Ben Harrison: “A willingness is expressed by the War Department that the Department of the Interior should assume control of it.”

It gives me pleasure to consummate here to-day, by the act of lifting this flag, the efforts in support of a principle to which I give my hearty support.

An examination of the records of the Attorney-General's office as to the amount of business in the courts in these districts leads me to believe that two districts would provide amply for the disposition of all public and private cases.

But the most serious objection to the legislation is that it creates at once upon the taking effect of the law the offices of district attorney and marshal for each of the three districts, and the effect, it seems to me, must be to abolish…

I believe we have reached an epoch in our development when we may successfully begin the work of carrying our share of the world's commerce upon the seas.