The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-19
Senate Votes to Consider the
Nicaragua Canal.
EARLY AGREEMENT EXPECTED.
The Measure Provides for an Issue
of 500. .oo0, GOO in stock, Of Which
the Government Is TO subscribe
s1o.eoo, oo,ooo-Amerfcau Engineers
to Control Operations-Mor~H
Speaks Of the Importance OF the
CanaI-Greae Britain May Yet
Head on the United States.

WASHINGTON. Jan. Is.-The senate to-
dag yotsd TO take ap the Nicaragua canal
ot4l This gives the measure the pariia-
mentAFy advantage % being the anfnish-
ea business OF the senate. SO Ii VA. De con-
ssaered from today untl dnal acton IS se-
cured. The prospect is that a nnal vote
viii be reached al an early day and the
test vote today ca taking up this olll-yess
y, nays l4-foreshadowed its passage
Senator Morgan Of Alabama opened the
debate with lengthy speech IN favor OF
the measure. The canal OIL provides for
an issue OF sI0o. .ea9 6so OF maritime canal
company STOCK, @ which the secretary Of
the treasury. IN behalf OF the United
States. is TO subscribe for 81 go worth
q shares The company Is % iss2e bonds
ap % SO. 900. 40 these 10 be guaranteed by
the United States. The building azd con-
ttol u ,he canal are given 70 American en-
g,aeers, and a board of e.eyen directors.
Of waom five are 70 be appointed by the
president.
Morgan spoke o. the supreme Importance
OF the proposed waterway 20 the United
States. In estimating The eost ot the
WORK, the obstacles 10 be overcome and
the advantages 10 be secured. he COM
pared the project with the Saez canal
the Sault Ste. Marie canal and the Chi
csg0 drainage canal Since the building
OF the Saez the cost OF canal construc-
tion had been reduced oae-half through
American invention. He reviewed the
course Of England in securing control OF
the Suez canal after French and Egyptian
money had built 1t. II the commerce OF
the proposed Nicaragaan canal was but
hs.f OF the Suez canal, on the basis OF A.5o
per ton. against the Suez canal rate OF 81. s.
per ton. there would be a large financial
prof; 10 the United States. The senator
did not dispsrage this prospect Of enorm-
ors earnings on a comparatively small in
vestment. yet he felt that without money
returns the canal would be iuiifed for
the great benefits fl would bring 20 COM
mercial and agricultural interests. as
Well as fer the strategic and naval ad-
vsntages it would afford the United
States.
Morgan said the treaty rights Of Great
Britain were identical with those of the
United States concerning Nicaragua. as
We enjoyed no exclusive privileges. Ii was
only through the concession secured by
enterprislng American citizens that the
United States could hope 20 make the
canal an American institution. II con-
gress failed 10 avail Itself of this private
concession it would sacrifice It's only hope
10 carry out the great doctrine that the
canal should be an American concern
Morgan here referred incidentally 70 the
new AnElo-American treaty. II related,
he said 20 differences which might arise
between the United States and Great Brit
ain. These questions he said. Indicated
the need Of calling up this Nicaragua canal
hin az once He wanted 10 see what Great
Britain would do after congress passed
this bin, and then he would know what diff
ferences existed. The senator declared
there was not one Speck OF dust on this
rroposition: IL was clean and free from ev-
cry semblance OF a Job" He closed with
q glowing picture of the great results "a
few from the construction Of the canal
The test vote on the motion 10 take up
the canal bin was as follows: