The Washington times., 1902-03-19
Representative Hepburn
Makes Sharp Attack
on Measure.
FINDS ONE THING TO COMMEND
River Commission Is a Fruition of His
Labors-Committe Members Declare
the Measure Economical

Representative Hepburn tRep., Iowa.
made his usual attack upon the river and
harbor appropriation bill yesterday when
the House went into Committee of the
Whole for the consideration OF that meas
ure
He has consistently fought these annual
measures ever since he has been a mem
ber of the House. Yesterday he was lis
tened to at:entively by larger number
of members than generally give their heed
TO such discussions. During the time he
occupied the floor. Mr.. Hepburn indulged
in several pleasant colloquies with Rep
resentative Reeves (Rep.. Ill) and Repre-
sentative Williams tDem.. Miss)
His Annual Contribution.
II rise to make my annual contribution
TO rivers and harbors literature with n
miscellaneous assortment of emotions" :"
said Mr.. Hepburn in opening. Il recog-
nize the utter futility of saying anything
against this bill | recognized the same
fact years ago when the pork in the bar
rel amounted to 5000 900. and | recognize
now how manifestly impossible it is to
make any headway against it when it car
ries an appropriation of $50. 600 600
At the same time, he said, he found some-
thing in the pending measure to commend.
and that was the abolition of the Missouri
River Commission. For seventeen years
he had insisted that the hope of improv-
ing the navigation of the Missouri River
was wholly chimerical. and now he re-
joiced in the fruition of his iabors While
the committee had not gone SO far with
the Mississippi River Commission. it had
taken the back track on that proposition
by requiring its expenditures to be first
authorized or approved by the Secretary
of War and Chief of Engineers.
The Hennepin Canal.
Speaking of the Hennepin Canal in Illi-
nois, Mr.. Hepburn admitted that he had
voted for the measure. But" he added,
"considering the mental penance l have
since undergone, and my infancy and ig-
norance when / cast that vote, it will not
go as hard with me as with hard heart
ed old sinner like my friend from Illinois
IMr. Reevesl If he should attempt to in
dulge in another such freak OF Iegisla-
tion.' GLaughter.l
The canal was projected to get the
produce of the farmers of Iowa to the
Great Lakes" suggested Mr.. Reeves.
Quite true" retorted Mr.. Hepburn.
sbut the farmers of that dav are ell, acra
while the nHcwpieted esGal continues 20
t-cw its annual appr- s Sons s-g-1 tge
r.asrls. Renewed Il
a~7Ei IS che laai-u.- ~ fr
pu5ti- ...a
were r-1. ..-a .a5 ec---l.--se
did -.. lies late 70 log zen sr,rr-
appropriations Tor tnelr own schemes.
Without desiring to reflect upon the
courage of the present Speaker he ex-
pressed the hope that the time would
come when there would be Speaker with
wonderful courage" who would see TO it
that the committee was composed of men
who had no special interests to be con-
served.
Other Speakers.
Mr. Lawrence (Rep., Mass.), a member
of the committee, spoke in favor Of the
bill.
MIR White Dem. Ky) declared that a
large sum was raised annually by inter-
nal revenue taxation. He saw no reason
why some of that money should not be
returned in the shape of improve
mcnts for the internal system of
commerce.
Mr.. Ball Dem., Texas). advocating the
bill said that the committee of which he
is member. is more economical than any
other committee of the House, consider
ing the great interests which II served
Mr. Thompson Dem, AlaD and Mr.. Bur-
nett Dem. Ala.) spoke in regard to the
failure of the committee to include in It's
bill an item for the continuation of i'm
provements on rivers in their State
General debate upon the measure will
be concluded today. after which the bill
will be read under the FIVE minute rule.