The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-09
BACKING WANTED.
The Nicaragua Canal Promoters,
The Bill to incorporate the Com
pany Before the House,
What They Want tho United
States to Do,
Tho Curious Appearance OF Naval
O6lcos in the Enterprise,
A Question Of Public Purpose ". Pri-
waite Purpose--The Fac. Of
Corruption Fund Opon-
ly Charged

Washington Special 10 the Chlcngo Times
The bin to incorporate th' Maritime Ca
nal company of Nicaragua, with lbs almost
inevitable effect OF involving the relations
OF the United states government with all
foreign nations, comes under Che dpini-
ton ot private legislation, anconin, 60 Che
House rules, and several determined and
oven persistent efforts TO pass il were
made. The promoters ri this company
are anxious To- secure just enough backing
from the United States government 10 as
s,st them in selling bonds in Europ, and
no, enough to give Europeans TO under
stand that the United state, will establish
an exclusive protcctoya,e over the canal
In other words, they are trying TO involve
the government in hnancilI ry.ronsIbiIity
Tor the enterprise and TO prcycu is asscr-
| ton OF the Monroe doctrine.
The company docs not need an ne, OF
Incorporation. It got that some years ago
from the Legislature Of u State deeply in
tcrcsicd in all maritime projects anl cs-
p,cally in shortening the voyage from the
Atlantic to the Picifc-thn State ot Col.
/ orado but the members ul ih, company
want q United States charter The then
/ United States minister o. Perm. tinted
| States commissioner OF agriculture, an ad
miul in the United State navy aud two
private citizens told the members ui the
/ association in q circular IN l>>i, signed los
]
| importance OF an incorporation by the
United states j. in fac, limited 10 ~ effect
in securing subscriptions nnrull.' The
United States, by treaty with Nicaragua,
entered into January u, 1867 IN pledged
/ 10 the security OF any undertaking Tor an
| intcr-OCCluiC communication aCrss that
country. The company WIS thea trying
| 10 gyt the government H. guarantee . per
cent net profits, linsl On sijJWl,OJO Of
| stock aud bonds, aud when tia, failed ON
/ the 1900. COO the clnal Vas 10 cost, for
| the company began 10y providing Tor q
! liberal supply OF water In lhv stock. and
when no guarantee II money could BE-
secured the company abandoned lhlt aud
continued 90 fight iur the charter alone.
| Last wiui r when the -rnatc passed tho
| bill an IN ndment Vas offered that
nothing ia the hill should commit the
| United States To any guar nicc whatever.
| which was voted down O-Ivnslblya rs super
iluous. The sellers ol thr cumpauy's So
curitics abroad can cite this vote ~ cNi-
dpncc that the Senate did contemplate
some sort oi guarantee. All the surveys
for the canal have been made by naval
officers nt tho public expense the maps
and reports have been published 10y the
government; a rear admiral aud two naval
officers arc among the incorpofatorS, three
or four other naval officers urc understood
90 bc Interested Ia the company. the com.
pany got Us Nicaraguan concession trans
lated In the State department
-Four years ago Ia original concession cN'
pircd aud IL WIS necessary Ia procure n
renewal. This was going 10 cost money,
aud 20 the following item WIS inserted IN
the consular and diplomatic appropriation
bill go meet the ncccr AIRY expenses at
tcndant upon foreign intercourse, a. h.
expended under the direction Of the Ppsi-
dent, pursuant 10 tie requirement Of see
ton 26l, revised statutes, ;2DuO, or ~
much thereof ~ may be necessary"
The supporters Of this proposition never
said Il was Tor a public pufputc. the oppO-
nents inlimatcd that II was Tor a private
purpose. Lest they should tell Whist the
purpose was, the Senate cmplicd the gal
lrfic- closed the dOon aud completed ~
consideration II the bill In scrryL Scna.
alor- have said in private that this money
vas b. be- used ~ corruption fund u
procure irum Nicaragua renewal Of ~ con
ccrsion 10 this entirely private corporation
which u going 90 make the canal,
Ins, winter Mr.. Pholan insisted, IN CON.
mii,cc. that the bill should be- NJ amended
~ 10 state plainly that the United States
government guaranteed the freedom 81
tie projected canal, and didlt without tho
assistance Ut any foreign nation. lie nd
iculrd the idea that this was private en-
tcrprisc and insisted on bis minority report
b that the United states government could
b not allow any European nation a. hay,
b ANYTHING 10 do With the regulation Oi lhi,
canal. aud tina; ~ ought 30 say ~ bclpr
W. charter q company 10 soll bonds In IN
rope % raise money Tor making the canal
Consideration OF the bill today WIS al
layDnizcd aud then there we're earnest con
b yrrlliUns between congressman IN LITTLE
groups, and presently objections wcrc with
drawn, consideration wa secured, aud o.
Phclan offered the amendment which 10
had offered without succcsf in the commit
: tee, declaring that the rnnll should II
under the control and lfui'ru'n ~ th'
; United States, this wa sircnu0usly ~
sisted. and Mr.. Phclan at last withlrcv
H. Tie House WIS about ~ vote whct
the point 0i order made by Mr.. Fuller o
Iowa, and few others thu, M quorum va
, present prevented any further action.
, II was freely said on the floor Of ihu
4 House while the debate wis going on tia
a the Republican and Democratic naiiona
/ committees were 10 have each tlulOJ
/ the bill passed. One Democratic mcmbe
/, said 10 prominent Republican mombc
from q western State. "ll0w big slice .
|. cheese are you fellows going a. git out O
|. this thing7 We understand that our com
!. mitlec n 10 have n big chunk One q
. the best known Democratic leaders ia th
country WIS on tho floor Of the House an
engaged la conversation with many oi Tia
!. members, some Of whom ~ first Obiccio'
10 the consideration Of The bill aud aitoi
/. A al ..... a. q.