Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-11
56TH CONGRESS.
Attacks on River
and Haroor Bill.
Some Members Claim that the Meas
urc Favors Certain Localities.
Army Reorganization Debate Wakes Warmer
in the Senate.

Washington. Jan. 1o.-The general
debate on the river and harbor bill
continued in the House, today. until 4
O'Clock, when the death of Representa-
tive Clark Of New Hampshire, was an
ed, and the House adjourned out
OF respect to his memory. The features
OF the debate, today. were the speeches
of MIR. Cushman. Wash, and Mr. Hep
burn. Iowa. The latter has been a
pers stent opponent Of river and harbor
bllls for years, and attacked the bill
all along the line in his usually vigor-
Gus fashion. Cushman's speech was
unique III many particulars. When he
wound up with a glowing appeal for
justice to the Seattle project ne re-
ceived Il stirring round Of applause
Ihe desk of Representative Clark of
New Hampshire. who died. Wednesday
night. at his home. Was shrouded black
and covered with flowers when the
House met, Thursday.
by unanimous consent the bill to re-
wise and codify the postal laws Of the
United States was made special or
der after the disposal of the river and
harbor bill
The following days were sest aside
for paying tribute; Saturday, Feb 2
at 3 O'Clock, the late Senator Davis of
Minnesota; Saturday, Feb. Q. at 4
O'Clock. the late Representative Wise
of Virginia; Jan. 26, at 4 o'clock. to the
late Senator Gear of Iowa: and Feb
Is at O'Clock. to the late Representa-
tive Hoeffecker of Delaware The
House then went into committee Of the
whole and resumed consideration Of the
river and harbor bill.
Shackleford. Mo, protested against
the action of the committee in abolish
ing the Missouri river commission.
GrOSvenor, Ohio, replied briefly to
the remarks of some OF the Western
members in favor of appropriations IN
the river and harbor bill for the recla-
nation of arid lands. He denied the
power Of Congress to enter upon a
vast scheme of irrigation and ques-
toned it's propriety.
Hepburn. Iowa, took the floor for an
hours speech in which he vigorously
assailed various features Of the bill.
Hepburn and w. A. Smith, Mich.
had sharp exchange in which person
alities were ba ndied back ana forth.
Many of Hepburn's criticisms were
aimed at the undue amounts which
the state of Michigan received. and
this fact aroused the resentment Of the
Michigan members.
Hepburn also assailed the policy Of
the river and harbor committee in
deepening the harbor to meet the
draught of some ships which some
freak shipbuilders build
Now this bill proposed to deepen the
channel at Boston harbor Next Year
Philadelphia would demand deeper wa
ter, then Baltimore. Charleston. and
New Orleans. He argued that ship
builders should be compelled to con-
form the draught of their ships to the
depth of water in the harbor they
were to enter. and not the harbors to
the drGught Of the ships. Speaking of
the Mississippi river. he declared that
although $40. 900 600 had been spent on
that river. no substantial increase in
the navigation of the river had result
ed.
Hepburn said he expected to live to
see river and harbor bill carry $780,
o00,0GO. Today. it reached $50, 100000 A
few years more and it would pass the
800. 900, 600 mark He warned members
of the subtle danger to the 'continu-
contract system" by which the real
amount of the appropria lions for rivers
and harborS was concealed.
Hepburn said he was opposed to the
reclamation of the arid lands Of the
West for selfish reasons. When there
arose an agricultural necessity for re-
claiming those lands. when the present
agricultural area was no longer able
to supply the food of the world then
let the genera ton to he benefited pay
for the cost Of reclamation.
Cushman. Wash, followed Hepburn
with another assault upon the bill. He
illustrated his remarks with an enormous
chart which he had brought into the hall
In Il table on one side in figures suffi-
cicntly large to be read from the rcmot-
est limits of the hall. was a list of /!
states which had members on the river
and harhor committee, giving the sums
appointed and authorized in the bill. Tha
direct appropriations amount TO Sass.
100 The authorized appropriations
amount to $24, 49,. S96
Cushman said II states with members
on the committee got all of the appropri-
and authorizations left TO
the remaining IS states and territories, 10
of which got no appropria tions whatever.
Clshman said he was in favor Of river
and hahor improvements, but bill for
that purpose should be for the benefit of
the whole country, not for the benefit of
the members of the committee. He rep
resented a city that had tonnage of S.
600 0oo and it got the ''moasly' sum of
$50 .0G0
IF you think my vote can be bought at
that price" said he, addressing members
Of the committee. you are off your
base
one by one, Cushman aid his respects to
the members of the committee. producing
individual maps showing the appropria-
tons each member had secured. In con-
clusion. Cushman disclosed the reason for
his attack. 1t was because the commit
tee had not provided for the Seattle ship
canal He made an eloquent plea for jus
tice for his state.
Alexander, \. ". member of the
river and harbor committee, made a gen
eral defence of the committee. pointing
ont how falaCious it was to charge TO a
state money expended for the improve
ment of the general commerce facilities
of the country. He also pointed out how
ma tIral it was tnat the river and harbor
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