00
additional.
1t is said that tie one rede eming feature
OF the bill is the fact that the Missouri
River Commission is abolished, and no
more appropriations VIII be made for the
waterway for some time. It has been
shown that the river amounts to nothing
as an avenue of commerce and that 1t is
inpe.ssibls to maintain permanent chan
nels. A protest against the abolishment
of tie commission is being prepared by
the people Of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and
Missouri.
"Tne idea CT this bill seems TO be to
make sure that there will be no surplus, -
said a Senator last night. This measure
carries So, ,oG0. 600 when $50 COS. .e0e is
enough. Then look at other bills. The
House has agreed to spend So. coo, 600 for
the navy which is s2h. .0e0000 more than
last year. Appropriations for Notifications
are increased s12 0eO, ,o0e over last year
The Army bill carries $50, coo 600 more
than last year, and yet the War Revenue
bill contemplates reduction of $40 000,-
600 per year.
Then there is The Ship Subsidy bill; /;
the bills for the construction OF public
buildings in every hamlet; the Cotton
Claims bill; the Omnibus Claims bill, and
so on without limit. This session will be
q record breaker, and no sane man will
blame the President should he veto the
Rivers and Harbors bill"