Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1893-01-06
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
The New Nicaragua Canal Bill Increases
the Obligations of the Canal
Company-Etc.

There is to be an organized effort in
the House after the holidays to bring
about some financial legislation, prob.
ably taking the shape of an attempt ia
repeal the Sherman law. The oppo.
nents OF free coinage believe this daily
menacing of the securities of the gov
ernment 10 inevitably leading TO gigan.
tic losses. On the other hand, the
friends OF silver are not less active, and
expect to see free-coinage bill forging
TO the front before many days OF the new
year haye passed. Stewards amendment
TO the bill of Hill provides for a repeal
OF the Sherman act, and makes that
measure practically free coinage bill.
Stewart thinks that when it comes to a
vote 1t will pass.
Representatives Hermann OF Oregon
and Wilson of Washington were greatly
disappointed at the failure OF the bill in
Congress for the increase OF the light
house service in the United States, in
which both Washington and Oregon were
largely interested. In the bill was q
provision for twenty-five beacon lights
and buoye on the Willamette river be-
tween Portland and Salem; also for a
light and fog signal at the mouth of the
Willamette, as well as lights for other
places on the Oregon and Washington
coasts. There were other bills reported
from the same committee which were
sidetracked by the failure Of this bill.
among them being bill allowing the
Great Northern Railway Company to
build bridge across the Columbi river.
Mr.Foster said recently that he thought
it grave mistake to assume that the
Monetary Conference will prove to be a
failure. The taking of recess was ex-
pected By the administration when the
American delegates left Washington
City. Rothchild's proposition and his
declaration that unless something is done
to insure the better use OF silver among
the nations serious consequences would
follow is in itself hopeful indication
that the prominent bankers of the world
feel the necessity of reaching an agree
ment of such nature as will secure ap-
proximate uniformity the world over in
dealing with the question. The Secre-
tary said that so far as he was personally
concerned all he expected of the prelim-
mary conference had been accomplished.
The general feeling of the conference
wss even more favorable than he antic-
ipated.
One of those peculiar bills which oc-
casionally finds its way into Congress
was introduced the other day by Sena-
tor Mitchell in the Senate. Its elaborate
title provides for the prohibition of cleo
tro-magnetiam, mesmerism and hypno.
tizing OF human beings, ETC., and pre-.
scribing punishment. Numerous pc
titions and documents accompanying the
bill and others equally voluminous are
referred to. The bill in brief provides
that any person who anywhere within
the jurisdiction of the United States
shall apply current of electricity upon
a person for the purpose of affecting an
other, or which does 80 affect, shall be
guilty OF crime punishable by death,
and that any person having the knowI-
edge of such current having been applied
who fails to notify the proper authorities
shall be deemed an accessory and pun
ished by fine Of not less than 5000
nor more than $40, 900, or by punishment
ranging from two years to the period OF
ones natural life.
Senator Sherman has introduced
bill, which was referred to the Foreign
Relations Committee, providing that
whenever the government of the United
States shall conclude effective interna-
tional arrangements for the prote ction
OF fur seals in the North 'acific Ocean
by agreement with any power, or as
result of the convention concluded last
February between the United States and
Great Britain (the Behring Sea Conven-
tion), and as long as such arrangements
shall continue, the provisions of the
laws, so far as they shall be applicable,
relative to the protection of fur seals
within the limits OF Alaska or its waters
shall be extended to and over that por-
tion OF the ocean included in such agree
ment. The bill further provides that
whenever an effective arrangement is
concluded the President shall declare
the fact by proclamation and designate
the portion OF the Pacific Ocean to which
it is to be applicable. During the exist
ence of the laws all violations of them
in the designated portions OF the Pacific
are to be held to be the same as ii COM
mitted within Alaska limits, and they
may be prosecuted either in Alaska or
in the courts Of Oregon, California or
The new Nicaragua canal bill reported
by Senator Sherman is drawn on sub
stantially the same lines as the bill re-
ported from the committee to the last
Congress, including as it does the prop
osition to guarantee the bonds OF the
to the extent of 500 900, 900 to
aid IN the construction of the canal
The new bill, however, contains some
which increase the obligations
Of the company as we'll as the security
of the government. For instance, the
real and personal property and the fran
chises OF the company are included in
the liabilities. 1t is provided that all
stock heretofore subscribed for or issued
shall be called in and cancelled; all bonds
issued redeemed and cancelled, and all
obligations satisfied before
the act takes effect. The date is changed
to make the bonds issue in January, 1893,
and mature in 1858; but they are also
made redeemable at the pleasure OF the
United States after 1918. The section
requiring the company to execute mort
gage to the United States as security for
the guarantee is amended by the addi-
tion OF clause recurring the mortgage