Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-07
CONGRESS-.
VOTING ON THE BLAND AMENDMENT
TO THE SILVER BILL.
Pay ofthc Columbian worid's-Fair Officers
Discussed-EIgh t-Hour-a-Day Labor
Bill Under Consideration.
fpr ,elerraph % the pIspa.ch. ]


wAsmrNeros, February 6--SEsArE.-The
naval appropriation bill was reported with
sundry amendments, and Mr.. Hale gave
notice that he would ask the Senate TO
take 1t up tomorrow. or. at the farthest,
on Monday.
MIR. Hawley offered q resolution which
was agreed TO. calling on the President for
the correspondence in reference to the
conduct Of the senior naval officer present
nj Santose dc Guatemala on the occasion
OF the arrest and killing Of General Barrun-
dla, and the action of the Navy Depart
ment.
MIR. Morgan addressed the Senate in
support of the hill reported from the Com
mittee on Foreign 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 1t
broad national character. The plan set
forth in il was new, 10 the country, and
had been recommended by the committee
after the most careful consideration. In
dealing with the subject the American
Government had found Great Britain
intent on depr!ving 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 question Of the Monroe doc
trine. That was not only living question.
but was also burning question. and the
sooner it was settled the better it would
be for all the world. He referred to 1t
now only TO emphasize the fact that the
transit across the Isthmus of Darien was
a subject of vast and far-reachipg import
ance. In fact it was the most important
subject now connected with the CONNER;
cial growth and progress OF the United
States. The canal through Nicaragua
would be built, and no nation would be
permitted 20 use it IN such manner as
would embarrass or threaten our coast
wise trade with the Pacific States. That
was a new and practical phase OF the ques-
ton. The construction of the canal was
now an assured fact 20 be realized within
six years While its actual cost would not
exceed 300. 000, 900. its cost TO the COM
pany if the sale Of its stock and bonds had
TO be relied upon for the means would be
fully s 200, 100000. That was why the bill
proposed to loan to the company the credit
of the Government OF the United States.
Unless that was done. the cost OF the canal
would be double that which II would be
il it were not done When all the mari
time powers meet in that isthmus canal 1t
would be found that the only guarantee
of peace and Justice in the common use OF
the canal would DO the fact of some great
nation having the right to control It:
without such q guarantee the canal would
be only q temptation 90 the cupidlty
Of the great maritime powers. The united
States might decline that duty, but II 1t
did some great commercial nation would
interpose between the United States and
South America. and the navy OF some Eu:
ropean power would command the Gulf of
Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. He did
not expect that the United States would
ever be found forced into that attitude.
But the time TO act was now, and circum-
stances were more favorable now than
they would be at any time in the future
for peaceful and perfect success.
he PRESSES THE POINT.
Mr.. Morgan went on to argue in the
affirmative the question whether Congress
had the power 10 loan its credit 70 the
Nicaragua Canal Company. The conclu-
sion OF his reasoning on that point was
that the proposed subscription was as
clearly within the powers Of Congress as
the grant Of the original charter OF the
company was.
Mr.. WOleott offered a resolution (Which
was agreed to- instructing the Committee
on Foreign Relations to request from the
Nicaragua Canal Company q list OF the
stockholders since its organization; to
ascertain whether the work already done
about the canal has been done by. con-
struction company, and II so TO Obtain llstS
Of the officers and stockholders OF such
construction company and copies OF the
contracts.
EIGHT-HoUR LABOR BILL.
Atthe conclusion of Mr.. Morgan's speech
the Senate resumed the consideration OF
House bill providing for the adjustment Of
the accounts of the laborers, wOrkmen,
and mechanics arising under the eight
hour law, and was addressed by Mr.. Nor
rill in opposition to it. II was not too
much to say, he remarked, that q large ma
jority of the people OF the United States
labored more than ten hours day. lie
had deep convection that not only was
the eight-hOur law Of 1865 fundamentally
wrong, but that the attempted resurrec-
ton Of il in the pending measure, instead
Of being beneficial TO the class which 1t
was specially intended TO benefit, would in
fict upon that class and upon the country
nj large a grave and possibly an irreparable
injury. No accurate estimate OF the cost
of the bill TO the country could be made
and its passage had not been asked TOR or
promoted so far ms he knew by the best
workmen or those longest IN the pubic
service $50,
Mr.. Stewart argued in favor of the bill.
The amendment reported from the Com
mittee on Education and Labor was READ.
n strikes out of the House bill the proylso
that it shall not be operative whenever the
Court of Claims shall find that the WORK or
service was performed under any contract,
express or implied, and that the workman
has been paid there for the amount agreed
upon.
MIR. Vest moved 90 amend the proviso by
inserting the words which he had proposed
without dues or coercion of any sort by
any officer of the Government"
Mr.. Blair opposed the amendment and
suggested the substitution OF the words
undue influence"
The bill was temporarily laid aside and
Mr.. Edmunds moved the adoption OF an
order that on and after Monday next night
sessions be held except on Saturday with
recess from 6 to 8 p. NJ.
Debate on the labor bill was then pro-
ceeded with, participated In by Messrs.
sherman, Dawes. Spooner, Cockerell,
Blair, Allison, Teller, ingalls,, Vest, and
Reagan.
SUBSTITUTE FOR THE BILL.
In its course Mr.. Blair said that it was
his purpose after getting vote on the
committee amendment TO move as a SUD-
stitute for the bill one passed by the Sen
ate in the last session.
MT. ingalls, asked why he did not offer
that substitute now.
MIR. Blair said that II there was no oblec-
ton he would do so.
Unanimous consent having been given,
Mr.. Blair withdrew the committee amend
ment and offered as a substitute for the
House bill the one passed by the Senate
at the last Congress. 1t directs the payment
of a Ciay'spay for every eight hours worked
bv Government employees since June, 1868,
when the eight-hour law was enacted. The
Court of CLAIMS Is TO adjust the claims ON
that basis and no statute of limitation and
no receipt for money shall bar the right to
recover.
Mr.. Dawes moved substitute for that
offered by MIR. Blair. 1t directs the proper
Accounting officers Of the Treasury to re-
-. a. aooo,Dfe of tho (,ovarnmpnt