Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-21
IN THE SENATE.
Tlrpie Of Indiana Continues Speech against
Nicaraguan Canal Bill.

Washington. Jan. 19.-In the Senate
during the morning hour. large number
of private pension bills We're reported
from the committee on pensions and
placed on the calendar.
The Senate bill to provide for organic
ing a naval battalion in the District spf
Columbia was reported from the comnYt-
tee on naval affairs by Hale. and passed.
The resolution heretofore offered by
Morgan. directing the judiciary commit
tee to inquire and report as to the default
of Pacific Railroad Cos. in payment of
bonds. was laid before the Senate. and on
suggestion of Morgan that it might lie
over for the present, the resolution went
over.
The Venezuelan commission resolution
offered, Monday. by Pettigrew, Silver. of
South Dakota, was laid before the SEN
ate, and went over until Wednesday. at
the request of Pettigrew.
The Senate joint resolution rela ting to
the laying of electric subways in the Dis
trict of Columbia was taken up and OPP
conteItion was that this was a fight be-
tween the United States Electric Light
Co. which he referred TO as an old
monopoly" and the Potomac Electric
Light Co. owned chiefly in New York.
whose money and property. legally in
vested in the district. the joint resolution
would contiscate. The matter went over.
The Nicaragua canal bill was taken
up. Turpie. Dem. of Indiana, made Il
speech against the bill. He said the OPP
position to this bill was not founded on
IoStilllN 10 the canal OH the IStnlmlan
route. The opponents of the bill favored
an lSthimian canal. under American con-
troll, under the control of the President
and of the Congress of this republic. The
lSthimi;n canal was a great design,
worthy of this age and this government
1t was because the opponents of the bill
favor the construction of canal that
they were opposed to letting it go into
the hands of private corporation. an
insolvent corporation. without money.
without credit. whose connection with
this great enterprise must lead to disas-
trouS defeat.
Turpie described the failure of the
Maritime Canal Co. of Nicaragua to OBJ
tam financial support i'm Europe. The
project. he said was taboocd there. The
company was totally dscredited in this
country and all other countries. It's stock
and bonds We're caput mortuum on the
minus side. Turpie recalled the history
of the Panama canal scheme. He called
attention to the provision inserted in the
original charter of Incorporation of the
Maritime Canal Co. of Nicaragua. and
without which. he said. the company
never would have been Incorporated
That provision was that nothing in the
act should be so construed as to commit
the United States to any pecuniary La
penn OF b said Of aae
ceeded upon a violation of that agree
ment
.Turpie quoted from the original conces-
sion by the Nicaraguan government to
the effect that the corporation itself must
retain control of the canal He argued
that the control could not be transferred
to the government of the United States
or to any other government. Turpie
after speaking two hours, yielded the
floor. remarking that he would continue
the argument Wednesday.
The Senate proceeded to the consdera-
ton of the legislative, executive and ju-
dicial appropriation bill. AS reported to
the Senate the bill appropriates $21. 729 254
an increase of $6O.SS5 over the bill passed
by the House.
All items under the heading Library
of Congress" covering seven printed
pages. were passed over informally as
the proposed changes We're likely to lead
to a prOtracted discussion. The bill. with
that exception. was completed and went
over till Wednesday.
Monday was fixed upon as the date for
the delivery of eulogies on the late
Speaker Crisp. The Senate then adj
journed.