The record-union., 1893-04-27
Special to the REcoRD-US1oS.

OGDEN (Utah), April 26.-The Trans
mississippi Congress to-day debated on
the Nicaragua Canal, and passed favor
able resolutions. G. w. Cross of Califor-
mia opposed the canal. Messrs. Briggs,
Irish and Cannon of California favored
the canal. Roberts of Sacramento favored
it. Weinstock was undecided, and con-
fessed that his judgment had not been
formed.
Dixon of California, Chairman of the
Subcommittee on Rivers, got the Cali
fornia river resolutions reported favor
ably to the congress.
One-third of the day was devoted to the
silver debate.
Tonight an immense audience heard
silver debate between John P. Irish of
California opposing free coinage, and
Senator Stewart of Nevada in favor. 1t
was splendid battle. Irish spoke to an
audience, two-thirds of which was con-
WINGED in advance against him, but he
bearded the lion in his den, and took up
the coinage advocates points one by one,
and fearlessly played them, defying any
proponent of free coinage to show why
there should be unlimited free coinage, if,
as the prophets say, foreign bullion will
not come in, though unlimited coin
age invites it; also, why fix
ratio of sixteen to one; why by law
declare sixteen ounces of silver shall buy
one ounce of gold. No man had shown,
or could show, why the Western man
should pay the Eastern man only sixty
cents for dollars worth of goods, or get
one dollar for sixty cents worth of coin.
He denied and defied proof to the con-
trary, that the rise or fall of products has
been or can be foretold by the rise or fall
of coin bullion. He defended President
Cleveland, whose policy had been assailed
by a dozen speakers, and declared that
the President would do his duty, as he
had done, and that his acts would be rati-
fed by the people, as his every act had
been.
Senator Stewards reply was fine effort,
and along the line of the conventional
free coinage argument. He probably
never made better effort. Both he and
Irish were loudly applauded. 1t was a
notable debate, that will be historic.
Tomorrow is transportation and irri-
CATION business day.
There are now here six Governors, two
Senators and six Congressman.
MORNING PROCEEDINGS.
The Transmississippi Congress began
its morning session by passing resolu-
ton calling on the railways to place rates
to the Worlds Fair at such a figure as
will enable the masses in the West to at
tend.
The Nicaragua Canal was then taken
up.
Leet of Colorado opposed the construc-
ton of the canal by the United States,
because it would only be contributing to
the prosperity of Great Britain.
John P. Irish of California argued that
the general prosperity of the world would
be so enhanced by the building of the
canal that every part of this country
would share in it,
Governor Waite wanted the canal, if
built at all, to be absolutely owned and
controlled by this country in the interest
of the people of this nation.
Hepburn of Idaho spoke for his State
in favor of the canal.
c. w. Cross of California opposed the
canal. while millions were asked for
internal waterway Improvements" he
said, (which could not be granted, it was
folly to build an artificial waterway
There was no certainty that the profits
would pay the operating expenses. How
would 1t be protected from the navies of
the world? How would our country be
enriched by turning the commerce now
passing across our country into channel
1900 miles south of us ?''
]. w. Feighan of Washington and j.
II. Roberts of Sacramento favored the
canal.
w. ii. Harvey of Utah claimed that
Governmental aid without Government
control would again repeat the history of
the Pacific railroads.
Holmes of Oregon was surprised to
find that part of the State of California
was in favor of the canal, but that the
Southern Pacific was dead set against it.
Arthur r. Briggs, Secretary of the San
Francisco Chamber of Commerce. told
the story of De Lesseps' visit to San
Francisco in the interest of the Panama
Canal. De Lesseps was forced to admit
that the people of California were better
informed regarding the isthmus than he
was. He admitted to the Chamber of
Commerce committee that he had made
no personal survey of the canal and was
not able to give any intelligent explana-
nation as to the methods of overcoming
the natural obstacles on the isthmus.
o. w. Crawford of Texas claimed that
the profit on the cotton that could be sold
to China and Japan alone would pay the
interest on the bonds.
Congressman-elect Cannon of Los An
geles, Populist, said that he opposed
Governmental aid unless the original
promoters were either bought out or
frozen out. If the canal is controlled by
a monopoly, it will combine with the
railroads just as the Pacific Mail has
done.
A recess was then taken.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On the reassembling of the conpress
Governor Prince of New Mexico intro
duced the following resolution, which
was adopted:
ReSoI0ed, That this congress ask the
directors of the Columbian Exposition to
set apart day in the month of Septemb Der
next to be known as silver day, when ad-
dresses on the silver question can be de-
livered and the day otherwise celebrated
in an appropriate manner.