Mr. MCDOUGALL. Mr. President, it was long ago that the part was learned of betrayin by a kiss. Senators say they are in favor of this proposition; someg however, want to recominit, and some want to postpone. These are simply artful ways to destroy the proposition which has been carefully matured in committee and produced I think in its best form. I have felt a great interest in this measure, not looking to my own country, for the Pacific coast has nothing to do withit, and can have no local concern in it, but from the fact that I once inhabited on the northern lakes and I had occasion to examine the question, and long since felt it of great public importance, and have always been its advocate whenever I have had an opportunities for advocacy. We are getting late in the session. This measure has been discussed, and generally discussed. Who is uninformed, who is unprepared to act either proor conunless he has paid no attention to one of the most important questions of legitimate legislation that ever came before Congress? Some say this must be made a national measure. Is the nation to engage in a system of public works and have a Bureau of Canals and Railroads, with officers and employees throughout the U.S.? Is such a system to be inaugurated? Not, I think, in the judgment of any person who care fully considers the importance of relieving government from such relations. That we have the gower to vest this right in individuals is not enied. All experience has taught that private enterprise is more prudent and produces better results than when Government, either Federal or State, engages in public works. This has been learned y the experience of this whole country. It will be a monument of public enterprise if we can secure the accomplisment of this work; ai‘l if we trust it, not to committees of Congress, but trust it to men who embark their own capital and give their own guarantees, we have an assurance of prompt completion and prudent management, and we have assurances that we shall not be disturbed vigorously, and efficiently, it must be intrusted by questions arising out of the business of a canal around the alls, that we shall not be disturbed by questions of the same kind that I will be sprung all over the country if such a whey as some contend for is inaugurated. That it is a national wdrk, and that for national purposes we may embark in it, is unquestion able; but to manage it as a work on the part of the Government, would be, ] think, a piece of the greatest folly in which we could engage. n ess cannot manage a canal or a rail roa, nor have we any dept of the government to do it and do it well. It is the business of individuals who embark capital and have their private interests concerned in it. Now, all this matter is of course well under stood, and it is not valuable to indulge in remark. WhatI desire to say is simply that these motions for recommitment without any given purpose of recommitment, and for postponement, are blows aimed at the entire measure which has been urged before in Congress, has been urged before the people, and has been the desire of the great body of the people in the Northwest.