The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-21
ROOT REFUSES US
SENATOR CLAY'S EFFORTS PROVE
UNAVAILING.
GILLESPIE ALSO DECLINES.
NO MORE MONEY CAN BE HAD FOR
THE HARBOR.

Matters Must stand as Mt Present
Until Congress Takes Action-sen-
ntOr Clay Put Up a Strong Argu-
ment to Col. Gillespie, but the Lat
ter Held to the Strict Interpreta-
ton of the Law.
Washington, June 10.-Secretary Root
refuses to authorize the expendi-
ture of the unexpended balance of
the river and harbor appropriation for
dredging Savannah harbor, as requested
by the commercial bodies of Savannah.
Senator Clay had long conference to-
Gillespie, and the latter declined to re-
verse the Endorsement he made several
days ago, denying the petition of Mayor
Myers and the business interests of Sa-
yannah in this connection. At the inter-
view between Senator Clay and Secretary
Root yesterday, the Secretary said he
had reached a conclusion against the
proposition, based on an Endorsement by
the chief of engineers, sustained by a le-
gal opinion by the judge advocate general
TO the effect that the law does not give
the Secretary discretion to apply the
whole of the unexpended balance of the
savannah harbor appropriation for dredg-
ing alone. While the Secretary was very
positive that he had the law on his side,
he said, however, that if Senator Clay
could induce Col. Gillespie to reverse his
Endorsement, and recommend the expen-
dture in accordance with the desires of
the business interests, there might be a
chance for stretching the law 10 the ex-
treme limit.
An Appeal to Gillespie.
With such a discouraging outlook. Sem
ator Clay, made his appeal to Col. Giles
pie this morning. The whole subject
was fully discussed and Senator Clay put
up strong and businesslike argument.
Col. Gillespie seemed friendly inclined but
he could not get away from a strict in
depreciation of the law which provides
that the larger part of the appropriation
shall be expended in the construction of
the breakwater in Savannah harbor. No
amount of argument or persuasion could
induce the chief of engineers to recede
from this original position. All the cor
respondence on the subject was reviewed,
comprehensive petition of the business
men of Savannah. According to the re-
cords of the War Department. the original
intention of the law under which the
money in question was appropriated, only
contemplated the expenditure of $150,0OO
for dredging; that amount has already
been expended and there is actually no
specific appropriation available for
dredging in Savannah harbor. Under ex-
VKTav~ TerAa yft,a ~
officials are disposed to take the respon-
sibility for expending about $4,000 of the
balance on hand to assist in keeping the
channel open and depend upon Congress
to justify their action.
Not Enough for Dredging.
1t appears, however, that Captain Gill
lette states in his correspondence on the
subject that $50, 900 will be of little or no
use. and unless the entire expended bal
ance of something over 100000 is used
for dredging no good results can be OBJ
tanned Thus the matter stands. the
Secretary, backed up by the chief of en-
glneers and the Judge Advocate General,
decides that the whole amount shall not
be used for dredging. The chief of eng-
neers says he is willing that $4,000 may
he used for that purpose, and it now re-
mains for Capt. Gillette to decide whether
he will recommend the acceptance of the
latter amount or await turther action Dy
Congress. --a
Senator Clay, as a member of the Com
merce Committee having this subject in
charge during the last session of Con-
gress, explained that both houses of Con-
gress understood and favored the use of i
the unexpended balance for Savannah
harbor to be used for dredging. Unfor-
tundtely the bill containing that provis-
ion failed to become law. Senator Clay
said he felt justified in assuring that the
next Congress would not condemn the
War Department for exercising it's dis
erection in this matter should it decide to
apply the whole amount to dredging.
Senator Clay's appeal, and his assurances
were Of no avail for he was met by the
opinion of the Judge Advocate General.
who ruled specifically on that point, hold
ing that although Congress may have in
tended to authorize the money to be ex-
pended as suggested yet the good inten-
ton fell when the bill failed to become a
law.