Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-02-11

servitude to the officers against their
will and protest, and that they were
guilty of crime and subject to punish
ment for refusing to obey the subse-
quent orders of the master. This IS
the first decision of the kind rendered
since the famous bred Scott decision,
and in dealing with the rights of the
master and Of the public authorities it
follows the decision in the case of
Prlgg versus tue Commonwealth Of
Pennsylvania, upholding the Fugitive
Slave Law SO closely that if the words
Fugitive sailor be substituted for
Fugitive slave" IN that decision it
would exactly cover the present case.
Justice Brown, delivering the opinion
Of the Court, held that the protection
offered by the Thirteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution, providing
that neither slavery nor involuntary
serVitude shall exist in the United
States, applies to the inception of the
contract, and cannot be invoked
against sUch seryitude by one who has
voluntarily entered into contract for
it.
Justice Harlan, dissenting, pointed
out that this decision opened the door
for the enforcement of involuntary
servitude not only as to seaman, but
railroad men, and in fact, all kinds of
contract labor, and was in violation of
the Thirteenth Amendment.
This very important decision, which
affects the rights of every citizen of the
United States, seems to have been al
most entirely ignored or overlooked by
the great daily press of the country.
Why such an important matter should
be so lightly treated, is lnexplIcable to
your correspondent.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
The fight over the bin has reached
an Interesting state i'll the Senate.
Filibustnring tactics have been inaugu-
rated by Senator Villas, assisted by a
small minority, including Senators
Turple and Daniel.
The opponents of the bill happen TO
enjoy favorable position. Senator
Villas says that he will do everything in
his power to Kill the measure, and
Senator Daniel, of Va, is of the same
opinion.
Senator Morgan gave notice that he
would not withdraw the bill, asserting
hat such action would lead to compli-
cations with half a dozen republics in
Central America. Mr.. Morgan said
that he had information that British
emissaries had been at work in
Nicaragua for several years down to
the present time trying to prevent the
building Of the canal.
There is no question that the friends
OF the measure feel very keenly the
necessity of keeping the bill before the
Senate. believing that its rejection at
this time would give the Nicaraguan
government a pretext for action adj
verse to the United States. 1t is also
said that there is a complication in the
fact that Mr.. HUNTINGTON has recently
constructed a railroad in Guatemala
which runs from the Atlantic coast up
to the coffee fields, and that connection
with the Pacific is planned by an
English syndicate, whose operations
have already commenced. This rail
road across the Isthmus, would, it is
said, be interfered with by the pro-
posed canal.
Mr.. Villas presented a substitute for
the canal bill. 1t strikes out the en-
tire bill and provides for a commission
to be composed of one member of the
Engineer Corps of the army, a naval
engineer, and three other citizens of
the United States, to be nominated bv
the President, and confirmed bv tie
Senate, which shall visit the Isthmus
and investigate the entire question. The
commission is to be known as the
lnteroceanic Canal Commission, and
the members are to be paid at the rate
OF 5000 per month. The sum of
S1,OO0,OC0 is appropriated for SURVEYS
&c.
Mr.. Teller proposed amendments to
the bill as follows: 1.-THE bonds here
inbefore mentioned shall not be guaran-
teed and no money shall be expended
IN the construction of the canal until
survey has been made by competent
board Of engineers, to be appointed by
the President Of the United States.
and a complete plan prepared for the
entire work, and such plan shall be ap-
proved by the President of the United
States. Should it appear from the re-
port Of said board Of engineers that the
cost of said canal will be more than
$3.50, 100000, the President shall reject
the plan and the bonds heretofore
provided for shall not be guarantee d
and the government of the United
States shall not assume any liability in
the construction of said canal"
After some discussion, Senator
Morgan accepted Senator Deller's
amendments
The ST. Paul to Build