The news & observer., 1897-01-20
TIE NICARAGUA lanai
Bill Opposed by Mr. Turple IN
the Senate Yesterday.
THERE is NOTHING IN IT
Which Would Insure the Sue
cess of the Project.
AFtELp DAY FOR OLD SOLDIERS
Of the 600 Private Pension Bills on
the Calendar, the House Dis
poses of 50 of Them.

poses OF 5Z OF lhems
Washington, Jan. 19.-The session Oh
the SenaNe to-day was without incident.
Senator Turpie spoke against the Nicara-
qua Canal bill and the reading OF the
legislative appropriation bill completed
with the exception of sections making
provisions for the Congressional Library
which were passed over temporarily III
the absence of Senators interested III the
subject.
Mr.. Turpie said the history of conces-
sions and attempts to construct the canal
were mentioned; all such attempts had
failed There was nothing extraordinary
in this bill which would insure the sue
cess of the project.
The enormous profit to be gained from
the successful operation of the canal had
been spoken OF. Not inancier in any
part OF the world would consider the de-
sign. This he said, was an outcast,
beggar, among enterprises. No private
money would be invested in it, although 1t
had been widely advertised the world
over.
The stocks and bonds Of the Construc-
ton Company il the appropriation were
made would have commercial value.
The stock of the Maritime Nicaragua
Canal Company, depending for value up
on the completion OF the project, would be
worthless.
The funds for the Panama canal
scheme of De Lesseps were raised by
levy u1>on the plain people of France.
Their credulity was rewarded by the
failure Of the enterprise. This was the
A anr, lint 4 p
peculiar in one thing. Neither Dewitt
Clinton, Vanderbilt nor Kelly had asked
for government aid This is the first
time am insolvent company has asked
Congress for S100,000,000 to carry on a
project which cannot be completed. They
wanted the money ON general principles.
From it's inception the project was dis
credited. The three signatory powers to
the concession distinctly disclaimed res
possibility either directly or by guaran-
tee He was not in favor of making re-
endorsement for money spent when 1t
was shown that four times the necessa-
ry amount had been sunk 1t was rob-
berry. He questioned the right of the
government to guarantee the note of
citizen of the United States as was
sought to be done now. The constitu-
Only once have we guaranteed the note
OF citizens, in the case OF the Pacific
Railway Company which owe US $780,
900. .000 Would it not be well, he asked
to wait until we recover that before guar
anteeing any other such bonds. There
was a great similarity between the two
projects and he feared the outcome
would be the same, loss to the govern
ment. The canal, IL built, should be
built by authority of Congress by the Sec
retary of War. II it is ever constructed
a military force will have to be stationed
there to protect it from public enemies
and private malice. 1t will be military
and strategic point How, he asked,
could this be reeenciled with private
ownership.
Before closing Mr. Turpie stated that
he had discovered that the government
had not guaranteed the bonds of the Pa
cific Railway Company. The govern
ment had issued its own bonds and taken
those of the company m exchange. Mr..
Turpie announced that he would continue
upon the subject Of the canal tomorrow
During the afternoon Mr.. Gordon,
democrat, Ga.), announced that owing
to the absence OF several Senators the
eulogies upon ex-SpeakeT Crisp would be
postponed from Thursday to Monday
next at 3 o'clock.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, Jan. 19.-The old sol
diers had field day in the House to-day.
Under a special order adopted yesterday
the whole day was devoted to the consid-
Grafton Of pension bills. Or the 900 on
the calendar, 80 were disposed of during
the five hours speech. Among those fa-
yorably acted upon were those to grant
pensions TO Major General Julius II.
Staehl. at The rate Of $100 per month;
the widow of Major General Erastus b.
Tyler at $75 per month; Hannah E.
Rogers, the daughter of revolutionary
soldier, at So, and the widow Of the late
General Matthew NJ. Trumbell, of Iowa,
at S1C0 per month.
There was a pathetic incident in con- /
neetion with the first bin called up. It
proposed TO grant a pension of So a !
month TO Margaret O'Donnell, a volun-
teer army nurse, who devoted her SER !
vices from 1862 to 1866 to the wounded
of the 22nd Regiment of New York Light
Artillery. Her claim has been pending
before Congress for several years. To-
day when the bin was brought up, Mr..
Thomas Qsep., Mich), moved it be laid
on the table
The relief carried by the bill for this
poor woman said he, comes too late. /
Our committete has just received word .
that the beneficiary is dead"
Washington, JAM 19.-The War Claims
committee OF the House to-day voted to
fayorahly report the claim for 500. 900 on
q Il