Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-06
Not Enough Votes toCarry the Bland
Amendment.
EXCITEMENT DURING The VOTING.
Senator Morgan in Behalf Of the
Nicaraguan Canal.
TIL E EIGHT-HOUR CLAIMS.



that its passage would inflict great losses upon
the passage of the Paddock pure food bill. In
doing so he alluded to some statements circu-
lated in reference to his position on these
measures and denounced them as false.
conference report on the bill to provide
Tor an additional associate Justice of the
supreme court of Arizona was presented and
egreed to.
ADEPAETMENr OF COOPERATIVE NEGRO COLONIES.
MIR. Blair, at the request of the Wage Work
ers' Alliance, introduced a bill to establish a
department of cooperative negro colonies.
referred to the committee on education and
labor.
Mr.. Call introduced a bill from the same
source Ito free the people from debt" Eeferred
20 finance committee.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL REPORTED
The naval appropriation bill was reported
with sundry amendments, and Mr.. Hale gave
notice that he would ask the Senate TO take it
up tomorrow or (at farthest) on Monday
Mr.. Hawley offered a resolution (Which vas
agreed toy calling on the President for the cor
respondence in reference to the conduct of the
senior naval officer present at San Jose De Qua
temala on the occasion of the arrest and killing
of Gen. Barrundia and the action of the NAVY
Department
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
Mr.. Morgan addressed the Senate in support
OF the bill reported from the committee on for
elgn relations, to aid in the construction of the
Nicaragua maritime canal
The bill had support. he said, from every
section of the country, and that gave it broad
national character. The plan set forth in it
was new to the country, and had been recon-
mended by the committee after the most care
fni consideration In dealing with the subject
the American government had found Great
Britain intent on depriving the United States
of its natural and legitimate influence on that
great transit for ships between the two oceans.
There was but one American side to the ques-
ton of the Monroe doctrine.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE A BURNING QUESTION.
That was not only a living question, but
was also a burning question, and the sooner 1t
was settled the better it would be for all the
rorld. He referred to it now only to emphasize
the fact that the transit across the Isthmus of
Darien was a subject of vast and far-reaching
importance. In fact, it was the most i'm
portant subject now connected with the
commercial growth and progress of the United
States. The canal through Nicaragua would
be built and no nation would be permitted to
use 1t in such manner as would embarass or
threaten the coastwise trade with the Pacific
states. That was the new and practical phase
of the question. The construction of the canal
six years. While its actual cost would not ex-
ceed Sl00.000,000 its cost to the companv, if
the sale of stock and bonds had to be relied on
for means, would be fully 500. 900, 900. That
was why the bill was proposed, to loan
sovsrnmens TO tine company ny % the credit Of the
that vas done the cost of the
canal would be double that which il would be
if it were done. When all the maritime powers
were met in that isthmian canal it would be
found that the only guarantee of peace and
justice in the common use of the canal would
be the fact OF some great nation having the
right to control it. Without such guarantee
the canal would be only temptation to the
cupldlty OF the great maritime pow-
ers. The United States might decline
that duty, but, if it did, some great commercial
nation would interfere between the United
States and South America and the navy of some
European power would command the Gulf of
Mexico and the Caribbean sea. He did not ex-
pect that the United States would be found
forced into that attitude. But the time TO act
was now, and the circumstances were more
favorable now than they.would be at any time
In the future for peaceful and perfect success.
Mr. Morgan went on to argue, in the affirm
ative, the question whether Congress had the
power to loan its credit to the Nicaragua Canal
Company. The conclusion of his reasoning on
that point was that the proposed subvention
was as clearly within the powers of Congress as
pany was.
THE E1GHT-HoUR LAW.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Morgan's speech the
Senate resumed the consideration of the House
bill providing for the adjustment of accounts
Of laborers. workmen and mechanics arising
under the eight-hour law. and was addressed
by Mr.. Morrill, in opposition to it. 1t was not
too much to say Che remarked) that q large
majority OF the people of the United States
labored more than ten hours a day.
He had the deep conviction that not only was
the eight-hour law of 1868 fundamentally
wrong, but that the resurrection of it in the
pending measure, instead of being benefi-
cial to the class which it was
specially intended to benefit, would infiict
upon that class and upon the country at large
a grave and possibly an irreparable injury
as Of With M9 RsSTS RSsTS to the
that the eight hour Law would
work in the interest of capital and against
labor; that is would be pernicious and would
result to the great disadvantage of labor Some
theories, he said might be scientifically refuted.
but unsound political theories often waited for
refutation until their operation brought disaster
WHAT SETTLEMENT WOULD COST
, The settlement of the claims against the gov
under the eight-hour law from 1868 to
1891 would cost millions, the estimate of
Secretary, Whitney for the Navy Depart
ment alone having been, some years
since, S3,000,000. The pending measure
was not asked for, or promoted, 80 far as he
knew. by the best stworkmen, or by those long
est in the public service. These were content
with steady employment with wages promptly
paid, and that were not less than the maximum
wages paid throughout the country for equal
skill and services. The United States govern
ment should not set an example of
prodigality which no state, city or town could
afford to follow. II the bill became a law il
day laborers and mechanics In the service of
the government at every change . of
The national administration. The civil
service law would not protect them.
and members Of Congress would be the instru,
of their removal. The hours
of labor in foreign countries were from ten 10
twelve hours and yet it was the immigrants
rom those countries who were the chief agita-
iors for an eight-hour law, altough many Of
hem were receiving double as much wages as
hey had received in their own countries
Freedom Americans were not huneerine Tor
IN eight-hour day of labor.
MORE WORK AND MORE PAr.
What they wanted was more work and more
pay. The eight-hour scheme, If generally
adopted, would separate the larger half of
he workingmen Of the country from
he smaller hall, which was employed
mainly in large workshops and factories,
.hile those owning farms or working
thereon would still work ten. twelve and often
more hours day; With gsasvsy leading to
'ure for employment in favored
zadss could only be resisssd By she