Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-12-20
The CANAL.
The Senate Devotes Another Day
to the Nicaragua Bill.
The HOUSE PASSES MANY BILLS.
Fifteen Bills Go Through In -Four Minutes
Reports Of the Committee on Hank
Ing Ordered Printed-Army
Appropriation Bill.

NAbItlNtlUN DVN' 100 WV 'Sh~t>
was called to order yesterday by Vice
President Stevenson. A communication
from Secretary Gresham relative to Thu
continuation Of the bureau of Ameri
can republics was referred to the com
mittee on appropriations
Mr.. Hill Of New York presented a
resolution calling upon Secretary Car
Isle for a copy Of the income tax rogu
lations, which was passed
On motion Of Mr.. blanchard the sen.
ate passed a bill amending the act an-
thorizing the Texarkana & Fort Smith
Railway Co. to bridge the Sulphur river
in Arkansas and Texas, and another
amending the act authorizing the same
company to bridge the Little river in
Arkansas The senate then resumed
consideration of the Nicaragnnn canal
bill and Mr.. PETER, Of Kansas, nd
dressed the senate. lie did not believe
that the country was in condition to
buy the canal and issue bonds for its
payment. The constitution did not
authorize the lending Of money for the
purpose Of forwarding private enter
prise, which was what was proposed to
be done by the present bill. 1t would
be better for the government to build
the canal.
Mr.. Squire, Of Washington, followed
with a hearty Endorsement OF the canal
project, which, he said would be Of
greater Importance to the western
world than the Suez canal is to the
eastern.
At this point Mr.. Turpie, Of Indiana,
offered an amendment to the bill which
was ordered printed. The amendment
provides that before any provisions Of
the act are enforced the president
Is to appoint three competent engi-
neers, two OF them from the engineer
corps and one from civil life, not inter
ested in the company, TO make a
survey and estimate OF the expense of
construction Of the canal on the route
proposed. Mr.. Turpie then proceeded
TO address the senate on the pending
bill. lie was heartily in favor Of the
Of this canal or any other
navigable highway through the 18TH
mus, but he entertained grave doubts
respecting its constitutionality and
knew of no authority in congress to
indorse or to guarantee the payment TO
any corporation, public or private
Pending the conclusion Of his remarks,
The senate, ut 455 p. m, went into
executive session and at i.O1 p, IN. adj
journed.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ls.--At the open
Ing OF the session Of the house Mr.. Her
man, of Oregon, presented II preamble
Ind resolution declaring that the Clay
Bulwer treaty was on obstacle to
he construction of an intcr-occanic
,anal ard that it should be abrogated.
II was referred to the committee on
foreign affairs. Fifteen of the sixteen
bills favorably reported from the Fri
lay night session were then passed
without objection in exactly four min
ntes.
Mr.. McRae, chairman OF the commit
lee on public lands, moved to puss, I'M
Ter suspension of the rules, the bill
70 protect public forest reservations.
Mr.. Wells, OF Wisconsin, charged that
was behind the bill, and pre-
licted that those who were pushing 1t
through with whip and spur would
i've to regret their action. The vote
resulted $50 TO 50 and the bill was
passed.
Mr.. Springer, OF Illinois, chairman Of
The committee on banking and curren-
~, then presented the report Of the
majority OF the Carlisle banking bill,
and It was ordered printed, together
with the minority report to BIZ present.
ed by Mr.. Walker, Of Massachusetts,
Mr.. Cultivate, chairman Of the mill
larry affairs committee, called up the
army appropriation bill and explained
It's provisions The bill carried ssJ,-
200, sos, sl6s, Ol6 less than the appropri-
ntion for the current fiscal year and
81, 305,S 34 less than the estimates
Three propositions in the bill were
new, 'all being recommended by the sec
rotary of war. One reduced the num-
Der of majors in the pay department to
twenty, reduction of five. The STE
ond reduced the number of captains in
the subsistence department By four
and the third transferred the mill
tary prison at Fort Ieavenworth
to the jurisdiction of the department
Of Justice. Mr.. Marsh, Of Illinois,
sought to have the section transferring
the military prison at Fort Leaycn-
worth to the department of justice
out on point Of order, but he
was overruled, and the bill was then
passed without amendment,
Mr.. Springer, in accordance with
the notice given earlier in the day, at
this point announced that no would
to-day, Immediately after the call
of committees for reports, call up the
banking bill, either by virtue of spc-
cal order or its privilege. Then. at 5
o'clock, the house adjourned.
Pleaded Not Guilty.