The new North-west., 1897-01-22
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL
BY VOTE OF 3G TO IA THE SENATE,
GIVES 1T CONSIDERATION.
He Wants to Know What Bearing
the New Peace Treaty Has Up
ON the Canal.

Washington, Jan Ex-senator Sherman
was on the floor of the senate today, thu
first time since the announcement that ht
would enter the Mckinley cabinet as sec
retary of state. He received congratula
tions from his colleagues.
Cullom, republican, of Illinois, read c
telegram from the Bankers Club Of Chi
cago urging ratification of the Anglo
American peace treaty.
bill providing for an internationa
monetary conference was presented by
Senator Chandler, in behalf of Senator
Wolcott. He asked that the bill lie or
the table until tomorrow. without the for
maity of going to a committee. There was
no objection.
The army appropriation bill was passed
1t carries S23, 129,l4, being $4,000 more than
the bill as it passed the house.
The oleomargarine bill came from the
house, but was laid over until tomorrow.
Senator Pettigrew offered the following
resolutions:
'That the secretary of state be hereby
requested to report to the senate the prog
ress of the commission appointed to in
vestigate and report upon the true divis-
ional line between the republic of Venez-
uela and British Guiana, together with 4
copy of the treaty or agreement between
the United States and Great Britain upon
the subject of the boundary, which agree
ment has been submitted to the govern
ment of Venezuela for considerations
The resolution was about to be agreed
to when Senator Gray interposed and sug-
gested that it should go to the committee
on foreign relations.
Senator Pettigrew preferred to have it
lie on the table until tomorrow, and it was
so arranged.
Senator Cullom reported back the execu-
tive, legislative and judiciary bill and
gave notice that he would call it up to-
morrow.
The military academy appropriation bill
was reported by Senator Pettigrew and
placed on the calendar.
NicnraEuan Canal Bill.
At 2 p. M, when the morning hour eX-
pired, Senator Morgan moved to take up
the Nicaragua canal BILL the purpose be-
ing to make this measure unfinished bus
mess of the senate.
On a yea and nay vote the motion pre-
vailed, 36 to IA, as follows:
Yeas = Aldrich, Allison, Bacon, Brown,
Burrows. Call, Cameron, Chandler, Can
non, Clark, Cullom, Davis, Faulkner,
Frye Gallinger, Gibson, Gordon, Gorman
Gray, Hale. Hawley Hoar Lodge, Nc
Bride, Mcmillan, Morgan. Peffer, Perkins,
Platt, Proctor, Pugh, Quay, Sherman,
Stewart, Wetmore and White-36.
Nays-Bate, Berry, Blackburn, Cafery,
Chiffon, Cockrell, Hill, Mills, Nelson, Pet
tigrew Turpie, Vest, Villas and Walthail-
IA
Before proceeding with the canal bill
several pending matters We're disposed Cf.
A message from the president was read
submitting Il report of the board appoint
ed to investigate and report on the FEAST
bilty of a water route from the great
lakes to the Atlantic.
The senate bill was passed for an exam
ination and survey of a water route from
~, tl1-
veston through the ship channel and up
Buffalo bayou to the city of Houston, Tex
Senator Morgan then addressed the SEN
ate in favor of the Nicaragua canal bill
He spoke of the supreme Importance CT
the proposed waterway to the United
States. In estimating the cost of the work
the obstacles to be overcome and the ad-
vantages to be secured, Senator Morgan
compared the project with the Suez canal
the Sault Ste. Marie canal and the Chi
cago drainage canal. Since the building Of
the Suez canal the cost of canal construc-
ton had been reduced one-half through
American Inventions. He reviewed the
course of England in securing control of
the Suez canal after French and Egyptian
money had built it, If the commerce of
the proposed Nicaragua canal was but
half of the Suez canal on the basis of 81.
per ton, against the SueZ canal rate CT
$I1.S7 per ton, there would be a large
financial profit to the United States. The
senator did not disparage this prospect of
enormous earnings on a comparatively
small investment, yet he felt that without
money returns the canal would be justified
for the benefits it would bring to the com
mercial and agricultural interests, as well
as for the strategic and naval advantages
1t would afford the United States.
Is an African COnceIIed:
Senator Morgan referred incidentally to
s,,,nr aa w
related" he said. "to differences which
might arise between the United States
and Great Britain. But what are these
differences" asked Senator Morgan. 81
want to know what these differences are
be fore we sign our names to the agree
ment l want to know whether 1t inter
feres with the building of an American
canal. If there is Il difference which in
wolves the great doctrine that the canal is
to be an American concern, 1t should be
known Is the Monroe doctrine differ
cnce which is to be settled by the JudS-
ment of King Oscar or by the strong right
arm of the United States?' These quas-
tions he said, indicated the need of act
ing upon this Nicaragua canal bill at
once. He wanted to see what Great Brit
ain would do after congress passed this
bill and then he would know what diff
ferences existed. The senator declared
there was mot one speck of dust or
this proposition; 1t was clean and free
from every semblance of a lob
He closed with glowing picture of the
great results to flow from the construc-
ton of the canal.
At 4:45 p. m. the senate went into ex'
ecutive session and soon after adjourned
Secretary Francis Confirmed.
Secretary Franciss nomination was
confirmed by the senate in executive ses
sion today No opposition to the con
firmation was made and no vote was tax
en- Senator Vest stated that he coult
add nothing to what he had already said
and that he had no object in further de
laying action upon the nomination.