The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-15
Senator Morgan Warmly Advocates
Government Aid TO the Mic
aragua Canal.
It Should Be Controlled by the
United States by All
Means.
Tho Senator DOES Not Fear Repetition
OF tho Panama scandal In
This EntcrprIss.

WASHINGTON. Jan. A.-In the senate,
Walcott. OF Colorado. offered resolution
| instructing the committee on foreign rela-
tions to inquire what sums have been ex-
pended in and about tho construction of
The Nicaragua canal since accounts Of sx-
penditures were heretofore rendered. He
marked that two years ago testimony was
taken by the committee on foreign relations
which showed that up to that time about
49, 0OO, 600 have been expended. But IL il now
proposed to give the company S. 00O. 600 In
bands guaranteed by tho government for
$12, ,O0O 600 stock. He did not suppose IL
would be seriously COMMANDED that any such
expenditure had been made by the COM
pany within the past two years and the
purpose Of his resolution was TO ascertain
what the actual expenditures had been.
Sherman said that two years ago the COM
rany had expended $3.0OOO00. Since then
1t has expended considerably more. but not
as much - $600O,OOO. But the amount
actually expended was to be asoertained BY
the secretary of the treasury and the score
tary Of state. and the maximum is to be
turned over to the company in guaranteed
bonds is not to exceed SC. 100000
gan, of Alabama, instructinR the commit
tee on commerce to inquire and report the
advantages to the interests of the United
States that would be offered by the Mica
raRua 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 canal company and take con.
troll OF it, which it was proposed
tho United States should take. If Costa
Rica and NicarauRa were to tender such
overture to Great Britain. or il the owners
Of the concession were to take it to Great
Britain and make the offer which they had
made to congress. and if Great Britain
should accept. the United States would
have one paltry plea, one emasculated plsa.
and that was the worn and torn and dirty
Monroe doctrine. which the senate of the
United States had succeeded In kicking
literally into doll rags.
Mr.. Sherman asked Morgan to notice the
objection made in some quarters that the
owners OF $12000.000 Of the stock Of the
company would have undue influence in the
management of the corporations. Morgan
replied that in the pending bill the power
of the eovernment would result In the con
troll of thc operations of the company. The
government was to own $s0.50O,000 of
800. 10000 of stock. and would therefore
have the control 80 far rs the direction of
company is concerned. Speaking of the
provision of the bill for eight government
directors out of the fifteen, Morgan said If
the French government had had its own di-
rec ors in the Panama Canal company the
robberies which brought on the crisis which
had disgraced and nearly destroyed the
French republic. would not have been psr-
petrated, and that most of the fraud and
corruption and yillainy which was now
shocking the sensibility of that great and
noble people would have been avoided.