The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-17

AefieA Takea on the Ntenfagua CanAl
and silver Questfens.

AeffeA Taken ON the Nicaragua CooAl
and SILVER 0uestfsns-
San FgAscfsco. Feb. f6.-The Nicaragua
canal Was the subject under consideration
~ the session of the trans ississippi con-
gress shss morning. A memorial 10 the
national congress urging the completion
Of the canal under the terms OF the Nor
gan bill or any other bill which would in
sure speedy construction Of the canai Vas
presented yesterday. An amendments Was
offered to strike out that part of the
memorial referring to the Morgan bill or
any other measure which might involve
government Aid 20 the enterprise. The
original resolution memoriAiiyed congress
10 cnac: legislation in the interest OF
prompt construction Of the Nicaragua
canal, under such conditions - are pro-
vided in the Morgan bill. or any other bill
which viii secure to the world its imme-
date construction and unrestricted use
under control and supervision of the
United States government" Delegate
Thompson's amendment struck out all
reference TO the Morgan bill and provided
for the insertion Of the following: PRO
vided. that such canal be constructed,
owned and operated directly BY the gov
eminent OF the United States without the
Intervention OF any private corporation"
Thompson's resolution finally prevailed
by vote Of 3g7 TO 19s. and the resolution
was passed as amended. The adoption of
Thompson's amendment was greeted with
prolonged applause.
The silver resolution Was next called up
~ special order. The resolution reported
by the committee WAS IS follows: I'VE
recommend the reopening Of the mints to
the coinage OF silver on the same terms
that they are now open to the coinage of
gold. and at the ratio Of IS to !"
Delegate Braunshart, of California, Of
fered substitute recommending coinage
of the seigniorage now in the treasury, as
proposed in the Bland bill. The .ubsti-
tute was defeated by an overwhelming
vote, and the original free coinage resoiu-
ton prevailed in the midst of o storm Of
applause.
ported were the following:
"MemoraliSing congress to furnish ade-
quate coast defenses for Puget sound and
station one or moro modern war vessels
there.
"Memoralixing congress to take such
action as will secure to the people the
mineral lands lying within the limits Of
the land grants previously made to rail-
roads. Adopted.
.Memoralizing congress to enact appro-
PIRATE forestry laws for the care of forestry
reservations. for the increase of such reser-
vatIons, and for the establishment of .
complete forestry system. Adopted"
Memorializing congress to Immediately
admit to statehood the territories OF New
Mexico, Utah and Arizona. Adopted.
Slight opposition was manifested to-
ward the admission of Utah, one OF the
California delegates moving to strike the
word Utah from the resolution. The Utah
delegation promptly declared that they
would offer no dissent; that they were
willing to submit the question to the in
telligence Of the congress. Cries of vote
it down" were heard all over the hall, and
when the vote was taken not q single
voice was in favor of the amendment.
A resolution demanding that all the
representatives of the trans Mississippi
states In congress work to secure the pas
sage Of the measures recommended by
the Mississippi congress was
adopted.
The Hawaiian matter was called up and
again threw the congress into another
spirited debate, there being considerable
opposition to the strong resolutions re-
ported by the committee. An attempt to
substitute resolution recommending .
protectorate of the islands as q solution of
the problem was quickly voted down. The
convention then, amid applause, passed
other, thus:
RESOLVED, That the great interests of
this country and the Pacific coast, both in
paa ar.1. 10 49, - H.
islands shall not be liable to be subjected
to the dominion or influence of any for
eign power.
"ResoIred. That any attempt to force on
the Hawaiian community restoration of
an arbitrary monarchial government Is
repugnant to the sense Of justice and Re-
publican principles of the American
people.
"ResoFred, That the opportunity to fur
ther American interests and to insure to
said islands atree, permanent and humane
governments afforded by their application
for annexation presents q settlement of
the Hawaiian question by peaceful acqui-
sition and spread of American institutions
which 1t would be both foolish and wrong
TO decline"
The convention then passed resolutions
calling for the creation of q government
secretary of mines and mining; demand
ing that all Indian reservations be opened
for settlement as soon as possible: de-
manding foreclosure of the government
mortgages on the Union and Central Pa
cite railroads at the earliest time possible.
and that the government Cooperate the
same for the beneii, of the pubic; declar.
ing that the United States senators should
be elected by direct vote of the people.
Capt NJ. g. Butterfield. OF Portland.
Or, was then elected secretary, subject to
the action of the executive committee.
\ resolution was introduced declarinp il
the sense of the congress tina, the right of
elective franchise should be extended To
the female as we'll as the male inhabitants
of the republic. Mrs. Mary L. Craig, of
Redlands, Cal. proceeded 10 adj
dress the congress on the cues.
ton of woman suffrage. She referred
10 the fact that many workingwomen in
San Francisco are now in sore need. and
declared that every one appreciated how
much better their condition would be IL
accorded the right of franchise. She closed
with plea tina, women be admitted 10
the ballot box on an equal footing with
men, as they are now admitted to prison
and TO taxation.
The woman saff rage resolution caused a
disturbance that was as turbulent and up-
roarions as 1t was unexpected. The Ion.
yention worked itself into an almost hone
less tangle The chairman of the commit
tee on resolutions, which had reportea the
resolution back without recommendation
moved TO lay il on the table, explaining
that the committee had decided that the
question was OF national importance and