The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-19
NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
SENATOR MORGAN INSISTS THAT 1T
DE PASSED or DEFEATED.

Inqnires what Difference. with Great Bri-
tain Are TO Be Arbitrated. whether
They Involve the Monroe Doctrinc, the
Clayton Buiwcr Treaty, or the Canal.
wAsHINGToS. Jan. ls.-On motion OF Mr..
Morgan Dem.. Ala.) the sena e to-day pro-
ceeded to the consideration OF the Nicaragua
Canal bill. and Mr.. Morgan addressed the
Senate. lie said that the committee on the
Nicaragua Canal was unanimOus In Its ap-
proval OF every feature OF the bill. lilo was
satisfied that It was the best bill yet presented
OH the subject. It was more conservative and
left more power In the hands Of tho President
than any former bill. There was but one
parallel case by which any judgment could DO
reached rs to profits. and that WAS the Suez
Canal. There were, however. two other stan
dards furnished In the United States rs to the
cost and facility of construction and rs to the
effect on an increase OF tho interior
Of the country. Those were the locks OF the
Sault ste. Marie and tho great drainage canal
at Chicago. lie asserted that the Nicaragua
Canal would have an advantage of 90 per cent.
over the Suez Canal In the matter OF cost Of con-
struction. lie gave a sketch OF tie building OF
the Suez Canal and of Disracli's project OF OBJ
tanning q controlling interest In IL by the pur-
chase Of stock and lie mentioned. as n proof OF
the wisdom OF that investment, that the stock
which had cost the British Government S"0,-
100000 was BOW worth 100000, 900. Tho
800 shares OF the sueh Canal Company arc
now quoted at 5000.
In the course OF his speech Mr.. Morgan said:
IF we do not pass this measure. how arc No
to prevent Nicaragua from saying, Congress-
has abandoned the project, and now the Gov
eminent OF Great Britain Las a right 10 como
inf, l insist on this bill being passed now or
on II being defeated right now. We have got
matters lying Just In front Of us relating TO
the arbitration OF differences between the Gov
erumcnts of the United States and Great
Britain. I want 10 know what those differ.
enccs are. ! want to know what We nro sign.
ing our names 20. In r~atifying this treaty. II
the differences relate to the Monroe doctrine
or to the Clay treaty ! want 70 know
Il. And IL IL Il TO bc n difference involving n
disclaimer OF the great utterance, This Is TO
10 nh American canal. under American Goa
troll I want to know Il. | want to know
whether we ara prepared to settle n difference
OF that Kind or u difference In relation to the
Monroc doctrine, by u court TO DO cstab-
lished through the umpirngo OF King Oscar
of sweden, OF whether IL Is to be settled 10y the
strength and power of he right arm OF the
United States. duly asserted In defence OF its
rights. And that Is why | want this dill to be
acted on now. l want to know what Congress
intends to do about II. and ! want tn know
! after that what the Government OF Great Brit
ain intends to do about II. Then / will be
prep. red to understand what arc the matters
in difference between the Government OF the
United states and the Government of treat
Britain"
Give us this canal" he said In conclusion.
and with our form Of government. our tradi-
tions. our purposes, and our prospects, and with
the Influence which we have ALREADY gathered
and will gather around the majestic character
OF the American nation we wall stand over
other nations as the monument Of Washing
ton stands over the plains; aud this grand do
vulopmcnt OF sclt-gov-rnmont will surend its
inf uencc. not over this hemisphere alone. but
viii ultimately extend 10 all the nations OF
the earth
The bill then went over MS ~" unfinished
business.
Among the curious petitions and memorials
presented during the morning hour was one
by Mr.. 9eiicr Pop, Kan.l from some ~ his
constituents. urging such AN amendment Ia
the Constitution ns Will require the supreme
Court In ruling against the constltutionhlity
OF a law OF Congress 10 submit its ruling nrst
20 Congress. as in the case OF = Presidential
veto; and. n Congress shall insist upon IL. the
act shall be deemed constitutional.
Mr.. Chandler rep. y H. introduced on
behalf Of Mr.. wolcott tCol.l. now IN England,
.n act to provide for the representation III the
conference hereafter To- Le called. The bill
provides that whenever, alter March :, lsb'.
the President nj the United States shall direct
that tine tnitrt states shnll b. represented at
am International conference called by the
United States or any other country. wish n
view to securing ly International agreement
n fixed relative value between gold and silver
as money. with free mintagc Mt such ratio. he
shall ho authorized 10 app.i1t hVe or more
commissioner 10 -lch cOuicrunr e; and IL ap-
propriates 500. 900 20 cover all expenses.
MIR. Chandler said that the bill Vas Ia tho
exact lan.ungc Of three previous acts pro
Nidlng for representation uf the United States
nj International couicrunr cs, eNCeut the IL
ser,lon of the words free miutRge at sucn
ratio" The bill. he added, presented hut "a
single point, and one which all Senators un-
derstnod. lie asked unanimous consent that
tho bill lie taken no 10. morrow for Considrra-
ton without being referred "a any committee.
There being no objection. II vas 80 or'ered.
The concurrent resolution prohibiting the use
OF any part OF the new library building for
other than library purposes was passed.
Mr.. Pettigrew tSll.. :. d. offered l rcsnlu-
tion calling On the Secretary OF State for in
formation as T. the dolugs OF the Venezuelan
Boundary Commission. and 10 furnish 4 cops
OF the agreement on the subject between the
United States and Great Britain, which bad
been already submitted to the Government OF
venezuela.
Mr.. Gray tDcm.. Dell suggested that the
resolution should hc referred Ia the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations. but Mr.. pettlgrcw
preferred that IL should lie on the table. say
ing that he would call II up tomorrow.
The Army Appropriation bill. which. as re-
ported to the senate. approGriates S!3,l2H.-
3i+. or 5000 more than the House bill this
item being an increase Of the appropriation for
the signal scrvicel. was passed with no other
delay than that required tor Its reading rap
idly by the Clerk.