The herald., 1894-02-17
7RANSMISSISSIPPI CONGRESS.
Resolutions Adopted at the
Closing Session.
National Control of the Nicaragua
Canal Favored.
Resolutions Demanding Female Suffrage.
Free silver Coinage and State
Control of Arid Lands
Adopted.
By the Associated Press.

Bideret1on at the session OF the trans
mississippi congress this morning. A
memorial to the national congress, urg-
ing the completion OF the canal under
the terms Of the Morgan bill, or any
other bill which would insure the speedy
construction of the canal, was presented
yesterday. An amendment WAS offered
today to strike out that part of the
memorial referring to the Morgan dill,
or any other measure which might in
volve government aid to the enterprise
The congress continued to discuss the
Nicaragua canal the remainder OF the
morning session. A number OF Cal-
iiornia delegates spoke in opposition to
government aid to the Nicaragua Canal
company. M. M. Estee declared him
self in favor OF any measure which
would expedite the completion OF the
canal. Governor Mcconnell of Idaho
spoke in favor OF the canal being owned
by the government.
When the convention re-assembled In
the afternoon the contention on tne
Nicaragua canal question WAS resumed.
The discussion was more animated even
than when the matter was fret under
consideration and the debate at times
was almost acrimonious.
The matter before the congress was an
amendment by Delegate Thompson OF
California to the resolution reported by
the committee. The original resolution
memoriaized congress to enact legisla-
tion in the interest OF the prompt con-
struction OF the Nicaragua canal, under
such conditions as are provided in the
Morgan DILL, or any other bill which
will secure to the world its immediate
construction and unrestricted use under
the 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: provided that such
canal be constructed, owned and oper-
ated directly by the government OF the
United States without intervention Of
any private corporation"
Thompsons resolution finally pre-
vailed by vote OF S27 to 1873, and the
resolution passed as amended. The
adoption of Thompson's amendment
was greeted with prolonged applause.
FREE COINAGE OF SILVER.
The silver resolution was next called
sup as the special order. The resolution
reported by the committee was ss fol-
lows: THAT we recommend the re-
opening of the mints to the coinage OF
silver on the same terms that they are
now opened to the coinage OF gold, and
at the ratio of 10 to /.
Delegate Braunhart of California Of
iered q substitute recommending the
coinage of the eeigniorage now in the
treasury, as proposed in the Bland bill.
The substitute was defeated by an over
whelming vote and the original free
coinage resolution prevailed in the
midst OF a storm of applause.
OTHER RESOLUTIONS PASSED.
Among other resolutions then reported
were the following;
Memorializing congress to furnish
adequate coast defenses on Puget sound,
and to station one or more modern war
vessels there. Adopted.
Memorializing congress to adequately
fortify and protece the harbor OF San
Diego, in view of it's great strategic loca-
tion in time of war and commercial
Importance at all times. Adopted.
Memorializing congress to take such
action as will secure to the people the
mineral lands lying within the limits OF
land grants previously made to railroads.
Adopted.
Memorializing congress to enact ap-
propriate forestry laws for the care OF
forestry reservations for the increase
OF such reservations, and for the estab-
lishment OF q complete forestry system.
Adopted.
Memorializing congress to establish
and maintain at O central point in the
great arteHian basin OF South Dakota an
experimental artesian irrigation station.
Adopted.
ADMISSION OF TERRITORIES.
A memorial to congress to imme-
diately admit to statehood the terri
tories of New Mexico, Utah and Arizona
was adopted.
Slight opposition was manifested
towards the admission of Utah, one OF
the California delegates moving to strike
the word Utah from the resolution. The
Utah delegation promptly declared they
would offer no dissent; that they were
willing to submit the question to the in
teiligence of congress. Cries OF ''Vote
1t down" were heard all over the hail.
and when the vote was taken not a
single voice in favor Of the amendment
WAS heard.
A resolution demanding that all the
representatives of the transmississippi
states in congress work to secure the
passage OF the measures recommended
by the transmiasiesippi congress- was
adopted.
ANNEXATION 0P HAWAII.
The Hawaiian matter was called up,
and again the threw congress into another
spirited debate, there being considerable
opposition to the strong resolutions re-
ported by the committee. An attempt
was made to substitute resolution rec
ommending protectorate over the isl-
ands, as solution of the problem.
This was quickly voted down. The con
vention then, amidst uproarious ap-
plRuse, passed the three resolutions fol-
lowing, one after another:
Resolved, That the great interests of
this country on the Pacific coast, both
in peace and war, require that the Ha-
waiian islands shall not be liable to be
subjected to the domination or influence
OF any foreign power.
Resolved, That any attempt to force
on the Hawaiian community the restor-
alton OF the arbitrary monarchial gov
ernment OF the late queen, is repugnant
to the sense of justice and republican
principles OF the American people.
Resolved, That the opportunity to
further American interests and to insure
to said Islands free, permanent and
humane government, afforded by their
application for annexation, presents
settlement of the Hawaiian question by
peaceful acquisition, and the spread OF
American inaLitutiona Which N would