The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1907-02-28
THE AMENDMENT FAILS.

ment that the river ana ndTDoI pIi
as passed the senate does not con-
tain a provision for the Improvement
of the Tombigbee in 1t. Notw1th-
standing Senator McLaurin's earnest
fight in our behalf, fight before the
committee and then later on the
floor of the senate, when he present
ed four different amendments, reduc-
ing the amount each time in the hope
that the Bigbee would be recognized,
the senate finally refused to go be-
hind the report of the government
engineers on this project and make
an allowance for its permanent I'M
Drovement. This result has been
foreshadowed ever since the govern
ment engineers juggled with the Big
bee, and after reporting favorably
on every feature of the work turned
down the project without excuse or
justification.
In behalf of the people in East
Mississippi and the Bigbee Valley, it
is proper that a journal rejecting
the public sentiment in this section
should give expression of our appre-
citation to Snator McLaurin and Con
gressman Gambler in our behalf. The
representative from this district
has been unf1agging in his devotion
to the cause ever since he has been in
congress, and he has let no opportun-
ity slip to get this river before the
tn
it's importance. He did everything
possible for our cause in the present
crisis, and his work will be remem-
bered not only now in defeat, but
when his work has been crowned
with success and the Bigbee has been
improved, as it surely viii be.
To Senator McLaurin We wish to
convey the gratitude of our people
especially. Years ago he promised
our people on the stump that if with
in his power he would exert every in
f1uence to get this river made navi-
gable When he was waited upon
by the committee from this city a
few weeks ago he renewed that prom
Leaving a sick bed to get back to the
capital he at once entered upon his
duties. and he has been diligently at
work in our behalf ever since. Sen
ator McLaurin went before the SEN
ate commerce committee and present
ed the river project, but the amend
ments were defeated there. Not sat
isfied and determined to leave noth-
ing undone to secure Federal aid, he
carried the fight to the floor of the
senate, waging it eloquently and ear
nestly for recognition. Amendment
after amendment was offered by him,
only to meet defeat, no less than TOUR
amendments being offered with the
amounts reduced each time, in the
hope that the senate would take fav-
orabIe action. That body refused 10
recognize the river in the face or the
engineers report, and the amend
ments were defeated. Senator Nc
L,aurin did all that he could do, and
more than many others could nave
done, and it is a pleasure to make
this fact known to his friends and
supporters in Columbus.
The defeat of the project at this
session but gives the friends of the
cause renewed inspiration for a con-
tinuation of the fight. 1t is only a
question of time when Senator Nc
Laurin will be on the senate com
merce committee, and this will give
him additional power and influence
in all river matters. Congressman
Gamblers work in the lower house
has paved the way for future aclloh
| and with a fair and impartial repor
from the engineering department th'
| Bigbee will yet be recognized