The times., 1897-05-06
NICARAGUA CANAL DEBATE
Senate Amendments to Appoint
a Select Committee.
THE SWEARING In OF DEBOE
Amendment Offered for Modifying
Regulations as TO Forest Reserya-
land-Senaior Penrose Offers
Tariff Bill Amendments.

The proceedings OF the Senate were yes
terday mure eventful than usual. The
monotone of the snndry civil bill ana its
interminable amendments affecting far
Off places was inrerspersed with the Tall
ure To ratify the Anglo American treaty,
The confirmation Of Commissioners Ross
and wight and the presentation and swear
lps in Of Senator-eleet w ]. Debne CT
Kentucky, the last incident in fight
which las entertained the country for
with handseJae floral Offering OF Amer
can Beauties. white carnations and Easter
lilies, with d flowing crimson ribbon. Me
was escorted to the Vice President $ desk
by Senator Lindsay, where he took lhe
oath of office, and then took his seat
in the august body, where he from time
10 time received the congratulations efone
side ard the ccurtesies Of ali sides. The
proceedings relating to the executive ses-
sion are given elsewhere in The Times
The amendment relating 10 the appoiat-
nlent of the select committee on the
Nicara gua canal occa sioned a long debate.
After the manner of appointing TINS COM
mitiee Lad been discussed for some time
by Senators Allison, Hawley, Berry, Paseo
and others, ii was passed over, the Denio-
Gratis generally taking the ground that IT
would he the better plan for the comnls-
sion TO he composed OF a majority OF
Army and Navy engineers. senator Berry,
among other Things, thought that Army
people Were not disposed 10 be as liberal
to great interests as civilians Later in the
afternoon.
Senator Hawley reverted to the amend
meat, toy suggesting one from the Army
engineers, one from the Navy engineer
corps, from the active or retired list, and
one from civil life.
Senator Hale offered z substitute, pro-
yiding for a commission of five; one from
the Army, one from the Navy, and thee
from civil life He believed that the
prepondcranee should lie flom the civilian
side. An OF the five should be, he thought,
rppointed with the approval OF the Senate.
Senator Pasoo again took the ground
z;hat a nla ioIity of the hoard should lee
rom the Army and Navy.
senator tiale ecomenueittat better results
gard to the great civilian engineers OF the
country V ilo had made il famous for en-
eineerins achievement.
Senator Hawley maintained the equal
ability Of the Army and Navy with those IN
civil life There was always the BELIEF
tina there was absolute faioh in the integrity
OF the Army and Navy men. II was 10 be
apprehended that the civn appuintces
OF tile caaal.
Senator Perkins introduced an amend
ment, wiich was adopted, providing for
tie appointment OF four additional conInis-
sioners for the Territory OF Alaska IN ac-
count Of the increase ia population in the
Interior
Ia the debate which folio wed on Senator
Wilson's amendment for the appointment
of twelve mineral land commissioners, Sen
ator German secured the concession that
the minority party be represented in the
appointments.
MIR. Pasc0 secured an amendment adding
S4,5oo 10 the appropriation for the removal
Of the St. Bias lighthouse.
MIR. Morgan's amendment providing $50,
600 for tie Improvement OF Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, VAS agreed to
The atupaGsnelts as 10 the NiCdraguan
commission were passed over until today.
Mr. Fettigrew Offered an amendment
modifying the regulations aS ID forest reseG-
yatiols as fixed by proclamation of Presi-
dent Cleveland, and offering rules for the
government Of such reservations. MI Pet
tigrew spoke at leng on / he injustice Of
the proclamation on the reportot 'junket
commission" The following amendment,
relating to the reservations, was discussed
up to the time Of Adjournment
provided, That the EXecUtiyeordeTsa and
proclanatiOns dated February %, 1897,
setting apart and reseTying certain lands
in the States Cf Wyoming, Utah, Montana,
Washington, Idaho, and South Dakota "a
forest reservations, he, and they are here
by, suspended, and the lands embraced
therein restored TO the public domain the
same as though said orders and pioclaIna-
lions had not beenissued. Providedfurther,
That lands embraced in such reservations
not otherwise disposed of before March /
1898, shall again become subject to the
operations Of said orders and proclamations
as now existing or hereafter modified by
The President"
Senator Penlose, Jest before adjourn
nent, sent up sundry amendments to the
tariff bin, q great many cf which were in
ne line of reducing the Finance Committees
rates
Al few minutes after p. N. the Sen
ate adjourned until today.