Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-21
THE FEDERAL LEGISLATURE.

| stand-stil.
THE FEDERAL LEGISLATURE.
spice and Democratic Fight in the House.
sundry Spats.
Try telegraph to the Dispstch.l
WAsu1SGroN. February 2O-SENArE.-0n
| motion Of Mr.. Davis the Senate, after the
transaction Of routine morning business,
proceeded TO the consideration Of pension
sion bills unobiected to.
THE NICARAGUA ELL.
The Senate then proceeded to considera-
| ton OF the Nicaragua canal bill giving
guarantee OF the United States Govern
ment to the c0mpany's 4 per cent. bonds to
| the amount Of 800, .OO0l.
The bill waa read in full and Mr.. Ed
munds announced that in the absence OF
the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations lM-. sherman 1t became his
duty 10 take charge Of the bill.
yEsT AGAINST THE BILL.
Mr.. Vest took the floor in opposition to
the bill. not. he said, from any hostility to
the Nicaragua canal but because he
thought il of importance that in consider
ing the pending bill the relations between
Great Britain and the United States in re-
gard to lnteTOceanlc communication
across the lsthmus should be con-
sidCred
Mr.. Vest argued that the bill throughout
from beginning 20 end goes upon the as
sumption that the United States is to con-
troll that canal.
DOES TIE BILL VIOLATE AN OBLIGATION
Mr.. Edmunds: Does the Senator from
Missouri think that tins bill ne It stands is
q violation of any obligation of the United
States toward Great Britain or any other
foreign country?
Mr. Vest: / think that unless Great
Britain has itself abrogated the treaty this
bill does. The argument Of the commit
tees report is 20 the effect that the treaty
is not in force: that Great Britain has
thrown il aside by her settlement IN Belize
and her colonies on the Mosquito coast
and the bill gives control of the canal TO
the Uniten States without reference to the
Clayton Bulwer treaty or the. wishes. OF
Great Britain in the matter. think That
that is distinct enough.
Mr.. Vest entered into long analysis Of
the bill and an argument that the interests
of tho United States were sacrificed by II
TO those of the cOncessionaries of the canal
company, who had organizedamong them
selves q construction company with which
the maritime company made contracts
MORGAN MAKES AN EXPLANATION.
Mr.. Morgan explained that that condi-
ton Of things was one OF the principal
reasons why the committee reported the
bull If the work had to be done by the
coIopany 1t would cost Gas its bonds would
have to lee sold so per cent, and as interest
would have to be paid on the stock while
the work was IN pTOgress) GZ4O,OOO,ODO,
while under the pending bill the cost
would not exceed Sl0O,O O0.OOO. SO that IN
stead Of shippers having to paw $3.50 a ton
they would not have to pay more than 81
a ton.
A POINTED INTERROGAToRY.
Mr.. George summed up the later part Of
Mr.. Vests argument by an interrOgatiye
statement to the effect that every cent paid
out by the company would be paid back
to il: that the company would be allowed
TO retain all its valuable lands with ITS
gold and silver and coal-mines) and that
the Government would furnish the money
TO build the canal which would afterwards
revert TO the company.
Mr. Vest assented but Mr. Dolph denied
the correctness Of the statement.
The rNsTRUMEYTAIuIEs OBJECTED To.
NJ. Davis opposed the bill for the reason,
among others, that the Instrumentalities
bv which i was proposed to have the canal
constructed were objectionable. 10 was
ms OpiniOn that if the canal was to be con-
structed at all. it should be done by the
Government directly in its sovereign ca
pacity through its corps Of engineers.
TIE EARTHQUAKE THEORY OF OPPOSITION.
Mr.. Edmunds replied to what he called
the earthquake theory OF opposition to the
bill. The committee had not been OBJ
liyi0us to the danger from earthquakes
The committee knew that earthquakes Oc-
Cured in Central America as they oc-
Cured in San Francisco and Washington
and Charleston, s. G. No one had ever
hesitated to 90 into any pubic work that
was deemed useful on account OF the pos
sibIe danger Of a cataclysm of nature that
might overthrow il. He concluded his re-
marks with general defence and advocacy
of the bill.
without any action upon it the Senate
after short executive session adjourned.
House Of Representatives.
The exceptional action of the House
Yesterday In holding two distinct leglsla-
tive sessions on the same calendar day gave
rise TO some confusion this morning as 20
what journal should be read. brief de-
bate arose, during which Mr.. Springer re-
marked that this proceeding was III line
with the unprecedented character OF TINS
session. en-.4,o
The Speaker: The language of the gentle
man from Illinois during most OF this ses-,
SION has been of the same unprecedented
character.
The Journal of last nights proceedings
was read and approved.
REcIpRocITY WITH CANADA.
Mr.. Flower, of New York, presented a
netitIon of II. b. Clahin and other mer-
chants of New York in favor Of reciprocity
with Canada. Referred.
There were 1870 pension bills passed IN
forty-fve minutes. Among them was one
Giving a pension of $50 a month TO the
widow of Rear Admiral Steedman.
THE RIGHT To VOTE.
Mr.. z. b. Taylor, of Ohio, from the
Committee on the Judiciary, reported
resolution calling on the Acknowledgment
for information as to what instr Iy.;.L1
bove been given BY him 70 any United
States district attorney, marshal, deputy
marshal. or commissioner with regard to
The institution and prosecution o. any
suits under the act TO enforce the rights
~ citizens TO vote in the several States.
Adopted. -. A.. ~,
nittee on Rules, reported resolution Tor
the immediate consideration OF business
renorted by the Committee on the
Juliciarv-the first bill TO be taken up TO
Inc the bill for the relief of the supreme
Curt with the Senate amendments, and
the next the bill 10 fix the salaries OF
United States judges.
HIATT CALLED.
Mr. Breckenridge, OF kentucky raised
the question of consideration.
The House decidcd-yeas, ll3; nays "
IN consider the resolution. -,
Mr. Blonnt, of Georgia, moved 10 table
tho resolution. Lost-yeas, 90 nays, 10
-. I.v,or fhen took tho HOOT, St0Ung