The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-18
NlCARACUAN CANAL talk
Mr., Peffer Expresses Concern Regard
ing the Day Of Settlement.
IT NEEDS 81 ER COINAGE
the Schemc-Bill for Preservation of
Forests Receives Consideration of
the House of Representatives.
BY the United Press.

BY the United Press.
Washington Dec. 17.--Vice President
Stevenson presided over the senate to-
day. A numerously signed petition
from the citizens of Pennsylvania for
the passage of the house bill providing
for consular inspection of immigrants
was presented by Mr.. Quay Rep. Pa)
and referred to the committee on immi-
grafton.
The debate on the Nicaraguan canal
bill was Of an interesting character
Mr.. PETER declared himself in favor of
the enterprise, but opposed to the finan-
cial features of the bill. He questioned
the ability of the government to pay
in gold the bonds provided for in the
bill and asked, in a despairing tone,
what the government was to do when
the day Of the final payment of its out
standing loans should arrive. He fore
saw financial difficulties in which do
nestle insurrection or foreign war; or
both, were the logical possibility If
silver coinage We're restored, or a fresh
issue Of paper currency made, in which
to pay the expenses of the construction
of the canal he would be in favor Of the
bill; but he opposed to the further issue
and sale Of bonds for any purpose.
Mr.. Squires put forward no such con-
ditions, but advocated the bill unquali-
fiedly declaring that the work would
be an enduring monument to Civili2a-
ton of the age and of more Importance
to the commerce of the west than Suez
canal was to that of the east.
Mr.. Turpic Is Severe.
But the pending measure was handled
by Mr.. Turpie with vehement severity.
While declaring himself in favor Of an
Isthian canal, he did not regard the
pending measure as furnishing a means
for its accomplishment. He regarded
it as one OF those measures that would
certainly lead to another failure (the
Fifty-first he thoughO of a similar con-
cession. Besides, he had grave doubts
of its constitutionality, holding, as he
did, that he government had no right
to subsidiZe or to guarantee the paper
of any corporation. The only precedent
that could be found for it was the
case Of the Pacific railroads, and he said
that he government security for the
Repayment Of the immense sum due
by those companies was ample, COM
pared with the security which it would
have from the Nicaraguan company
all of whose assets had been sold two
years ago in New York under decree
of the United States court for $2S7 600,
and would not fetch $50 today in Lon
don or Amsterdam. Mr.. Turpie had
not completed his speech when the
senate at p. m. adjourned.
Forest Reservation Bill.
This was suspension day under the
rules of the house and before the army
appropriation bill was called up by
Chairman Cultivate, of the committee
on military affairs, Mr.. McRae, Dem.
Ark), chairman of the committee on
public lands called up the bill to pro-
tect public forest reservations.
Mr.. Wells, in opposing the BILL said
that it was being put through the house
under whip and spur no chance being
given to show the rascality behind it.
The proposed law gave the secretary
of the interor-whoever he might be
authority to dispose of, with a single
stroke Of his pen, 100000 acres of for
est reserve. Some secretaries had not
been honest, and he was afraid there
might be dishonest ones in the future.
Mr.. McRae said that there was not
one iota Of truth in the statement made
by the gentleman from Wisconsin that
the bin was being urged by spectators
and timber kings. Under the bill the
timber could only be cut, when such
cutting would benefit the reserve.
The bill as reported from the commit
tee was amended so as to give free tim
ber to miners and settlers on public
lands, and was passed by a vote of 159
to 3d.
Mr.. Springer Oem. 1lls.) reported
from the committee on banking on
banking and currency the Carlisle bill
providing for new system of currency
and gave notice that he would ask the
house to begin general debate upon it
tomorrow. The bill was accompanied
by the views of the majority prepared
by Mr.. Springer, and of the minority
prepared by Mr.. Walker Rep, Mass).
The army appropriation bill for the
year ended June 30, 1896, was passed,
carrying total of $23, SOS.O9; also
an urgent deficiency bill of 100000 to
continue the operations Of the govern
ment printing office.