The news & observer., 1897-02-11
NICARAGUA SIDE-TRACKED.
Senator Morgan Gives up the Fight With
Warning to Sherman


Washington, Feb. 10.-Senator Morgan,
the champion of the Nicaragua canal
bill announced in the Senate to-day his
abandonment of that measure for the
present session of Congress and there
upon it was displaced by the bankruptcy
bill The Senator made this move after
a protracted contest, covering several
weeks which had disclosed the fact that
obstructive opposition could not be over
come. He gave notice that he would re-
new his advocacy of the bill at an early
day of the coming extra session. Mr..
Morgan bitterly criticized British opposi-
ton to the canal and addressing himself
directly to Mr.. Sherman, declared that
if the next Secretary of State permitted
himself to be fed on the anodines of fat
terry of Great Britain, the people would
not support him. Mr.. Morgan asserted
also that Mr. Sherman would not succeed
in negotiating a treaty relative to the
canal as the genius of Talleyrand or
Metternich could not stand against the
thimblerigging Of these republics. The
Bankruptcy bill succeeded to the advan-
tageous position of unfinished business"
but the debate went over until tomorrow.
The agricultural appropriation bill was
taken up late in the day and passed with
an aggregate of $3,250500. 1t led to
lively debate in which Secretary Morton
was sharply criticized by Senators Vest,
Chandler, Tiilman and others.
Mr.. Vest spoke in his characteristic
vein Of sarcasm and pointed out that re-
cent agricultural bulletins had been EN-
bellished with picture of Mr.. Morton's
country residence in Nebraska,
~. l..
surances that the next Secretary of Agri-
culture would confine his publications to
agricultural topics, and the bill passed
substantially as reported.
The credentials of Joseph III. Earle, as
Senator from South Carolina, to succeed
Mr.. Irby, and of Mr. Perkins, of Calfor-
MIA, reelected, were presented.
Mr.. Tillman Dem, South Cardinal
called up the bill limiting the effect of
the Federal laws on the liquor traffic so
as to give each State absolute control of
the subject.
Mr. Platt Rep, Connecticut thought
it was a measure requiring an explana-
ton and Mr.. Tfllman proceeded to explain
in detail. He said the bill was designed
to give each State the right to control the
liquor traffic in its own way without inter-
ference from the Federal judiciary or any
other court. A recent decision of the
United States Supreme court in the South
Carolina dispensary case had practically
annulled that part of the Wilson law per-
mitting State regulation Of the liquor
traffic.
Mr.. Tillman said that to any one but
a hair-splitting lawyer the present Law
would be sufficient, but in view of the
Supreme court decision the amendments
had been considered necessary. The
amendments were made to meet the OBJ
jections of the various courts SO as to al
low the State to exercise police control
of foreign made liquor in the States, as
well as of home made liquors.
Mr.. Mills opposed the bill as step
backward, allowing as it does, inter
ference with interstate commerce. He
considered it a very dangerous precedent
Mr.. Vest also opposed it on the same
ground. He said the effect OF the bill
would be more radical interference
with commerce between the States than
was the Wilson bill for similar purpose.
Mr.. Tillman said the object of the bill
was simply to prevent the laying OF con-
duit for the Importation Of liquor. Con-
tinuing Mr.. Vest said he thought the
Supreme court had gone much farther
than it could properly have done under
the Constitution in prohibiting the impor-
tation of liquor The effect of the bill
would be to confine people to the purchase
of only liquors manufactured in their own
State.
The bill was, he said, intended to main
tain the South Carolina monopoly under
the dispensary law.
II openly confess that to be the object"
said Mr.. Tillman. 'Three-fourths of our
people have expressed their support of the
principle"
The discussion was cut off at 1880
d. M, the time fixed for Senators to pro-
ceed to the House of Representatives and
participate in the count of the electoral
vote.
The Senators were absent from the
chamber for an hour, returning at 2 p. m,
when the presiding officer formally re-