Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-02
IN raE SENATE.
Opponents Of Nicarasuan Canal Bill Refuse 10
Set Time for Final Vote.

Washington. Feb. LIN the Senate.
after an execute session. various petit
lions in favor of the ratification of the
arbitration treaty We're presented. Hill
introduced bill granting pension. and
explained that a like bill had previously
passed Congress and been sent to the
President, who had not signed 1t; and u
was claimed at the pension Office that it
had failed to become law because Con-
gress was In recess during the 10 days
allowed for the signature or veto of bills.
The bill was passed, as was another gov
erned by the same facts. increasing the
pension of the widow of Gen. HouShton,
$50 Il month
Bills to provide for the revision and
codification of the criminal and penal
laws of the United States. to consolidate
the circuit and district courts of the
United States. and relating to the emf
ployment of counsel by the attorney gen.
eral or district attorneys. were intro
duced by Hoar, and referred to the judi
ciary committee.
Chandler offered resolution directing
the committee on privileges and elections
to inquire into the recent Presidential
and state election in Delaware and
whether that state is in the enjoyment
of a republican form of government. Re-
ferred TO the committee on privileges and
elections.
A message from the President with a
report from the secretary of state giving
the information called for by the Senate
resolution as to the arrest and condem-
American citizen, was laid before the
Senate and referred to the committee on
foreign relations.
At p. NJ. the Nicaragua canal bill
and unanimous consent was asked by
Morgan. in charge of the bill, to haze the
vote taken at 4. tomorrow. Villas OBJ
jected. The stage of the debate, he said.
had not been reached when a time should
be fixed for the vote. Hale suggested the
extension of the time until Thursday at
4. and to that Villas also objected. Hoar
appealed to Villas to withdraw his objec-
ton and let a time be fixed for a final
vote. Davis Joined in the appeal, on the
special ground Of allowing the bank
ruptcy bill to be taken up and acted on.
Daniel, DEM, of Virginia, said that in
the present shape of the measure. its
opponents could not consent to a fixed
time for taking vote. The conditions
Of the measure had undergone much
change recently and there were many
to be offered. He called
upon the friends of the bill to desist from
activity and let the Senate take up the
bankruptcy bill for the relief of people
ruined and almost destroyed by the Pc
culiar brands of prosperity served out to
them under the recent systems of legis-
lation. The people. he said, were more
the ill-considered, ill-digested scheme to
spend 500, coo in constructing a canal
In foreign state, which would become
a highway of the world for the use of
to use it as the United States under the
favored nation clause of her treaties with
Nicaragua.
The pending question was. on the mo-
ton by Villas, Thursday, for the re-
commital of the bill to the select commit
tee on the Nicaragua canal. Villas adj
ocated his motion to re-commit. alluding
to the inter-oceanic canal project as a
historic dream" He thought the sena-
tors from Massachusetts and Maine
tIioar and Halo, who had appealed to
him to consent to have the vote taken.
ought to recognize the sense of the great
public duty imposed on the opponents OF
the measure to present arguments. against
It deliberately and abundantly. The SEN
itors had been told by Mr.. Sherman, who
who was to be the chief character in the
next administration that the bill could
not possibly pass the House at this Con-
sress. He protested that no appeal was
Justly addressable to those who opposed
the bill. Constant repetition of amend
ments on the part Of the senator from
Alabama himself. showed the necessity
IF having the bill re-committed. Still. il
ne motion to re-commit was regarded
~ that senator as offensive, he stood
'eady to withdraw it.
Villas criticized the bill in detail stat
ng that the stock was worcestershire;
ne stockholders were not to be called OF
% contribute a dollar to the work: the
government of the United States was to
Jay all the cost of construction and be-
,Ome the sole owner and proprietor of |
he canal, assuming all risks, which in
.iuded possibly that of war. He quoted |
ome other provisions of the bill, the eff
ect of which was that the United States |
should crawl into the skin of this de- |
unct corporation, the Maritime Co. |
There was one question in the bill. he |
aid. which became Immediately opera |
i've. even II no work were ever begun on |
the already discredited route and that |
vas one providing for the payment of |
1850. 900 and interest to the company. al |
hough all the property of the company !
It present could not be estimated at |
more than 100000. He felt bound to pro- |
ect from such robbery the tax payers of I
he United States.
Villas occupied the floor from to 6 !
'clock, when he yielded for an executive |
ession. When the doors were reopened |
he Senate adjourned.
Continued on page ~