Omaha daily bee., 1894-12-18
TURPIE OPPOSES THE BILL
FavOrs the Buiiaihg of the Canal, but Does
Not Endorse Government Aid,
PETER MSosAaoNG THE OPPOSITION
Squire of washington the Only One to
Speak insIts Favor--Hiil Wants n Copy
ct the Income rox Rcguiations-Uni
versity Bin Goes to the Calendar.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17,-More than three
hours of today's session of the senate were
occupied in the discussion of the Nicaraguan
bill, and three senator's made speeches Mr.,
PETER of Kansas favored the measure under
certain cond tions but was opposed to issuing
bonds payable in gold to raise the money
required Mr.. Squire of Washington declared
unequivocally in favor of the construction
of the canal, while Mr.. Turpie of Indiana,
though approving the canal, expressed his
decided opposition to the pending bill.
A communication from Secretary Gresham
relative to the continuation Of the bureau
of American republics. was referred to the
committee on appropriations.
Mr.. Blanchard, democrat of Louisiana,
presented petitions praying for the passage
by the senate of a land grant forfeiture
LII.
Mr.. Berry, chairman of the committe on
public lands, said that work is being done in
committee on the bill.
Mr.. Hill, democrat of New York, presented
resolution calling upon Secretary Carlisle
for copy Of the income tax regulat ons
which was passed.
The bill for a national university was then
taken up. Mr.. Kyle requested the bill be
placed on the calendar.
The senate resumed consideration of the
list, of Kansas, addressed the senate He
did not believe the government was in con-
dition to buy the canal and issue bonds for
is payment. The constitution did not
authorize the lending of money for the pur-
pose of forwarding a private enterprise as
was proposed TO be done by this bill. 1t
would be better for the government to build
the canal.
Mr.. Squire of Washington followed the
hearty endorsement Of the canal project,
which, he said. would be of greater import
ance to the western world than the Suez
canal to the eastern.
At this point Mr.. Turpe of Indiana offered
an amendment to the b II, which was ordered
printed. The amendment provides that be-
fore any of the provisions of the act are
enforced the president is to appoint three
competent engineers, two of them from the
engineer corps and one from civil life not
interested in the canal company, to make a
survey and estimate of the expense OF the
construction of the canal on the route pro-
posed.
FAVORED, YET OPPOSED IT.
Mr.. Turpie then proceeded to address the
senate on the pending bill. He started out
by saying that he was heartily in favor of
the construction If this canal or any other
navigable highway through the isthmus.
He did not regard the pending bill however
as furnishing any means for the accomplish
ment of this enterprise as tending to pro-
mote the prosecution or completion of the
canal. He regarded 1t, whether designed or
undersigned, as one of the measures which will
asuredy lead to another failure (the last he
thopght of the corporations or compacts
for the buildingBf this canal He entertained
grave doubts Respecting it's constitutiunality
and knew of moi authprity in congress to en-
dorse or to guarantee the payment to- any
corporation, public or private. After dealing
with the original Understanding that the
government shodid' hot Be asked to guarantee
the Maritime compdnys indebtedness, Mr.
Turpie asked, witb.lsome display of feeling
with what fairness can this company now
come 10 congress- and ask subscription
to the extent ofI,sfe6b00O0, without ra'sing
from lIis seat HSefiator Morgan interjected
the remark that'iie company "had not come
here making such a request" to which Mr..
Turpie replied: 'e'Theh they have a very
peculiar way of staying away"
He ridiculed the talk of selling the COM
pany's bonds in England and eclared that
its entire assets could not be sold in London
for $50. He said the failure of the Panama
canal scheme had sealed the doom of all
isthmian canal building. The tropical
climate was, he said, fatal to all such enter
prises. There were no difficulties in the way
of construction offered by the Clayton -Bulwer
treaty. Referring to the numerous surveys
for a route made from time to time Mr.
Turpe laid particular stress on that of 1851
by Cornelius Vanderbilt and associates any
one of whom, he asserted, could have COM
pleted the canal yet the enterprise had been
abandoned.
+ Pending the conclusion of his remarks, the
senate at 455 went into executive session
and at 5:07 p. m. adjourned.