Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-13
ion THE CANAL BILL
SENATOR'S DISCUSS THE GOV
ERNMENTS POSITION.
VARIOUS BILLS INTRODUCED BY
MR.. CALL.
He Wants Independence for Cuba,
and Japan-China War Brought to
a Close-Senator Allen Criticises
Attorney General Olney-The
HouSe-CongreSsion Affairs.

Washington, Dec. 11.-Mr. Harris,
president pro tenn, called the senate
to order in the absence Of Vice PreSi-
dent Stevenson, who has not yet re-
turned from Asheville, n. c., where he
is with his family. Mr.. Call presented
resolution setting forth that the in
dependence Of the island of Cuba is
an object of great Importance to the
United States and requesting the
president to commence negotiations
with Spain for the recognition of the
independence Of the island The reso-
luton went over until today. Mr..
Call also presented a resolution de-
claring that further prosecution of the
war between China and Japan will
not be advantageous to the peace OF
civilization, and that the interests Of
the world require that all governments
shall unite in negotiations with ia
pan and China for a termination of
the war. Without discussion the res
olution was referred to the committee
on foreign relations.
Mr.. Allen, pop.), of Nebraska, called
up resolution intended to eXpunge
portion Of the congressional record
and to send resolution introduced by
him last July to the attorney general
The latter resolution called for infor-
nation concerning the Pullman
strike. This resolution was passed
but was recOnSidered on motion Of -1r.
Pugh. Mr.. Allen bitterly assailed
this action and also criticised the &C
ton Of the attorney general during the
strike. Mr.. Pugh vigorously defended
the attitude taken by Mr.. Olney and
pointed out that it was what he would
regard as an improperly to demand
the information asked for in the reso-
luton.
At 2 O'Clock the mattel went over
and the senate, on the motion Of Mr..
Morgan, took up the Nicaragua canal
bill. Mr.. Morgan began his remarks
by making general statement of tn
national and International aspect Of
the subject upon which the senate
and the house bills agreed. He in
sisted that it is necessary improve
ment; that it could be operated, and
that there is nothing to render i'm
possible the concessions made by the
Central American government to the
citizens OF the United States. Mi.
Morgan quoted from a report of Chief
Engineer Menocal, who estimated that
the canal could be built for $65. OOO,-
700 and said that he thought the eX-
penditures of SAT 100000 already spent
had demonstrated that the actual cost
would be even lower than that esti
mated by Mr.. Menocal. The two
houses of congress practically agreed
that the cost would be about $4,000,
900. He argued, in support Of the
proposition contemplating government
ownership in the canal, that England
owns stock in the Suez canal, and
why should not the United States
own stock in the Nicaraguan canal?
The government ownership only
means that the government could eX-
ert its influence over the canal for
the protection of it's citizens by force.
The canal must be built under the
fostering care of some government,
We must act now or abandon the
canal to it's fate. At the conclusion OF
Mr.. Morgan's speech Mr.. Mitchell
briefly expressed a hearty approval of
the scheme to build the canal. The
senate then went into executive SEES
sion and soon adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE house de
voted the day, under the rules to
business reported from the District Of
Columbia committee. The feature of
the day was a speech Of about forty
minutes by Champ Clark (dem), Of
Missouri. He made rambling talk
on the tariff, his late defeat and many
other matters; being frequently in
terrupted by the republicans, who
gibed and laughed at his statements.
The latter part Of his remarks had
no bearing upon the subject under dis
cussion
Representative Hit, of Illinois, in
troduced the following resolution: RE
solved, that the secretary of state be
requested to communicate to the
house, if not inconsistent with the in
terests Of the public service, all cor
respondence, reports and other docu-
ments not heretofore made public,
touching the payment by the United
States Of S425, 1000 to Great Britain for
damages growing ont Of the contro-
versy as to the fur seals in Behring
sea or the seizure Of British vessels
waters"
Mr.. Linton introduced a bill prohib-
iting the printing of any words or de-
vices upon the American flag by in
diyiduals.