The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-16
FIFTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
SENATE AMENDMENTS TO THE MICA
RAGUA CANAL BILL.
Strong Speeches Made in Favor Of the
Measure-Hawaiian Annexation Treaty.
Cotton Tax Refunding Bill-The
Governments Gold Supply, Etc.
ENATE.

reference 10 tne issue OF UnlteQ States
3 per cent bonds. The committee
directed that 1t be offered to the
sundry civil appropriation bill. No
change was made in the amendment
except to add (at end of iD the words,
"for the purposes provided in said
act and none other"
Senator Quay gave notice of an
amendment to the Nicaragua canal
bill that the a;t not take effect until
the government of the United States
shall have secured by convention with
the governments of Costa Rica and
Nicaragua right TO fortify and gar
rison the terminal of the proposed
canal on the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans and to maintain one or more
armed vessels on Lake Nicaragua and
to march military forces through tn
territory of either of those states for
the purpose of protecting the canal
and persons (citizens of the United
uuO
The senate then proceeded to the
consideration of the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill. Nearly half of the
bill had been disposed OF (items as to
the Worlds Fair having been passed
over temporarily when Senator ALI.
son said he would yield to the Mica
raguan bill.
The Nicaraguan bill was then taken
up, and Senator Sherman in charge OF
it, be said he desired to explain mat
ters about which some of the senators
appeared to be in doubt--uhe amount
of stock which the government was
not to own, and also outstanding con-
tracts between the canal company
aad the construction company. These
contracts, he said, were all to be
inconsistent with the bill because
they were on a basis of cost of
$5O, 900 600 for the construction of the
canal. The government would start
with "cleaf table," would own
$S0,000 900 out of $780, 100000 stock and
would have ten directors, the Mari
time company becoming mere agents
aDd servants of the United Stats
Twelve millions of the stock is in the
hands of private owners and could
only be obtained from them by some
method OF condemnation.
Senator Price inquired whether it
would not be the policy of the govern.
ment holding $50 ,000,0U0 of stock 10 fix
canal tolls so as to leave no dividend
for stock and whether in that event
$12,000,000 in the hands of privat
owners will be of any value at all.
Senator Sherman replied that his
colleague had stated very clearly the
exact position which the committee
on foreign relations took. The com.
mittee Oh foreign relations was of the
opinion that under these circum-
stances the stock would be of very lit
tie value indeed if the government of
the United States shall have control
of the canal. II is to be presumed it
would levy such tolls as would pay
dividend on watered stock or any
other stock.
Senator Squire made an eloquent
speech in support of the bill.
st the close of Squirrels speech the
bill was laid aside and he senate
went into executive session. When
the doors were re-opened the senate
resumed consideration of the Nicara.
qua canal bill. 1t was disposed OF and
consideration of the sundry civil ap-
priation bill resumed. All but twelve
pages of the bill was disposed Of.
mendments for worlds fair items
and river and harbor provements
being reserved and the senate ad-
jOurned.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-After a
snort conflict between the Democrats
and Repu blicans of the house today
the Democrats were obliged to yield
gracefully and agree to the terms
which the Republicans presented.
General debate on the invalid pension
bill continued until the minority was
accorded six hours. The debate con-
tinued. but it was without special in
| terest. 1t will close at O'Clock to.
| ing of the pension bill the committee
rose and the house adjourned.
MINISTER STEVENS SUSTAINED.
Secretary Foster this afternoon
| telegr phed Minister Stevens at
Honolulu approval of his action in
atfirmatively responding to the re-
quest of the provisional government
of Hawaii for the establishment OF a
protectOra over the islands pending
negotiations for annexation of the
islands to the United States. In
structions for the guidance for his
future actions were also included in
the telegram. These instructions will
leave San Francisco for Honolulu to-
morrow by the steamer Australia.
sPLENETIC FEVER.
Secretary Rusk has issued circu.
lar to managers and ag. nts of railway
and transportation companies, stock.
men and others, notifying them that
the contageoNs and infectious disease
known as splenetic or southern fever
exists among cattle in the belt of coun'
try which he describes in detail, and
which extends from Texas through
portions OF Kansas, Missouri and Ten
ne ssee, to North Carolina, Virgins
and Maryland, and from the 18th o
February 10 the 1st of Decent Der, 1893
no cattle are to be transported from