The Lamar register., 1894-12-15
Irs NtCAkAoOA CANAL
rhc Senate Considering Btn to Aid Its
Construction

Thc Senate Considering n Bill to Aid Its
Construction
Washington. Dec. 10.-Nfr. Harris.
president pro tenn. called the senate to
order to-day in the absence OF Vice
President Stevenson, who has not yet
returned from Asheville, n. c., where
he is with his family.
Mr.. Call Democrat. Florida) pre-
sented a resolution setting forth that
the Independence of the Island of Cuba
is an object of great Importance to the
United States. and requesting the pres
ident to commence negotiations with
Spain for the recognition of the indie
pendence of the island, and for the
guarantee by the United States of the
payment OF such sum of money as
shall be agreed on between the United
States and Spain. The resolution went
over until tomorrow.
At O'Clock the senate, on motion
OF Mr.. Morgan, took up the Nicaragua
canal bill. The bill was read at length.
Mr.. Morgan began his remarks by
making statement of the national and
international aspect of the subject.
upon which the senate and house bills
agreed. Careful calculations, he insist
ed, showed the canal could be con-
structed at n cost that would yield
remunerative profit; that 1t was a neces-
sary improvement: that 1t would be of
the greatest Importance TO the United
States: that it could be operated and
that there was nothing to render im-
possible concessions made by the Cen
tral American government to the citi-
zens of the United States.
Finishing this general statement the
senator devoted some time to the dis
cussion of the characteristics OF the
rhrnnvh which tS oil
to build the canal and Its advanta
geous route as compared with that OF
the Panama canal route, and asserted
that no such improvement could be
given to commerce as the construction
of this necessary complement to the
-Suez canal The route Is feasible. the
engineering work easy and there will
be no extraordinary work required on
any place on the whole route.
Mr.. Morgan quoted from the report
of Chief Engineer Menocal. who eSti-
mated the canal could be built for $65.-
100000. and said he thought the ex-
-penditure OF the S4,00o,Ooo already
spent had demonstrated the annual
cost would be even lower than that es
itimated by Mr.. Menocal. The two
houses of congress practically agreed
that the cost of the canal would be
about S10.0oo.oo0. and the guards and
restrictions to be thrown around the
expenditures were matters Of easy ad-
.justment The manner of raisin. the
money was question of expediency
that should not be allowed to affect its
construction. He argued in support OF
the proposition that contemplated gov
ernment ownership in the canal. that
England owned stock in the Suez
canal. and why should not the United
States own stock in the Nicaraguan
canal:
The canal must be built under the
fostering care of some government
we must act now, or abandon the
canal to its fate.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Morgan's
speech. Mr.. Mitchell of Oregon briefly
expressed his hearty approval of the
scheme to build the canal and said he
thought there was no great difference
among the people regarding the pro-
priety Of the work of construction.
The senate then at 4:15 p. m. went
into executive session and at 4:30 p.
m. adjourned