The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-03
.RIvI And
HARBORS BILL
Measure Will Likely Be Reported.
10 Senate Next Week.
ITS PASSAGE IS i. a CERTAINTY {: R / MY
Senator Martin VII, Offer Amendments
Providing for improvements Of
the James and Appo-
mattox Rivers.
IT'S. PASSAGE IS A. CERTAINTY
fsnac,a1 n,.n,tcb 70 The Times !

Especial Dispatch to Tho Times.)
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 2-The
report comes from the SeLate Committee
on Commerce, which has charge at pres
eat, or the river and MAJOR Dill, that
the work upon that important measure
is going forward very rapidly, and that
the probabilities are mat it will be re-
ported to the Senate next week
A number Of amendments will be added
to it by the Senate, the majority Of them
being those that died with the bill last
year, just at the close of the session.
Some new amendments will, or course
go on, but when the bill comes out OF the
committee 1T will not be 10 heavily
barnacled by them that it will not float
serenely through the Senate, and its
friends are confident of its final passage
through both branches of Congress, and
from the present outlook there seems lit
tle reasons to doubt the soundness OF
their hopes.
To begin with, the river and harbor
bill reaches, In its provisions, SO many
sections Of the country tnat IL is al
ways assured OF large Dach ,i,1s
at the start, and in q long session like
the present it's friends have plenty OF
time to pitt down whatever opposition
there may arise from different causes.
Last year the irrigation bill was bolster
ed up against the river and harhor Dill
with the result that the latter was talked
to death on the very last night OF the
session by a Senator who was In favor
Of the irrigation bill This year there
was a little stir Of antagonism among tle
North Carolina members because tney
felt that the Old North State had not
been dealt with by the River and Harbor
Committee as she should have been, ultt
it passed away, and the Dill salleo easily
through the House, although every
amendment that was offered was prompt
ly killed.
Now that the bill has gone over to the
Senate, Virginia is extremely fortunate
in having a Senator on the COMMITTEE on
Commerce to look after her interests.
When Senator sits on the committee
that is handling a certain bill he STANDS
a very strong chance to have his amend-
ments to that bill voted for when the
matter comes up in the Senate. senator
Martin has already given notlce tnat ne
would offer amendments to the river ana
harbor bill, and when that measure
leaves the committee Virginia Will be
better provided for under it than she is
under the House bill as it stands to-day.
VIRGINIA ITEMS.
The amendments Senator Martin VIII
offer deal with the James River improve
ment. DETECTION Of the Appomattox at
Petersburg, improving the harbor at
Cape Charles, improving the Pagan
River and improving ChesconnesseS
Creek They are as follows: In addition
to the s25O.OO0 allowed by the bill, as II
passed the House, for continuing I'M
proyement Of James River, an amend
ment adding 100000 for Improvement to
the head Of navigation at the docks, pro
vided that a contract or contracts may
be entered into by the Secretary of War
for such materials and work as may be
necessary to complete the project re-
for as appropriations may from time to
time be made by law, not to exceed IN
the aggregate seven hundred and twenty
four thousand nine hundred ana 1orty-
three dollars and fifteen cents, including
the one hundred thousand dollars herein
approprla ted. -,
In addition to the seven thousand dol
lars allowed for improving the Appomat-
tox, the Senator's amendment reads:
"And for the DETECTION and improve
nent of the river at Petersburg, Virginia.
in accordance with the report submitted
in House document numbered one nun
bred and thirty-nine. Fifty-siNth Congress,
second session. twenty-five thousand dol
lars: Provided, That contract or con-
tracts may be entered into by the Sec
retary of War for such materials anu
work as may be necessary to complete
the project recommended in sald report,
to be paid for as appropriations may from
time TO time DC 1uduo ny Id W. ~ -
coed in the aggregate ono hundred ana
seyenty-five thousand dollars, exclusive
of the amounts herein and heretofore
appropriated"
The provision in the present bill for
improving the harbor at Cape Charles
is ten thousand dollars. This amount IS
doubled, twenty thousand being asked for.
Senator Martin asks twenty-eight hum
| dred and seventy dollars for the improve
ment of Pagan River, and five thousand
for ChesconnesseS Creek, neither of which
are provided for in the House bill.
WILL AID STRIKERS.