Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-17
De ARMONO FULLY SATISFIED
lis Content that Investigation of
Chances Protest he Not Made
since Hulls Explanation.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 16.-Before proceed
ing with the river and harbor bill Mr.
Hull chairman OF the committee on military
affairs. reported back the De Almond resolu-
tion calling upon the War department for
all information relative to the alleged
action of General Chafee in protesting
against the lootng in China, with the
recommendation that 1t lie on the table.
Accompanying the report Mr.. Hull sub
mtted the letter OF the secretary of war.
already published, explaining the difficulty
in obtaining the required information and
pointing out that 1t could not be procured
until after the expiration of the present con-
gress.
Mr.. De Almond of Missouri the author
OF the resolution. said that he had been
moved to introduce II by a paragraph in
the newspapers which was very credltable
to General Chaffee. in which IL said
that he had rebuked or protested against
the conduct of an officer OF foreign gov
ernment in regard to the loottng In China.
The paragraph indicated that neither the
American commander nor the American
soldiers were responsible for the barbarty
and dishonesty which had taken place in
that unhappy country. He had desired only
to procure official confirmation of the re-
ports. but the reasons given by the secretary
entirely satisfactory to him. The resolu-
tion was then laid upon the table and the
house went into committee of the whole and
resumed consideration of the river and
harbor bill
Mr.. Hepburn proposed an amendment to
the paragraph appropriating 100000 for
the Missouri river to permit the secretary
of war in his discretion to use such por-
tions of the appropriation as he might
deem proper in maintaining the stability
of the banks of the river.
Mr.. Dougherty OF Missouri also offered an
am endment on the same subject and after
some debate Mr.. Burton chairman Of the
river and harbor commission, offered
substitute for the latter to permit the
owners OF the property or municipalities
abutting on the river to build dykes or
wing dams. providing such constructions
do not interfere with the navigation of
the river and are approved by the engineer
in charge. Mr. Hepburn, speaking of the
desrability OF protecting the banks of the
Missouri, adduced some figures to show
that not much more than 81 ,000. 900 of the
81, coo 0O0 appropriated for the Mississippi
would be used in dredging the channel OF
the river. The remainder, he said. would
be used for the protection OF the banks OF
the Mississippi. II this were true, he
asked would not part Of the appropriation
for the Missouri be applied for a similar
purpose. Mr. Burton's substitute was
adopted and the Hepburn amendment lost.
International Commission.
Chairman Burton offered a substitute
for section 4, which was adopted. II au-
thori2ed the president TO invite Great
Britain to join in an international COM
mission, composed of three members from
each country, to report from time TO time
upon the conditions aud uses OF the waters
adjacent TO the boundary line between tho
| United States and Canada. including all
the waters OF tho lakes and rivers whose
! rivers flow by the St. Lawrence to the At
! lantic ocean, also upon the maintenance
| and regulation Of suitable levels and upon
! the oftect Oh the shores of the waters and
upon the interests of navigation by reason
| of their diversion from their natural flow
and TO report on measures to regulate such
| diversions and 10 enter into such agree
| ments and II make recomme ndatio as
| shall best subserve the interests of navi-
cation. II also authorized the president
10 appoint the United States members OF
the commission and authorized them to
employ experts. etc.
An amendment was added 10 include in
the bill provisions for preliminary investi-
cations OF Humboldt bay California north
| ern and southern enCs.
! Mr.. Mann OF Illinois offered an am end