The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-08
NICARAGUA'SWA WATERWAY
THE BILL TO INCORPORATE THE
COMPANY DISCUSSED.


Amendments Intended to Save This
Government from Future Financial
Liability in the Matter-Mr, Holman
Offers One of the Restrictive Amend
nenrs-Mr. Dinglev Thinks the Bill
is Being Overloaded.
WASHINGTON, Dec THE House to-day
went into committee of the whole, with Mr..
McMilIin of Tennessee in the chair, on
the private calendar, the pending business
being the Senate bill to incorporate the Mic
aragua Canal Company.
Mr., Spinola of New York 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 Nicaragua. If this was
to be stock jobbing affair, he said. the
sooner it was known the better. He thought
his amendment ought to prevail for the pro-
lection of those persons who expected to in
vest their dollars in the enterprise. No one
knew what the agreement between Mica
Tagua and the company was.
Mr.. COX IN THE DARK.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, expressed his ig-
norance of the facts upon which his col
league predicated his statement that this
was stock jobbing affair. Stocks might
be affected by it, he did not know. After a
brief constitutional argument in support of
the measure, he urged the Importance of
its passage from commercial standpoint.
He believed in extending American com
merce.
He believed in following the southern
cross. If there was one thing that this
country needed more than another, it was
revival of its shipping interests. If it
could not be done by domestic legislation,
let congress give its enterpriSing citizens
the aegis of the republic to go out and
draw to the United States the commerce of
the world. [Applausel
HAMLET WITHOUT HAMLET
Mr.. Farquhar of New York 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 declared that it would place
in the hands of the United States the key of
the south American and Indian trade. The
coastwlse trade has been concentrated in
New England and New York. He was
willing that, in the rehabilitation of
southern commerce, New Orleans should
strive for the prize of the two South
Americas, and he hoped that when this bill
be given to the coast marine of the south
that out of the iron and coal of Alabama,
would be built the 1900 ton steamers which
would reap che triumph of the commerce of
Nicaragua, and place it in the laps of the
south.
A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION.
Let the United States show to the con-
gresS of the three Americas, which would
soon meet in this city, that instead of the
empty phraseology of resolutions of comity
and goodwill, the government had opened
to the two Amer cas- south of us highway
costing S10O, ,000. 900, backed up by the senti-
ment OF the Fiftieth congress. [Applause. ]
Mr. Weaver of Iowa regarded the meas
ure as one of the most important which
had been before congress in decade. Tee
| Nicaraguan canal would bear the same re-
lation to our commercial prosperity that
the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope had
. borne to the commerce of the mother
| country.
HOLMAN ATTACKS ITS LEGALITY.
Mr. Holman of Indiana argued against
the constitutionality Of the measure, con-
tending that it was not authorized by the
clause grant, lg congress the power to
regulate commerce. In opposing the bill,
he predicted at if the bill passed in its
. present. shape, congress would be asked in
less than ten years to guarantee the bonds.
Mr.. Raynor of Maryland, found in the
constitution direct authority granted to
congress to pass such measure as was
pending.
Mr. Blount of Georgia found in the fact
that the company did not seek state char
ter which, he asserted, it was competent
for it to do, reason why the bill should
receive car full and cautious examination
and scrutiny. He predicted that the incor
DOratorS of tho cononauv HAVING fha GOV.
ernment committed to the enterprise) would
come to future congress and ask the gov
ernment to go further and maintain the
enterprise by contributions.
Mr.. Spinoias amendment was rejected.
HoLMAN's AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Holman offered the following amend
ment:
Provided that nothing in this act shall bs Sc
construed as to commit the United States x
any liability whatever, for or on account o
sad company: nor shall the United States be
held IN anywise liable or responsible in any form
OF oy implication for any debt or liability in any
form which said company may incur; nor bt
Ieiu as guaranteeing any engagement or con
tract of said company or as having assumed
any responsibility for the acts or proceedings o.
sad company in any foreign country. or con
tracts or engagements entered into In the
United States.
PHELAN CLAIMS LACK OF TIME.
Mr. Phelan of Tennessee criticised the
advocates of the bill for pressing it for.
ward at a time when there was no oppor-
UNITY for that careful discussion and con-
sIderatlon which the important question:
involved in the measure demanded. He
submitted brief constitutional argument
against the bill. He hop d that the House
would postpone, until more suitable time,
discussion of the proposition, which en-
grated on the statute books a policy to
.aiiy and radically new, and entirely hostile
10 the best interests of the United States.
THE AMENDMENTS ADOPTED.
=, Mr.: Cobb Of Alabama moved to amend
mr. holman's amendment by adding to i
the following:
and this proviso shall be printed on ever
"Ipinu, contract certificate Of stock or othe
Oonsatlon issued by said company.
?, lhe amendment was adopted, and Mr.
Ilolman's amendment as so amended wa
agreed to.
Mr.. Bland Of Missouri offered an amend
ment, a follows:
,,tloVlued that congress- reserves the right Il
Ibel' Ib.el' amend or repeal this act, and to regulat
ne lolls or tariff rates for the transportation o
signs. F' - ''' 0''pA"' - ''S W.
4hls was agreed to.
WHEN WORK MUST BEGIN.
another amendment was adopted requir-
,,,e a.e Ine construction of the canal to be be
sun within three years.
oo au amendment requiring the canal to b'
down. 'A' 'on years was 'o'0'
IN motion ~ NJ JViIno, 20 Nf;noaeo+a