The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-15
VOTE ON OPTION BILL.
Will Probably Be Taken in the
Senate Wednesday.
FAINT HOPE OF NICARAGUA BILL.
Senator sherman Says the Republicans
Favor Suspension OF silver Pur-
chase, but Democrats Do Not.

WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. 14-In tbs SEN
ate the presidential electoral certificates
from Oregon and South Dakota were pre-
sented and placed on file.
Catferty appointed to the vacancy caused
by the death of Gibson of Louisiana, ap-
peared and took the oath of office.
Wolcott of Colorado offered a resolution
instructing the committee on foreign rela-
tons TO inquire what sums had been ex-
pended in and about the construction of
the Nicaragua canal since the accounts of
expenditures heretofore rendered. He re-
marked that two years ago testimony had
been taken by the committee on foreign
relations which showed that up to that
time about So. 900, coo had been expended,
but it was now proposed to give the COM
pany Sc, 0O0. 900 in bonds guaranteed by the
government and $12. 900, 900 stock. He did
not suppose that it would be seriously con-
tended that any such expenditure had
been made by the company within the
last two years, and the purpose of his res
olution was to ascertain what the actual
expenditures had been.
Sherman, chairman Of the committee on
foreign relations, said he had no objection
to the resolution. Two years ago. he said,
the company had expended $1,000, 900 and
since then had expended considerably
more, but not so much as Sc, 100000. But
the amount actually expended was to be
ascertained by the secretary of the treas
ury and the secretary of state, and the
maximum to be turned over to the COM
pany in guaranteed bonds was not to ex-
coed SC, 100000.
Uoar said that congress should see to it
that in the construction of the Nicaraguan
canal, daylight should be constantly
turned on every transaction. The resolu-
ton was. at the suggestion of Morgan,
laid over till Monday.
The resolution offered yesterday by Nor
gan of Alabama, lfstructing the commit
tee on commerce 10 inquire and report the
advantages to the interests of the United
States that would be afforded by Near
aqua ship canal was taken up, and Morgan
spoke. He said that logically Great
Britain had just as much right as the
United States to charter a company and
take control of it, " hich it was proposed
the United States should take, if Costa
RIGA and Nicaragua were to tender such
an overture to Great Britain, or if the own
ers of the concession were to take it to
Great Britain and make the offer which
they made to congress. and if Great Brit
ain should accept the United States would
have one paltry plea-he wouldn't call it
paltry one, but an emasculated plea, and
that was the worn and torn and dirty doc
trine which the senate of the United
States had succeeded in kicking literally
into doll rags.
Sherman asked Morgan to notice the OBJ
lection made in some quarters that the
owners of $l2, 900 600 of stock Of the COM
pany would have undue influence in the
management of the corporation.
Morgan replied that in the pending bill
the power of the government reserve was
in control of the operations of the COM
pany. The government was to own $780,
100000 of the 100000, 600 of stock, and
would therefore have control so far as the
direction of the COM any was concerned.
Speaking of the provision of the bill for
ten government directors out of fifteen,
Morgan said that if the French govern
ment had had its own directors in the
Panama Canal Company the robberies
which had taken place, and which had
disgraced and nearly destroyed the French
republic, could not have been perpetrated,
and that the fraud and corruption and
villainy which was now shocking the
sensibility of that great and noble people
would have been averted.
At the conclusion of Morgan's speech
the anti-option bill came up as q special
order, but Wolcott of Colorado moved to
proceed to the consideration of the first
bill on the calendar. Washburn demanded
the yeas and nays, and the result showed
no quorum voting. A motion to adjourn
was also defeated A roll call was ordered
and more than quorum responded.
Sherman of Ohio asked unanimous con-
sent to have a vote on the auti-option bill
taken on Wednesday. Wolcott OF Colo
RADIO objected. Stimulated, however. by
hint from Sherman that the measure was
blocking up all important business, Wash
burn gave notice that he would ask the
senate to remain in session next Wednes-
day until final vote on the anti-option
bill was reached. After brief executive
session the senate adjourned.
In the House.
p