The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-21
FEDERAL LEGISLATURE.
NICARAGUA BILL DISCUSSED IN THE
SEN1TE.
Filibustering in the House Over the District
Attorneyship Bill-Numerous Pension Bills
Passed in Both Houses-Full Proceedings OF
Congress.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 2O-The Senate
to-day, after the transaction Of routine busi-
ness. proceeded to the consideration of the Pen
sion bills, and in the space Of 40 minutes one
hundred and thirty-eight House pension bills
had been passed.
The Nicaragua Canal bill was then taken up.
| giving the guarantee Of the United States
Government to the 4 per cent. bonds 10 the
amount of slOO,OOO,OOO. The bill was read in
full, and Mr.. Edmunds in the absence of
Mr.. Sherman, took charge Of the bill.
Mr. Vest, in opposing the bill, disclaimed
any hostility to the Nicaragua Canal project.
At the risk Of misconstruction he asserted
! that no greater calamity could come upon the
world than war between the United States
! and Great Britain. IL was therefore import
ant that in considering the pending bill
! the relations between the United States
| and Great Britain in regard 10 IN
! terOceanic communication across the lsthnus
! should be considered. The question before
| the Senate was as TO the attitude of Great Bri-
! tam in relation TO the Bulwer- Clayton treaty,
and as TO what would be the result of the
| United States assuming the treaty not 10 be
in existence and. without any conference with
! Great Britain. proceeding 10 legislate as II
that treaty had never been made.
| in the face Of the question he was consider
! Ing it did not matter as 10 the public opinion
in the United States. except as TO whether me
| American people would justify war with
Great Britain in order TO pass the pending
| bill
II Great Britain had at any time conceded
| that the ClaytOn-Bulwer treaty had been, by
any act Of hers. abrogated and was now null
and void he would be glad TO have 1t pointed
| out to him.
Mr. Morgan said that be was not aware Of
| the question having been discussed diplomatl-
cally, and that there had been no occasion for
| having it discussed. If the United States re-
maned in its present attitude II would not be
| discussed for a hundred years, but there
would not be an inter-Oceanic communication
| for twenty hundred years.
| Continuing be said: The report Of the
| Committee on Foreign Relations ignored any
| appeal 10 diplomacy and sneered at the idea
that Great Britain had any rights under
the Clayton treaty. assuming that they
! had been absolutely destroyed by the English
settlement AT the Belise and her control Of the
! Mosquito coast. If Senators were prepared
| 10 take the report of the committee and
to pass the bill upon that basis, if
they were disposed TO say to the
British Empire that they would determine the
question without any reference 10 her inte-
rests or wishes then let them say that and ac-
cept what would be the cOnsequences-lt not
war (Which every intelligent man would de-
pTecatel a condition of anlmosity. antagon-
| ism. and disgust, which would operate injuri-
ously 70 the interests of both countries and of
the world.
NOTICE OF AN AMENDMENT.
Mr. Stewart gave notice of an amendment
| providing that the chief engineers of the army
| shall have the supervision and control of the
construction of the canal. and that the work
| shall be subject 10 the laws rules and regu-
lations Of Congress, or Of the War Depart
ment.
Mr. Davis, in opposition to the bill, said
that the pending proposition was IN PLAIN
| terms a subsidy TO the extent OF 500 600 900
to build "a work lying entirely outside of the
! National domain and trayersing a foreign
country. 1t was his opinion that if the canal
was to be constructed at all, il should be done
by the Government directly in its sovereign
capacity, through its corps of engineers. II
should be executed like any other work Of
public improvement.
Furthermore. he did not think il wise nor
! prudent to permit the Government 10 build
a canal in a country which was the crater OF
| revolution and place of earthquake.
Mr. Edmunds replied TO what he called the
earthquake theory Of opposition to the bill.
The committee had not been Obiyious TO
the consideration in regard to the dan
ger from earthquakes. The committee
knew that earthquakes occurred IN Cen
| tTal America as they occurred IN San
| i
! s. c.. II knew that within fifteen miles or
| Naples there were active volcanoes still going.
| But vet railways and water-works and con-
! duits built on masonry and going back 10 the
times of the Romans. had been built there
! and no one had ever hostated 10 60 into any
! public work that was deemed useful on ac-
count Of possible danger Of any cataclysm OF
natnre that might overthrow it.
He concluded his remarks with general
! defense and advocacy OF the bill.
Without action the Senate. after a short ex-
ecutiye session, adjourned until tomorrow at
| ii o'clock.
HOUSE.
In the House to-day after brief debate on
the action Of the House yesterday in holding
two distinct legislative sessions on the same
calendar day. the journal OF last night was ap-
! proved.
A resolution was adopted calling on the At
torney General for information rs to what N
structions have been given by him 10 any
| United States district attorney marshal de-
puty marshal, or commissioner in regard To
institution and prosecution of suits under the
act 10 enforce the right of citizens to vote 10
the several States
Mr.. Cannon. of Illinois, reported a resolu-
tion for the immediate consideration of busi-
| ness reported from the Committee on the Ju-
dietary, the first bill TO be the bill for the re-
lief Of the Supreme Court with Senate amend
| ments, and the next the bill 10 fix salaries OF
the United States district judges
The question Of consideration was raised by
Mr. Breckenridge
BY q vote of yeas. 49, nays. TO- the House
decided TO consider the resolution. motion
| 20 table the resolution was lost.
Mr.. Cannon then took the floor and stated
he would say but few words rs TO the merits
of the proposition.
Mr.. Mcmillan inquired of Mr.. Cannon
whether his object was not TO prevent the
forty minutes debate allowed under the rules
after the previous question was ordered.
Mr.. Cannon said that he would answer in
the affirmative.
Mr.. Mcmillan responded that il that was
the programme 10 be pursued. the Democrats
would meet it at every point. democratic
applause
This was a proposition TO take care of Re-
publican dead ducks and an effort TO increase
salaries while the Republican party was lin
gering supe:iiuous on the stage" after people
| had denounced II.
Mr.. Blount, of Georgia. moved 10 recommlt
the resolution with instruction To report II
back after the pending appropriation bills
shall have been passed.
The Democrats demanded division on Mr..
Blout's motion, and the yeas and nays were
! ordered.
Mr.. Mcmillan asked for tellers on the yeas
and nays, and strenuously objected 10 the
| Speakers refusal 10 entertain his demand.
The Clerk proceeded TO call the roll, and
the great body Of the Democrats arose and
| left the hall.
The motion was lost--yeas. IL; nays. 150-