The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-11
MR.. MORGAN'S SPEECH.
Able Argument in Favor of Building
the Big Ditch,


WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-HaIris of Ten
nessee, president pro tem., called the
Senate to order in the absence of Vice
President Stevenson. who mas not yet re-
turned from Asheyille, n. c., where he is
with his family.
Call of Florida presented a resolution
setting forth that the Independence of the
island of Cuba is an object of great i'm
portance to the United States, and request
ing the President to commence negotia-
tions with Spain for the recognition of the
independence of the Island, and for the
guarantee by the United States of the pay
ment of such sum of money as shall be
agreed en- between the United States and
Spain. The resolution went over until
to-morr0w.
Call also presented a resolution deelar-
Ing that the further prosecution of the
war between China and Japan will not be
advantageous 10 civilization. and that the
interests of the world require that all Gov
ernments shall unite in negotiating with
Japan and China for the termination of
The war. Without discussion the resolu-
ton was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
Allen (POp) of Nebraska called up his
resolutions intended In expunge portion
of the Congressional Racard and to send
resolution introduced by him last July to
the Attorney-General. The latter reso!u-
ton called for Information concerning the
Pullman strike. This resolution was
passed but was recon sidered on motion of
Pugh OF Alabama. Allen bitterly assailed
this action and also attacked the Attorney
General, TO whom he attributed the action
Of the Alabama Senator.
Pugh vigorously defended the attitude
taken by Mr.. Olney, End pointed out what
he regarded would be the improperly of
demanding the information asked for in
the resolution. He declared that The posi-
ton of the Senator from Nebraska was un-
reasonable and untsnabIe.
At o'clock the whole no after went over,
and the Senate, on motion of Morgan,
took up the Nicaragua canal bill. The
bill was read at length Morgan began
his remarks by making a statement of the
national and international aspect of the
subject upon which the Senate and House
bills agreed. Careful calculations. he
insisted, showed that the canal could be
constructed at a cost that would yield
remunerative profit, so that it was a
4
OF the greatest Importance to the United
States; that ii could be operated, and that
there was nothing to render impossible
concessions made by the Central American
Government to the citizens of the United
States. Finishing this general statement,
the Senator devoted some time to the dis
cussion of the characteristics of the coun-
try through which it is proposed to build
tue canal ald the dvantageousness
OF the route as compared with that of
the Panama canal route, and asserted
that no such improvement could be given
to commerce as the construction OF this
necessary complement to the Suez canal.
The route is feasible, the engineering
work easy and there will be no extra
ordinary work required on any place on
the whole route.
Mr.. Morgan quoted from the report of
Chief Engineer Menocal. who estimated
that the canal could be built for S65, 600. 600
and said he thought the expenditure OF tie
81 600. 000 already spent had dem onstrated
that the actual cost would be even lower
than that estimated by Mr.. Menocal. The
two houses OF Congress practically agreed
that the cost of the canal would be about
S70000,000. and the guards and restric-
lions TO be thrown about the expenditures
were matters of easy adjustment
The manner of raising the money was a
question that should not be allowed to af-
feet its construction. He argued in sup
port of the proposition that contemplated
Government ownership of the canal that
England owned stock In the Snez canal,