The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-11
Uses Huge Charts to Show How
Committeeman Hog River and
Harbor Appropriations.
PLEA FOR A SEATTLE PROJECT.
Seventeen States Which Have
Members on the Committee
Get All but $S.:349.557
of the Big Total.

Washington, Jan. m-The general debate
on the river and harbor bin continued in
the House to-day until 1 O'Clock. when the
death Of Representative Clarke OF New
Hampshire was announced and the House
adjourned out of respect to his memory.
The features OF the debate to-day were
the speeches Of Mr.. Cushman OF Washing
ton and Mr.. Hepburn OF Iowa. The latter
has been a persistent opponent OF river and
harbor bills for years. and he attacked tho
bill all along the line in his usual vigorous
fashion. MT. speech was unique
In many particulars. lie was in favor OF
river and harbor appropriations. and his
complaint was due to the fact that the mem
bers Of the committee, according TO his
ideas. had located the bulk OF tho appro-
priations in their own States and had given
scant consideration to the needs Of other
subsequently, to the Seattle ship canal
In his own State.
Mr.. Cushman illustrated his remarks with
a series of carefully prepared charts. He
criticised several OF the individual members
OF the committee in breezy style and be-
came engaged in half a dozen very spirited
encounters before he concluded.
Members crowded around the area IN
front or the Speakers desk where he stood
explaining the figures upon the charts. and
every one seemed to enjoy the picturesque
Z dit lIlIutIISNlE.
Said His State WINS Overlooked.
On q table on one side. in figures suf-
hciently large to be read from the remotest
limits of the hall. was a list Of seventeen
States which had members on the River and
Harbor Committee. giving the sums appro-
priated and authorized in the bill. The d.
rect appropriations amount to 81. go. 26O.
The authorized appropriations amount TO
s24. 457. 500.
He said the seventeen States with men,
bers on the committee got all the appropri-
stions. with the exception of ss,3i9.551 in ap-
propriations and authorizations left 10 the
remaining twenty-eight States and Terri
tories. ten of which got no appropriations
whatever. Mr.. Cushman said he WIS in
favor OF river and harbor improvements.
But a bill for that purpose should be for tho
benefit OF the whole country and not for the
benefit of the members OF the committee.
He spoke. he said. as one who had been
victimized by the bill. He said the COM
mittee had "overlooked' his State as II 1t
had been "a white chip in a faro game" He
represented a city that had a tonnage of
100000. and It got the "measly sum Of
$50, co."
IF you think my vote can be bought Mt
that price," he said. addressing members
OF the committee you are off your base"
Spicy Exchanges.
Mr.. Cushman's criticisms aroused the
members OF the committee and they kept up
a continual fire OF questions while he was
speaking. As a result there were sono ex-
ceedingly spicy exchanges.
Imperial Caesar, Mr.. Cushman said. had
divided all Gail into three parts. Caesar
was an ancient and a provincial Had he
lived to the dawn OF the Twentieth Cen
fury. said Mr. Cushman, he would have
divided 'galP' into enough fragments to
give one to each member OF the River and
Harbor Committee OF the House laugh
teri.
MIR. Cushman hid brought into the hall
enother chart showing the proportion of
appropriations TO the recommendations Of
the chief OF engineers. The States rep-
resented by the River and Harbor Commit
tee. he said. got Sc per cent Of the APP
preparations recommended, while the other
States got less than ~ per cent.
II invite tho members Of the committee"
he said. ito go up against the frozen facts
OF that chart" UAughter.)
One by one. Mr.. Cushman paid his re-
spects to the members OF the committee.
prodl cling individual maps showing the APP
preparations each member had secured
The district Of Mr.. Bishop OF Michigan. no
said, had six counties with frontage on
Lake Michigan and each one had an ap-
preparation in the bill.
D~ousherty's Amendment.
Representative Dougherty has prepared
and will offer the following amendment to
the river and barber bill:
PrOvlQeu, tnat whenever the MISSOURI
River is caving Its bank and destroying or
threatening to destroy valuable real estate
or materially changes Its proper channel.
the Secretary OF War Is hereby authorized,
upon application OF any person or persons
owning valuable real estate fronting on said
river. to construct bikes. wings, reyet-
ments, jetties or such other works as I'm the
opinion Of the Secretary OF War may be
necessary or sufficient TO prevent such cav-
ing or erosion Of the banks thereof and con-
fine and restrain said river to its proper
channel. In the matter of the construction
OF such bikes, wings, revetments, jetties or
other works as above specified, the SAID
Secretary of War may receive without cost
to the Government such material and labor
as may be furnished by such person or per-
sons owning real estate on said river.
provided, further, that said Secretary OF
War may, In his discretion. authorize and
permit any person or persons owning real
estate on said river to construct and main
tain on their own account and at their own
proper cost and expense such dikes, wings.
revetments, jetties or other works as above
specified and contemplated. All work done,
however, as above stated. shall be under
the supervision, direction and control OF
said Secretary OF War"