The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-04
THE HARBOR BILL BLOCKED
The House Refuses to Concur in
the Senate Amendments.
Mr.. Hepburn Makes a Sharp Attack
on the Measure, Styling 1t n Flag
rantiy Vicious Piece of Legislation
An Appeal Made to Democrats.

|
At the beginning of the session yester
day the House refused to concur in tn
Senate amendments to the River an
Harbor bill, and a committee to confe
with the Senate was appointed. This &C
ton was taken after a bitter attack o.
the bill had been made by Mr.. Hepburn
Immediately after the reading of tn
Journal Mr. Grosvenor presented a rul
for taking up the River and Harbor bill
Mr. Richardson of Tennessee was recog
nized in opposition to the motion [.
adopt the rule. He said that he was no
aware that anyone on his side desired T.
he recognized TO speak at any length
against the measure.
Mr.. Hepburn took up the cudgel agains
the bill. Speaking to Mr. Richardson. h,
said: of course there is no one on you
side who desires to oppose the bill
notice that where there is pork to divid.
the power of the Democrats to checl
legislation seems to melt away"
Mr. Wheeler-Does the gentleman think
this is vicious legislation?
Mr. Hepburn-lt is certainly the most
haSrantly vicious piece of legislation that
was ever proposed. There is $50 900 600 in
| vowed. and yet there is no concerted at
tempt on the part of the Democrats to
! oppose it
| Mr.. Wheeler-What can we do? We are
| in. the minority
MIR. Hepburn-If you were solid in -.7.lr
opposition you could join forces with
those among the Republicans who are op-
posed to the steal and you could defeat
it.
MIR Hepburn, continuing, declared that
the system of spending money for the i'm
provement of rivers and harbors was all
wrong. II was under the thumb of real
estate rings, and was the most potent
factor in American politics.
The people attempt to make harbors
large enough to accommodate every new
boat, he said. They should have the
boats made TO fit the harbors.p
He then accused the Democrats in the
senate of having given in on matters of
great Importance III order to get other
nllls out OF the way, and to get the
River ana Harbor bill passed He ac-
cused the entire body of legislators of
sacrihclng millions of dollars of public
money In order TO enhance their personal
popularity His own virtue in that re-
spect was protected by the geological sit
uation of his State. He was sure that,
Judged on It's own merits no one of the
thousand appropriations in the bill could
because of the fact that everyone had a
hand i'll the bag. they were impregnable
There was original legislation in the bill.
he declared, vicious in itself. but to which
no one had given a single thought
MIR. Carmack said he was not SURPRISED
that Mr. Hepburn had appealed to the
virtue of the Democrats, seeing that he
was well aware he could not appeal to the
virtue of Republicans. He was not sur
prised that the Republicans were preach
ing economy, since they We're responsible
Tor so much expense on the other side of
the water.
THE gentleman should have this as his
motto: Millions for crime, and not
cent for commerce. -
He thought that no money was spent
to more profit than that spent for rivers
and harbors.
Mr.. Newlands made an appeal for the
retention in the bill of the paragraphs APP
propriattng money for reservoirs
Mr.. briggs answered an attack made
on the Buttermik Channel Improvement
by Mr.. Hepburn.
Mr.. Grosvenor complained that Mr.
Hepburn denounced so heartily the log
rolling in the River and Harbor bill. and
kept quiet when the Public Buildings bill
was under consideration. He declared
that In his opinion the appropriations of
this Congress would be overwhelmingly
approved by the country at large.
Mr.. Burton moved that the House nom
concur in the Senate amendments and ask !
for conference.
Mr.. Hepburn asked Mr.. Burton if there
had not been INSTRUMENTATION between |
members of the House and
members of the Senate.
Mr.. Hepburn admitted that there had |
been an informal conference. The motion |
to non-concur was adopted and Messrs
Burton, Catchings, and Reeves were APP
pointed conferees.
No better beer is brewed than Heurich's Maer- |
zen, Senate. or Lager. For sale on draught or |
in bottles by all leading hotels and restaurants |