The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-19
TURPIE Is WARM.
Opposed to the Canal
Bill.
BITTER IN His SPEECH.
Yet Few Even of His PARTY
Follow Him.
ATTRACTING MUCH ATTENTION
From the Fact That When He Speaks
He Is More or Less
Amusing.
ATTRACTING MUCH ATTENTION

WASHINGTON, Dec. Ex-senator Turpie
renewed his attack on the Nicaragua
canal bill at 2 o'clock. His speech at
tracted considerable attention on both
sides of the Senate chamber. principally
for the reason that MI. Turpie always at
tacks bis subject with Incorporate heat.
notwithstanding his vigorous opposition,
1t is the general feeling that there will
sufficient number of votes TO pass it
through the Senate, and in the House it
will be supported by both Democrats and
Republicans and will not be a partisan
question. The Republicans, the majority
OF whom favor the bill, have resolved to
let it come to vote as early as possible.
Senator Mitchell of Oregon, one of the
stanch supporters OF the bill, had in-
tended to make speech in its favor, but
will foreg0 his intention in the hope of
speedily reaching a vote. There will be
no partisan or factional opposition on the
Republican si1e." said he. Senator Tur-
pies attack will probably evoke a reply
from Mr.. Morgan. author Of the bill, who
is industriously taking notes of Turpie's
speech.
In beginning his speech Senator Turpie
introduced several amendments to the
=
was the following:
No part Of the contract for said work shall be
let to the Nicaraguan Construction Company.
nor TO any other corporation associated with
or allied or legally succeeding the said Mica
raguaD Canal Construction Company. Con.
tracts In said work shall be let only by the
Maritime Canal Company of Nicaragua and
shall be settled and paid for only by the officers
of said company, subject only TO prior inspec-
CfN NHA Grlr In ffnsa
pleted as Congress may hereafter provide, and
ject to the previous approval OF the Secre-
tary of War.
Mr.. Turpie devoted some time to-day
to the consideration of the questions of
the concessions and forfeitures possible
in the event of the non-com Dletinn of the
canal within ten years from 1887. The
provisions regarding these matters were
exceedingly strict. The concession given
in 1887 would be absolutely forfeited in
1897. What title did the company have in
the canal route ? 1t was not that of fee
simple, fee base, and not even an ease
ment. There was nothing to mortgage
and nothing to sell. The concessions gave
q title and no sort Of property rights 10
the company.
Taking up the question of the physical
COuStIuCNlOu VI tbo NuIlOuS pOTlIODS OF Inc
canal. the Senator went on to point out
the great difficulties that would have to
be overcome and to argue that the esii-
mated cost of the minor canals forming
part of the whole system were too low,
and in one case-that of the canal between
lakes Managua and Nicaragua-the esti-
mate was mere guesswerk.
Turning then TO the matter of terminal
points of the proposed canal, the Senator
insisted that the estimates affecting the
work at those places were much too small.
The engineers said $1,000, 900 would be re-
Quired to restore the harbor at Greytown
on the Atlantic. whereas he had heard a
naval officer say S1O,0O0.OOO would be re-
quired. As to Brito, the Pacific terminus,
the place was not even a roads tead; 1T
was simply a stretch of sand on the ocean.
Regarding the statement that the cou-
struction of the canal would give work to
deserving people. the Senator quotes that
Jamaica negroes were the only ones who
could do the work under the climatic con-
ditions existing there. The whole thing
appeared to Mr.. Turpie as having every
indication of being gorgeous bubble.
Ii is expected that the speech will be
concluded Tomorrow.