The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-22
IAN INCORPORATED MYTH'
Nicaragua Canal Company 50 Styled
in Senate.
SENATOR TURPIE CONTINUES HIS
SPEECH AGAINST BILL.

Fails-HilPs Bill FIxlng PostmasterS
Terms at Four Years Subject of Brief
Debate,
Washington, January 21.-ln the
Senate today, the House bill extending
60 January /, 1900 the time for building
bridge over the East River at New
York. was reported back favorably and
placed on the Gale nder.ss
MIR. Chandler presented an amendment
to be offered to the naval appropriation
bill. looking to the erection of O statue
in the city of Washington to the late
Admiral David D. Porter. Referred.
Mr.. Gallinger called attention to what
he called extraordinary legislation in
the House of Representatives. He re-
ferred TO the Senate bills increasing in
aividuai pensions, and said these bills
were amended in the House by reducing
the amount of pension now being paid to
the beneficiary. The better legislation,
he said, would be for the House to reject
,hose bills instead of necessitating con-
Aerence commissioners.
MIR. Hill asked unanimc us consent to
have the bill liking the term of post
master at four years was taken up and
passed. Objection was made by Mr..
Sherman who suggested that the bill go
over till tomorrow. Mr.. Chandler stated
that the bill had been reported unani-
naously from the post office committee.
1t nad been carefully scrutinized by the
Senators of all politics and there seemed
no objection to it. 1t simply provided
that the term of all postmasters should
be understood to be for four years, sub
ject Of course, to the power of re.noval,
hich necessarily inhered IN the execu
tive.
Mr. Hale suggested that the passage Of
the bill would lead to O general scramble
for these Offices.
'sThe scramble is now,;' said Mr..
Chandler, "aad the object is to prevent
the custom of partisan inroads Oh the
new administration for tho purpose of
clearing out Of office all the d. stmasters
Of tide country. 1t proposes - make the
term four years. PostmastaFs can 1emain
in o1flcs after that tsrIn There is no pro-
vision in the bill that they shall go out
at the end of their terms. If the Senator
from Maine will study the subject with
his usual acumen he viii see the evil he
fears will be less under this bill than 1t
is now
81 am afraid it will be greater" re-
sponded Dir. Hale. Let the bill go
over
Tho bill was laid aside without action.
The Nicaragua canal bill was taken up.
Mr.. Turpie resumed his argument against
the bill. He characterized the Maritime
Canal company Of Nicaragua as an sin
corporated myth - Referring to Mr..
Morgan's statement that thers was a
race between Great Britain and the
United States rs to which should build
the Nicaragua oHnsI, Mr. Turpie said that
Ii there was such race, it was very |
lang aid and indolent. 1t was a race in
which the books have been open 150 years
and there were no entries yet. II this
offer wers made to the British Parlia
ment in the answer to the company
would be, "You have no right to make |
the transfer. That right If forbidden by |
the terms of your own contract. You
took til is concession fer ten yenrs from |
the 2lst of April, 1887 and your life ex-
rires the Dist of April, 1897. Do you |
think we are going to give you hundred |
million for a corpse and then have to
bury it ut our own charger" daughter. |
Mr.. Turpie closed his speech at p. III.
ME. Turpie said he had a substitute TO
offe1 for the bill, but was not prepared to
oifer it now.
TO have the vote taken on the bill anc
amendments at O'Clock tomorrow.
Mr.. Turpie objected, saying that he |
was not prepared TO offer his proposed |
Substitute. and he knew of two or three |
CT the Senators not now present, who de- |
sired to speak on the bill.
Mr.. Morgan suggested taking the vote
Tuesday at three. M. Turpie would not
agrees &c having any time fixed.
Mr- PETER argued against the bill, say
ing that he was opposed to the guarantee |
ing or issuing of bonds by the govern
mont. Mr.. Hoar stated that the custom
which prevailed in the Senate when he
first came to Congress was not TO lay an
important measure aside, after two or
three hours discussion eacn day, but to
continue thu debate until three or four
in the morning and 80 bring the measure
TO vote. He thought that should be the
rule now.
The matter went over temporarily. as
Mr.. Chandler ross to q question OF pr1yi-
lege and presented paper claiming to be
the credentials of John Edward Addicks
as Senator from Delaware.
From what source does that paper
emanate?' Mr.. Gray, Democrat of Della
ware, asked.
''Ie was banded me-" Mr.. Chandler
"by MI. Addicks, who believes
himself lawfully elected Senator from
Delaware, and believes himeelf entitled
TO be sworn in now. In view CT the fact
that presented a week ago memorial OF
Nr. Dupont setting out that he Is en-
titled to the seat and bad that memorial
to the committee on privileges
and elections, I will not ask that Mr.
be sworn until that committee
has considered both set Of credentials.
ask that this paper be referred to the
on privileges and elections"
The paper was so referred and the dis
custom OF the Niceraguan canal bill re-
sumed. MIR. Morgan, in urging that there
shouId be no delay in the action of the
bin, said the Senate could not afford to
go into consideration of the arbitration
treaty without action being taken on
the NicaraRuhn canal bill, because such
autiCn would determine whether the
canal aud all treaties relating to it were
matters Of difference between the gov
ernment Of the United States and the
government of Great Britain.
MIR. Villas declared that if the oppor-
unity for fair discussion was not Civ
en- be would move when the Senate ad-
JourD to-day, it adjourn to meet Monday.
On that motion he demanded the yeas