Evening star., 1902-03-18
Appropriations Discussed by
the House.
MR.. HEPBURN PROTESTS
SENATE LISTENS TO LETTERS RE-
GARDING PHILIPPINES.
Bill to Protect the President Taken Up
and Mr.. Vest Speaks on
the Mea5uIe.

The House Of Representatives went into
committee Of the whole after the election
Of the new doorkecper today and resumed
the consideration of the river and harbor
bill When Mr.. Hepburn tlewa), who has
fought rI>,r and harbor bills ever since he
came 10 Congress. arose to speak there
was an outburst Of applause on both sides
of the House.
Il arise to make my annual contribution
t. river and harbor literature with mis-
ccIlaneous assortment of emotions, he be-
gan. Il recognize, he continued, the
utter futlity Of saying anything against
this bill. | recognize d tnat fact years ago.
when the pork in the barrel was only $S,-
no,oW. HOw Hdnifestly Impossible Is 1t TO
make headway against il now that the APP
preparations aggregate Soo,oO,Oo. At the
same time | lind in connection with the
presentation of the pending bill some things
t. commend-a rare thing in my experience
W. have at the head OF the river and mar
bOr committee an ideal chairman Tor the
purposes in vicw-ont VINO. | believe, is
striving to secure public rather than pri-
vate benefits, one looking Tor the welfare
of this great nation and the promotion OF
its commerce. not the elevation of A, or
to seats upon this floor (Applause.)
Commended the Committee.
Mr.. Hepburn commended the committee
for taking the back track upon wasteful
expenditures in certain directions, pointing
out the abandonment of further improve
ments of the Missouri river a final full
fillment of pre- redictionS made eighteen years
ago.
lie said that Congress should set a def
mite limit upon the depth of water sought
to be obtained in seaport harbors-thlrty
feet for inStance-and place a limit upon
naval architecture. Otherwise, he declared.
there would be no end to the depth of
water which would be demanded
The Hennepin Canal.
Speaking Of the Hennepin canal. Mr.
Hepburn admitted that he had voted for
it. But considering the mental penance
have undergone since" said he, land my
infancy and ignorance when l cast the
vote. it will not go as hard with me as
with a hard-headed old sinner like my
friend from Illinois (Mr. Reeves) if he
should attempt to indulge in another such
freak of legislation" LaughterD
The canal was projected to get the pro-
duce of the farmers of Iowa to the great
lakes" suggested Mr.. Reeves.
quite true" retorted Mr. Hepburn, but
the farmers of that day are all dead, while
the incompleted canal continues to draw its
annual appropriations from the treasury.
tRenewed laughter)
While acquittng the chairman of the
committee of looking TO anything but the
public welfare, Mr. Hepburn said there
were gentlemen upon the committee who
did not hesitate to log roll to secure ap-
propriations for their own schemes. With
out desiring to reflect upon the courage of
the present Speaker he expressed the hope
that the time would come when there
would be q Speaker with wonderful cour-
age who would see to it that the commit
tee was composed of men who had no spe-
Cial interests to be conserved
The Bill Defended
Mr.. Lawrence (Mass.), member of the
committee, defended the bill in an extended
speech. lie declared that II Boston was to
obtain the share of the country's commerce
to which 1t was entitled 1t was absolutely
necessary that the harbor should have the
thrty-fve-foot channel provided for in the
pending bill He called attention to the
fact that this bill was not to be rammed
through the House. but that ample oppor-
tunity was to be allowed for debate ard
amendment.
Mr.. White (Ky) spoke in favor of river
and harbor improvements proper
method of eXpending money raised by tax
aton
Mr.. Ball (Texas). member of the river
and harbor committee, contended that his
committee was more economical in pro-
portion to the interests served than any
committee of the House.