The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-12-13
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
A SHORT, UNEVENTFUL SESSION
OF THEHOUSE.
DIR. Morgan Addresses the Senate ON the
Nicaragua Canal Bill-Carlisle Out
lines His Plan to the Banking
and Currency Committee.
HOUSE.

Washington, Dec 10.-The house de-
4 Aroted today, under the rules, to the bust
Oness reported from the District of Colum
bia committee.
Several bills of purely local Importance
were passed, and resolution was ndo1,t-
ed setting aside the third Sunday in Jan
uary for eulogies on the life and charac-
Ter OF Marcus ID. List, late representative
from the Tenth Kentucky district.
"A JOINT resolution was also passed to
pay the officers and employees of the house
and senate their salary for the present
month on Dec. 20.
The feature of the day was a speech of
apout 40 minutes by Champ Clark Dem.,
Me.). be had his time extended three
times and made a rambling talk on tariff,
ms late defeat and many other matters,
oelnS frequently interrupted by Republi-
cans, who Jibed and laughed at his state
ments. The latter part of his remarks had
no bearing on the subject under discus
y sion.
\ After passing few local bills, the
\ alpouse adjourned.
~ SENATE.
Washington, Dec 1O.-Ml. Harris
{Dem., Tenn), president pro ten, called
the senate to order today in the absence
Nj Vice President Stevenson, who has not
returned from Asheville, N. c., where he
is with his family.
Senators Hill, Blackburn and Carey
were in their seats for the first time this
session.
Mr.. Call (Dem., Fla.) presented a rcso-
luton setting forth that the independence
of the island of Cuba is an object of great
Importance to the United States, and re-
questing the president to commence nego-
tiations for the recognition of the indie
pendence of the island and for the guar
antee of 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.
Mr. Call also presented q resolution de-
claring that the further prosecution of
the war between China and Japan will
not be advantageous to the peace of civil
iZation, and that the interests of the
world require that all unite in negotiating
with Japan and China for the termination
of the war.
Without discussion, the resolution was
referred to the committee on foreign re-
lations
Mr.. Allen Pop. Neb.) called up his res
olution intended to eXpunge portion of
Me congressional record and send a resO-
tuition introduced last July to the attOr-
ney general. The latter resolution called
for information concerning the Pullman
strike.
This resolution has passed but was re-
considered on motion of Mr.. Pugh of
Alabama.
Mr.. Allen bitterly assaied this action
and also attacked the attorney general,
to whom he attributed the action of the
Alabama senator Mr.. Allen also crit
icised the action of the attorney general
during the strike.
xMr.I Pugh dem. Ala.) vigorously de-
f9nded the action taken by Mr. Olney
md pointed what he added would be the
cot, Of md; tho ind
tsked for in the resolution. He declared
Mat the position of the senator from
Nebraska was untenable.
TAT o'clock the whole matter went
yer and the senate on motion of MIR.
'}Iorgan took up the Nicaragua canal
/oill
= Mr.. Morgan began his remarks by
making 8 general statement of the ma
tionaI and international aspect sub
ject upon which the senate and house
bills agreed. Careful calculations, he in
sisted, showed that the canal could be con-
structed at cost that would yield a re-
numerative profit; that it was necessary
0nprovement; that it would be one of the
greatest Importance to the United States;
that it could be constructed and there was
nothing to render impossible concessions
made by the Central American govern
ment to the citizens of the United States.
voted some time to the discussion of the
characteristics of the country through
which it is to be built and the advanta-
seous route as compared with the Pan
anna canal, and asserted that great i'm
provement could be given to commerce
with the construction of this
complement to the Suez canal.
The route is feasible, the
engineering work easy, and there will be
no extraordinary work required in any
way. Mr.. Morgan quoted from the re-
port of Chief Engineer Menocal, who esti-
mated that the canal could be built for
S65, 5,COO, 1000, and said that he thought that
the expenditure of the $4 0OO, 900 already,
spent had demonstrated that the actual
cost would be even lower than that esti-.
mated by Menocal. The two houses OF
congress had agreed that the cost OF the
canal would be about SIO,OO0,OOO, and
lie guard and restrictions to he thrown
round the expenditures were matters OF
Bsdjust4ent. The matter of raising the
noney was question of expediency that
ghould not be allowed to affect its con-