Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-09

and harbor BILL Before It was called up
some routine business was transacted.
bill was passed to appropriate $4,000
for additional quarters for the rural free
delivery service.
The joint resolution for the appointment
Of ex-senator George Gray of Delaware as
| member Of the board of regents Of the
Smithsonian Institution. to fill the vacancy
caused by the death Of the late w. L. Will
son. was adopted
Mr. Burton, chairman of the river and
harbor committee, then called up the river
and harbor bill. He suggested that general
debate upon the bill be limited to three
hours. but there was an immediate outcry
against the proposition from Mr.. Cush-
man CWash) and Mr.. Boreing Ky.), and
all attempts to secure an agreement failed.
Mr.. Hopkins Ull) was called to the chair
to preside over the committee Of the whole
during the consideration of the bill.
Mr.. BurtOn's Statement.
Mr.. Burton took the floor to make his
preliminary statement in support and ex-
PLANTATION of the measure. The bill was
presented to the House, he said, in conf
dence that no other measure to be csnsid-
sidered by the House conferred greater
benefits upon the country. The greatest
achievement of the century which had
closed had been the Improvement in trans
portation facilities.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Hepburn,
Mr.. Burton said the sundry civil bill would
carry about $SCO0.000 on contracts pre-
viously authorized. The total of direct APP
propriations for rivers and harbors for the
next fiscal year would therefore aggregate
about s32 900 600. Mr.. Burton discussed at
some length the boundary line beyond
which the federal government should not
go in the improvement of works, local. pr1-
vate and municipal.
rlx.it to ~ irtcr,
quarters to the effect that in the appro-
priations for rivers and harbors the great
lakes We're receiving undue consideration,
Mr.. Burton produced figures to show that
the enormous tonnage carried up and down
the lakes warranted the extensive appro-
priatlons they had received He devoted
some time to giving the committees rea-
sons for abolishing the Missouri river COM
mission. over sill 100000 had been ex-
pended upon the river. he said, with only
trivial development of navigation. 1t had
less commerce today than it had thirty
years ago.
Mr. Clark (Mo.) asked if the committee
would oppose an amendment to allow the
riparian owners along the Missouri to build
bikes or wing dams.
Mr.. Burton replied that for himself he
would not oppose such an amendment. lie
thought private. owners could best deter
mine what should be done In order that
the Missouri should not be entirely neglect
ed he added, the bill carried $3OO.OOO for
that portion of the river below Sioux City
and 500 900 for that portion above the city.
would the gentleman oppose an amend
ment to confer upon the Secretary of War
authority to use the appropriation to con-
fine the Missouri river within it's present
l.mits?" asked Mr.. Hepburn Qowa).
81 should hesitate to accept such an
amendment" replied Mr. Burton. Il would
regard that as impracticable. owing to the
length of the river. The appropriation
would be entirely Inadequate to accomplish
any general results"
Mr.. Wilson Odaho) asked why. as the
committee proposed to repeal the project
for a boat railway from the Dalles rapids
to Cello Falls. Wash, it had not provided
for the alternative proposition of the engi-
ncers for a system of locks and dams.
Because a system of locks and dams
would cast s4,OO0OOO,' replied Mr.. Burton.
We provide for an eXpenditur of about
s. OOO,O0O at the mouth of the Columbia In
this bill. If the $4WO,fm were added the
title of this bill would have to be changed
to A bill for the development of the Co
lumbia river -
Proceeding Mr.. Burton explained the con-
fusion resulting from the present system of
engineer reports and this was the reason
for the insertion in the bill of the section
providing for the organization of board
of five engineer officers to examine reports
on examinations and surveys and submit
recommendations thereon.