The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1903-11-26
RIVER AND HARBOR
MATTER IS SERIOUS
Reported that Democrats and Republicans
are Clashing on II.
NO LEGISLATION PROBABLE.
As the Administration Desires the Matter
Deferred Until Next Winter..-R ansdell
of Louisiana Talks on Subiect-..Brazil
Ready to Recognize Panama.

The Administration as has frequ-
emily been published, is in favor
of postponing all river and harbor
legislation until next winter. The
people wherever improvements are
contemplated, needed or under way,
are clamoring for bill this winter.
In some sections the demand is so
great that meetings have been held
for the purpose Of urging Congress to
to act. The House Committee, Of
which Mr.. Burton will be made the
Chairman. favors bill, cut there is
some hesitancy in taking any action
which be displessing to the President.
The Democratic members Of the Rivers
and Harbors Committee, who may
reasonably expect to be reassigned to
that body, are not subject to the same
restraint as their Republican COL
leagues and they are openly doing all
within their power to secure legisla-
tion without delay. Representative
Ransdell has been agitating the mat
ter, and has been at some pains to
prepare q comparative statement OF
appropriations for rivers and harbors,
the Army, Navy, Postoffice Depart
ment and pensions, which has receiv
ed the approval of ChairmanBurton and
the other members of the committee.
I am convinced that the county needs
and expects river and harbor bill at
the coming session of Congress and
one of generous proportions. said Mr..
Ransdell, of Louisiana in q recent in
terview. There is great misapprehen-
sion, he added, "as to the amounts ex-
pended on river and harbor work.
Most people imagine the amounts are
twice as large as the facts show"
During the ten years ending June 80,
1904, the total average annual appro-
priation for all of the rivers and har-
bors and all OF the commerce OF eur
great country was only $18, 489, 491.
During the same period the Navy re-
ceived an average annually of $52,-
1857, the Army $50, 644, 9s6, the
the Postofice $l09, 924. 900 and PEN
sions $144,027.442. Rivers and har-
bors have not received fair share of
national expenditures. There are
many very important and most worthy
projects which should be commenced
at ence and be pushed vigorously to
completion, and among the most pres
sing Of the great projects are thirty
five-foot channel to the city of Phila-
delphis, a largely increased depth in
the Ohio River, by means, of looks
and dams and the competitions of the
levee system on the Mississippi River.
I believe that large majority of our
people would heartily approve q more
generous bill for rivers and harbors
than has ever been reported"
The navy department. has received a
cabiegram from Admiral Coghlan at
Colon. replying to an inquiry whether
there was any truth in the report that
the German steamers Markomania and
Scotia had been stopped at Colon by
American men-of-war. Admiral Co2h-
Ian states that the Markomania stop
ped off Colon, en- route to Oarthagena
to land passengers. but was not inter
fsred with. The Scotia arrived about
sunset, three days overdue and was in
formed that no armed force would be
permitted to land, but the vessel was
not interfered with, and only darkness
prevented her getting alongside the
dock at once.
When the formal invitation is re.
ceived from the New Orleans Com
mittee to Congress to participate in
the exercises to be held December 19,
commemorative of the purchase OF