The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-28
THE FIPTIETH CONGRESS.
Charter Granted the Nicaragua Canal Comps
ny-Debate the Pension Question.

Charter Granted the Nicarag qua Canal Compa-
ny-Debate the Pension Question.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ga bill was reported
and placed the calen der abolishing the Office
of United States surveyor general for the dis
trct Of Nebraska and Iowa.
Mr.. Cullom introduced a bill to regulate the
manufacture, blending and compromising of
duty-free spirits for in manufactures. arts
and sciences. Referred.
The Senate then resumed consideration of the
bill to incorporate the Maritime Canal Company
of Nicaragua. The several amendments re-
ported by the committee on foreign relations
were agreed to-
Mr. Edmunds offered an amendment declar-
ing that nothing in the act should be deemed or
construed to restrict impair In any way any
right of the United States, under any treaty
in force with the republic OF Nicaragua. Agreed
to.
Mr.. Vest offered an amendment declaring that
nothing in the act should be held or construed
to involve In any manner the United States in
any pecuniary obligation except to the pay
ment OF tolls. The amendment was rejected
yeas 81. nays %.
Mr.. Vest offered another amendment provid-
ing that no part of the capital stock paid in
should be at any time Withdrawn or returned to
the stockholders. be in any manner diverted
from the proper uses of the corporation; and said
that the same was placed in tho Tehuantepec
bill of last Congress. and also the Nicaragua
bill. on the motion OF the Senator from Vermont.
Mr.. Teller opposed the amendment, and in the
course of his argument said that when the Pana-
mia canal was first proposed the administration
should have declared that no canal should be
opened across the continent that the American
government did not control. Even late as it
was now the French goverpment-if the Pana-
canal should become a national enterprise
should be notified that the American people
would not submit to it. He referred to the
croachments of England in South and Central
America, and said that IL there was anything
which the American people could do that would
have a tendency to give them some control of
these transit interests it should be done. If it
could net be done directly by the government
1t was certainly inconsistent to throw any OBJ
stacles il the way OF such an enterprise.
Nr. Hoar suggested TO Mr.. Vest to modify his
amendment by allowing stock to be returned 20
stockholders for the purpose of winding up the
corporation, and Mr.. Vest modified it occord-
ingy
Senators to the fact that the bill omitte to re-
Quire all materials used in the work to be of
American manufacture; and he propEesied-in
bantering tone-that "these fellows would buy
their iron and steel and other materials wher-
ever they could get them cheapest and best"
Was not that, he asked. az evasion of the duty
which Senators owed to the Pennsylvania steel
and iron manufacturers Was not the end Of
things nigh when Congress would charter a
oorat;on to act in foreign parts. with permission
to bay iron and steel and other materials from
the British lionl He made these suggestions in
the character of Anxious Curiea, and said IL Re-
publican Senators did not act on them. and il
on their own heads" Laughter
Mr.. Teller replied that if the managers Of the
enterprise were untrammelsd. they would buy
their picks. and shoves, and barrows where
they could find them best and cheapest, and
they would buy them in tho United States. The
Senator from North Carolina need not worry
himself on that point
MIR. Vests amendment was rejected-yeas IL;
nays, 26.
Mr. Vest also offered an amendment that if
stock to the amount of SIC. 100000 be not sub
scribed, and 10 per cent thereon actually paid
within two years. the work of construction
should not be actually commenced and be in
progress at the expiration of four years, the
corporation should be deemed to have expired
by limitation. Rejected-yeas, Is; nays. 25
Mr.. Vance offered an amendment requiring
that all the laborers employed in the work
should be either native naturalized citizens Of
the United States. Reiected-yeas. 10; nays, 49,
The bill was then reported back from the
committee of the whole, and the amendments
agreed upon in committee where concurred in.
Mr.. Vest again offered his amendment that
the United States government should have no
pecunisry obligation in connection with the
work, and it was again rejscted-yeas, %; nays,
&c.
The bill was then passed-yeas, 80; nays Is.
FoIf