The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-20
THE DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
Senator Turpie Spoke Against the
Nicaragua Canal Bill.
flrTY.1WO PENSION BILLS PASSED
About Nine Hundred Pension Mills
Remain ON the Calendar OF the
House of Representatives.

Washington, January ie.---The session OF
the senate today was without incident.
Senator Turpie Of Indiana spoke against
the Nicaragua canal bill. and reading OF
the legislative appropriation bill was con, !.
plcted with the exception OF sections max
ing provision for the congressional library.
which were sent over temporarily in the
absence of senators interested in the sub
ject
Washington, January la-In the senate
| today Mr.. Hale CT Maine called up bill
providing for the organization of naya,
battalion in the District of Columbia. The
bill was passed.
bill was passed for public building ut
Altoona, Ia, to cost $3.50 for the in
| corporation of the American instructors OF
the deaf.
AT O'Clock the subway resolution was
displaced by the Nicaraguan canal bill
Mr.. Turpie tDem) of Indiana took the
floor to make speech against the meas
urc.
Mr.. Turpie said the story of concessions
and attempts to construct tho canal were
| mentioned; all previous attempts had fail
| ed There was nothing extraordinary In
this bill which would insure the success
OF the project.
The enormous profits to be gained by the
successful operation OF the canal had teen
| spoken of. Not flnancIer IN any part
of the world would consider the design.
This, he said. was an outcast, beggar,
among enterprises. No private money
kss t..tsa 4t.tsl L.. IA
been widely advertised the world over. The
stocks and bonds Of the construction com
nany, If the appropriation was made, would
1 have a commercial value The stock OF
the Maritime Nicaragua Cannl company
| depending for value upon the completion OF
the project. would be worthless.
| The funds for the pan American canal
scheme of De I@ssseps were raised by q
| levy upon the plain people of France. Their
crcdulity was rewarded by the failure o,
| the enterprise. Neither Dewitt, Clinton
| Vanderbilt nor Kelley had aGlted for GOV
eminent aid. This Is the first time an in
| solvent company has asked congress for
| 500 ,OOO, 600 to carry on a project which ear
not be completed. They wanted the money
on general principles. The projectors had
| asked for an act of Incorporation from con
gross They had represented that thcr,
| would be no difficulty In Gisposng OF bonds
| London AMI Paris were thirsting for them
Upon that understanding the company was
incorporated The government was to b,
| In no wise responsible In a financial OF
| other manner.
This, Mr.. Turpie said. acted as an cs
| TOPPED Of tho demand for an appropriation
now. or there was no virturc in the Eng
fish language. From It's financial position
the project was discussed. He was not il
favor of making reimbursement so spen
when 1t was shown that four times tn,
necessary amount had been sunk IL wa
robbery. He questioned the right of gov
eminent to guarantee the note of u citse'
OF the United States, as was sought to b
done now. The constitution did not auth
ori2e such action rU
Only once had VIC guaranteed the note o
citzonsin the case Of the Pacific rnilwa
companies. which owe the United State
5000 600. Would II not be we'll, he askcd
to wait until we receive that before guar
anteeing any other such bonds?
There was a great similarity between tn
two projects. and he feared the outcom
wo, Id be the samoa loss to the govern
ment. The canal. If built. should be bull
by the authority of congress, by the serre
tary of war. II IL ia ever constructed a mill
tary force will have to be stationed thor
to protect 1t from public enemies and pl
vate malice. 1t will be Il military an
strategic point How. h asked could thi
| "
tho directors provided for, seven would b
directly interested In the canal. while th'
other four might be impartial
Before closing Mr.. Turpic stated that hi
had discovered that the government ha'
negotiated the bonds OF the Pacific rail
way companies. The government had is
sued its own bonds and then taken those
of the company in exchange. Nlr. TrrpIt
announced that he would continue upon thu
| enbiect again tomorrow,
During the afternoon Mr. Gordon tDeri.'
OF Georgia announced that owing to thu
absence of several senator's. the eulogiei
on ex- Speakcr Crisp would be postpone
from Thursday to Monday next at o'clock
On motion Of Mr. Cullom tRep.) Of hi
nols the legislative. executive and judicial
appropriation bill was taken up.
The reading Of the bill, with the excep-
tion Of the provisions relative TO the con-
gressional library, which were passed over
temporarily. was completed and committee
amendments acted upon. Mr.. Cullofn said
he would take the bill UP at an early iioul
| tomorrow
Mcssrs Quay. Hale and Blackburn were
appointed as ccnferees on tho approximation
bill, and at & AS p. n. the senate adjourned