Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-07
House Of Representatives.


the revenue cutter service and the life-saving
service to American whaling and fishing ves-
sells wrecked in Behring's sea or the Arctic
ocean.
INVALID PENSIONS APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. Foran (Ohio), from the committee on ap-
propriations reported the invalid pensions ap-
preparation bill. Committee Of whole.
THE SOUTH cARoIINA CONTEST.
Mr.. Crisp (Ga.) }, from the committee on cleo
tions, submitted the report on the South Car
olina contested election case of Smalls against
Elliott, and it was placed upon the calendar.
lit finds in favor of the contestee, Elliott The
minority mi, resolution, presented by Mr.. Rowell
(nl) and also placed upon the calendar, pro-
vides for the seating of Smalls.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
The House then went into committee of the
whole CMr. McNIillin, of Tennessee, in the
chair ON the private calendar, the pending
business being the Senate bill to incorporate
the Nicaragua canal company.
Mr.. Spinola CN.Y.) offered an amendment
striking out the clause which authorizes the
company to exercise such powers as have been
conferred upon it by the government of Mica
ragua. If this was to be a stock-jobbing affair,
he said, the sooner it was known the better.
He thought that his amendment ought to pre-
vail for the protection of those persons who ex-
pected to invest their dollars in the enterprise.
No one knew what the agreement between
Nicaragua and the company was.
MR.. cox IN FAVOR OF THE BILL.
Mr.. Cox (N. W expressed his ignorance of
the facts upon which his collegue predicated
his statement that this was stock jobbing AZ
fair. Stock might be affected by it; he did not
know. After brief constitutional argument
in support of the measure. he urged the i'm
portance of its passage from commercial
standpoint. He believed in extending Ameri-
can commerce; he believed in following the
Southern cross. There was one thing more
than another, it was revival of its shipping
interest. Ii it could not be done by domestic
legislation, let Congress give its enterprising
citizens the egis OF the republic to 20 out and
draw to the United States the commerce of the
world. (Applause.)
Mr.. Farquhar On. Y.) remarked that if the
amendment were adopted the bill would be like
THE PLAY OF HAMLET WITH HAMLET LEFT OUT.
Speaking in advocacy of the measure. he de-
clared that it would place in the hands of the
United States the key Of the South American
and Indian trade The coastwise trade had
been concent ated in New England and New
York. He vas willing that, in the rehabilita-
tion OF southern commerce, New Orleans should
strive for the prize Of the two South Americas.
and he hoped that when this bill should have
passed such an impetus would be given to the
coast marine of the south that out of the iron
and coal of Alabama would be built the 1000
ton steamers which would reap the
triumph Of the commerce Of Nicaragua and
place it in the lap Of the south. Let the United
States show to the congress of the three Amer
icas, which would soon meet in this city. that
instead Of empty phraseology of resolutions of
comfy and good will the government had
opened to the two Americas south Of us a high
way costing S10O, 900. 900, backed up by the sem
timent OF the Fiftieth Congress. tApplause.l
AN IMPORTANT MEASURE.
IL Al
one of the most important which had been be-
fore Congress for decade. The Nicaraguan
canal would bear the same relation to our COM
mercial property that the discovery of the
Cape of Good Hope had borne to the COM
merce of the mother country.
MIR. Maish (Penn.) considered the amend
ment as proper one for the House to adopt
There was no constitution, state or federal,
which would authorize the granting Of an in
corporation such as was proposed by the pend
ing bill.
Mr.. Adams Qll.) contended that the clause
which the amendment proposed to strike out,
did not confer any dangerous authority, and
that it was necessary in order that the work
should be successfully accomplished
MIR. Spinola gave his hearty concurrence to
the remarks of his colleagues in favor of
THE EXTENSION OF AMERICAN COMMERCE.
All he desired in regard to this bill was that
it should be perfected. He did not want to
lend himself, under any buncombe ideas, to
the passage of bill which would one day rise
up and haunt Congress. He believed that it
was not sufficiently guarded, and that by i'm
plication
THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE HELD
to financial responsibility.
Mr.. Reed (Me.) inquired upon what the gen.
tleman based his belief.
Mr.. Spinola-Upon the whole bill.
MIR. Reed-But on no particular word or SEN
tence.
Mr.. spinola,,No; because they have been too
cautiously evaded.
MIR. Reed-It looks as if they have been not
only cautiously evade5, but actually evaded
Mr.. spinola-They have lodged it. They
explain to capitalists at home and abroad that
the government has given them a charter
Alr. Reed suggested that the bill not only did
not contain word which bound the govern
ment, but IT did contain Q clause expressly
stating that it should not be bound.
Mr.. Spinola remarked that the language was
similar to that used in the centennial exposi-
ton bill, and that the government had been
obliged to make the appropriation good.
Mr. Reed replied that the gentleman was as
Mr.. O'Neill Ps.)-The el, SOC, 900 was paid
BY the people OF Pennsylvania, and not by the
general government.
Mr.. Holman Qnd.) argued against the con-
ehsotOuauty VI tuc m6houIe, COuteuOIOR tQ8t
II was not authorized by the clause grant
ing Congress the power to regulate COM
merce. In opposing the bill, he predicted II
passed In its present shape Congress would be
asked in less than ten years to guarantee the
bonds.
Mr.. Rayner (Ad.) found In the constitution
direct authority granted 70 Congress TO peas
suoh measure 90 was pending. Congress was
asked simply TO grant . charter to enable the
company to carry out one Of the greatest enter
prises which had ever illustrated the pages Of
history.
Capitol Topics.
eIx-YHAR TERN Ho1 P1KsDIxr.
Mr.. Butler introduced Joint resolution in
the Senate yesterday proposing constitutional
amendment enlarging the presidential term Of
Office to six years. Laid on the table.
TK1 PENsIoN APPROPRIATION ELL.
The pension appropriation bill has been com-
pleted by the subcommittee Of the House ap-
propriations committee, and wns reported 10
the full committee to-day. u appropEistes
e61, ,767, 500.
The Senate wss not in sessiou TO-DAY.
A case Of smallpox appeared smong the
soldien IN The garrison st 1rounsvillo, Texas,
Wednssday.