The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-07
CONTROL OF THE CANAL.
MORGAN SPEAKS IN FAVOR OF THE
NICARAGUA BILL.

VIII Scoop IL in, to Our Dissdvan-
tage-other Work OF the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Elm the Senate to-
day the naval appropriation bill was re-
ported with sundry amendments, and Mr..
Hale gave notice that he would ask the
Senate to take it up tomorrow, or, at the
furthest, on Monday.
Mr.. Hawley offered a resolution, which
was agreed to, calling on the President for
the correspondents in reference to the con-
duct of the senior naval officer present at
San Jose de Guatemala on the occasion of
the arrest and killing of Gen. Barrundia,
and the action of the navy department.
Mr.. Morgan addressed the Senate In sup
port of the bill reported from the commit
tee on foreign relations to aid in the con-
struction OF the Nicaragua maritime canal.
IMPORTANCE OF THE CANAL.
The bill had the support, he said, from
every section of the country and that gave
1t q national character. The plan set forth
in IL was new to the country, and had been
recommended by the committee after most
careful 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 be-
tween the two oceans. There was but one
American side to the question Of the Mon
roe doctrine. That was not only a living
question, but was also burning question,
and the sooner It was settled the better
it would be for all the world.
He REFEREES to it now only to emphasize the
factthat transit across the Isthmus of Darien
was g subject of vast and far reaching i'm
portance. In fact it was the most import
ant subject now connected with the COM
mercial growth and progress of the United
States. canal through Nicaragua would
be built, and no nation would be permitted
to use it in such a manner as would embar-
rass or threaten the coastwise trade with the
Pacific states
A NEW PHASE.
That was a new and practical phase of
the question. The construction of the canal
was now an assured fact, to be realized
within six years; while its actual cost would
not exceed 500, 900, 900, lbs cost to the com.
pany, If q sale Of stock and bonds had to be
relied upon for means, would be fully
$500, coo, 900. That was why the bill pro-
posed TO loan the company the credit Of
the government Of the United States. I'M
less that was done the cost of the canal
would be double that which it would be if
it were done. When all the maritime pow
ers were met in that isthmian canal it
would be found that the only guarantee of
peace and justice in common use of the
canal would be the fact Of some great ma
tion having the right TO controlit
SOME ONE ELSE WOULD GoBBLE III. 5.
Without such a guarantee the canal
would be only temptation to the cupidity
of the great maritime powers. The
United States might decline that duty.
If n did 4 nal
nation would interpose between the United
States and South America, and the navy Of
some European power would command the
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean sea. He
did not expect that the United States
would ever be found forced into that atti-
tude. 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 affirmative the
question whether congress had the power TO
loan its credit 30 the Nicaragua Canal Com
pany. The conclusion of his reasoning on
that point was that the proposed subvention
was as clearly within the powers Of con-
Agress as the grant of the original charter of
the company.
A LIST OF THE STOCKHOLDERS.
Mr.. Wolcott offered a resolution, which
was agreed to, instructing the committee on
foreign relations to request from the
Nicaragua Canal Company a list of stock
holders since its organization; to ascertain
whether the work already done about the
canal has been done by the construction
company, and if so, 30 obtain lists of the
officers and stockholders of such construc-
tion company and copies of the contracts.
THE EIGHT-HoUR LAW.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Morgan's speech
the Senate resumed the consideration of the
House bill providing for the adjust nent of
the accounts of laborers, workmen
and mechanics arising under the
eight-hour law, and was addressed
by Mr.. Morrill, in opposition to it. IL was
not too much to say, he remarked, that
large majority of the people OF the United
States labored more than ten hours day.
He had deep conviction that not only was
the eight-ho law Of 1858 fundamentally
wrong, but that the attempted resurrection
off in the pending measure, instead OF being
beneficial to the class which it was specially
intended to benefit, would infict upon that
class aud upon the country at large grave
and possibly en- irTeparable injury. No
accurate estimate of the cost Of the bill to
the country could be made, and its passage
had not been asked for or promoted, so far
as he knew, by the best workmen or those
longest in the public service.
MIR. Stewart argued in favor of the bill.
A ooMMITTEE AMENDMENT.
An amendment reported from the COM
mittee on education and labor was read. 1t
strikes out of the House bill the proviso
that it shall not be operative whenever the
the court of claims shall find that the work
or service was performed under any con-
tract, express or implied, and a workman
has been paid therefor the amount agreed
upon.
Mr.. Vest moved to amend the proviso by
inserting the words which he had proposed,
without duress 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 to s O'Clock at night
The debate on the labor bill then pro-
cesded, participated in by Msssrs. Sher-
man. Dawes. Spooner, Cockrell. Blair,
Allison, Teller, ingalls,, Vest and Reagan.
BLAIR OFFERS A SUBSTITUTE.
In its course, Mr. Blair said that il was
his purpose, after getting a vote on the
committee amendment, to move as a sub
stitute for the bill the one passed by the
Senate in the last congress.
Mr.. Ingalls, asked him why he did not
offer that sub titute now.