The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-11
NICARAGUA CANAL BILL
MR.. MORGAN ARGUES IN ITS SUP
PORT Nv THE SENATE.
Advocates Government Ownership and
be to the United Ststes.

| in the absence of the N!ce-Presideht.
Senator'S Carey, Hill and Blackburn We're
| In their seats to-day, for the first time
this session.
| Mr.. Call dem, Fla) offered reso-
luton reciting that the independence Of
| Cuba was an object Of great importance
| to the United States. and requesting the
| President TO open negotiations with Spain
| for the recognition OF the independence
! of the island, and for the guaratee by
| the United States of the payment of such
| a sum of money as shall be agreed upon.
On objection, It went over.
TO END THE ORIENTAL WAR.
Mr.. Call also offered q resolution de-
claring that the further prosecution of
the war between China and Japan, 70 the
disintegration Of the ancient government
| and nationality of China, will not be ad-
| vantageous TO the peace and civilization
| of the nations of the world and their
! progress in the arts. and that the in
| terests of the world require that all gov
ernments shall unite in negotiating with
| Japan for the termination Of the war and
| the settlement by arbitration on terms
| Just and honorable 10 both nations. and
| for such guarantees by the Government of
! China for the protection of lives and
I properly
| foreign governments. as shall he adequate
| for this purpose" Referred to the For
| eign Relations Committee.
| The president pro tenn announced his
] signature TO the bill for the dedication Of
| the Chicamauga and Chattanooga Ma
! tional Park.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
| Mr.. Morgan called up the Nicaragua
| canal bill, and spoke in its support. A ship
canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, he said, was necessary TO the
| commerce of the world, and 1t could be
constructed via the San Juan river at
| cost which would make IT a commercial
success. Such a canal, he declared, was
! necessary to the naval and militry power
| of the United States. He contended that
! limited States control OF the canal would
| interfere with 10 treaties of Nicaragua
and Costa Rica with foreign govern
ments; that no foreign government had
| interposed any objection TO this Govern
| ment's interest In the canal, ana that II
| was due 10 the citizens OF the united
| States who had already expended money
] on the canal that the franchise ana CON
| troll should not be allowed TO pass under
| foreign influence. After enumeratlhg hu-
| merous other social and political reasons
why the United States should guarantee
] the bonds Of the Maritime Canal Compa-
| nv, he described the geographical fea-
! lures OF the country and the engineer
| ing facility with which the canal could
| be constructed.
! COST OF ITS CONSTRUCTION.
| Mr.. Morgan asserted that the Nicaragua
| canal would be Complementary to the
| SueZ canal and complete a waterway
| around the world, and predicted that It's
| construction and control by the United
States would rebound 10 the commercial
/ and naval advantage OF the country as
| the Suez canal had done for great Britain
| Turning TO the financial side OF the ques-
| tlon. Mr.. Morgan said that Chief In"
| gineer Menocal estimated the entire cost
| of the canal at S65,0S4 ,l76, while special
| board OF experts appointed by the Mar
| itime Canal Company TO examine and re-
| Wise the estimate, fixed the figures at
| sg7 79o,570. 1t was generally agreed, ne
| said, that at the present time, owing 10
| the lessened cost of machinery, labor
| and living the outside cost of build
| ing the canal would not exceed SO'OOOOO.
| AS to whether the seventy millions need
| ed to guarantee the bonds of the compa-
| nv should be raised by popular subscrlp-
! ton or by direct appropriation from the
| Treasury, that was a matter of detail
| into which he did not propose to enter
| at this time. AS TO the objection made
| that the United States should not enter
| into partnership with private corpora
! tion Mr.. Morgan said that If Great Brit
| ain could own stock in the Suez canal
he did not see why the United States
| could not own stock in the Nicaragua
| canal.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
He was a Democrat of Democrats, he
declared. and it was his belief that the
limited States could do anything a for
| eign Government could do. Government
ownership, or partnership, in the canal
would not bind the United States to send
! troops TO the canal. further than II had
| already done to protect railroad in
Panama in which it was interested. Gov
ernment ownership would be the only
means Of protecting the interests OF the
limited states citizens except by force,
| and in case of war no treaty or owner
ship would prevent the belligerents from
attempting to close the canals TO each
other, while not interfering with its use
| by neutral nations.
In conclusion he declared that the
United States must act now or forever
abandon the canal. and he did not think
the American people were willing to aban-
don It.
Mr.. Morgan held the attention of the
Senate and galleries until 4 o'clock, when
he was followed by Mr.. Mitchell Oep.,
Ore0. who briefly endorsed the remarks
of Mr.. Morgan and favored the canal as
being In the interest of the Pacific States
His only doubt, he said. was as TO the
extent of interest and control which the
United States should manifest.
Mr.. Dolph (Rep.. Ore) secured the floor,
but yielded to a motion TO 90 into ex-
ecutive session. After a short executive
session the Senate, at 4:SO, adjourned un-
til tomorrow.
House OF Representatives.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. l0.-The
Speaker laid before the House several
Executive communications. which were
referred. To-day being District of CO.
lumbia day. the House then went into
a committee OF the whole on the bill re-
ported from the Committee on District
of Columbia, and which was pending when
Congress adjourned in August last, for
the establishment OF a free public and de-
partmental library in the district of CO.
lumba. The bill was discussed for
several hours. and few minor amend
ments adopted BY vote OF 81 to Sc 1t
was then reported to the House, with
recommendation that Il be referred TO the
Committee Of Public Buildings and
Grounds. II was SO referred.
a bill was taken up to amend the law
with respect to corporations in the dis
trict Of Columbia, so 10 authorize them
10 renew their existence at the expiration
of terms of twenty years, upon approval
Of the District Commissioners. by a vote
of the stockholders. After a protracted
discussion, the bill was withdrawn.
A Joint resolution was agreed to- au-