The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-21
VENEZUELAN AGREEMENT HOTLY
ATTACKED BY SENATOR PET
TIGREW, SOUTH DAKOTA.
Mr.. TURPlE ANGRY AS WELL.
WRATH OF THE INDIANA MAN
DIRECTED AGAINST THE MIC
ARAGUAN SCHEME.
SECOND DAY OF HIS REMARKS.
Bitter in His DenunciafiOn of the
Effort to Sell Uncle Sam a Gold
Brick.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 20.-The senate
today proceeded with the consideration
of the Nicaragua bill, Mr.. Turpie con-
tinuing his speech in opposition. To-
morrow will be the third day of the
speech. His remarks today were bit
terly antagonistic to the Nicaragua
Canal company, the senator character
izing it's methods as those of Peter
Funk. Mr.. Morgan will ask to have a
time fixed for a final vote as soon as
Mr.. Turpie closes. The legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill
carrying approximately $2S, 600, was
passed during the day.
Attention to the Venezuelan situation
was renewed when Mr.. Pettigrew ad-
dressed the senate in support of his
resolution, introduced on Monday, call
ing on the secretary of state for re-
port Of the work Of the Venezuelan
commission and for a copy of the
agreement entered into between the
United States and Great Britain Mr.
PettigreW spoke of the tedious diplo-
matte struggle over this question COW
ering many years. Last year, he said,
the president sent to congress a mes
on this, congress provided for the Ven
ezuelan commission. But up to the
present time, congress and the public
were in ignorance as to what had been
done, although it was we'll understood
that an agreement had been made be-
tween the executive authorities and
Great Britain, and that a treaty had
been made.
This treaty was, Mr. Pettigrew con-
tended, a surrender of the entire con-
tention of the United States. Instead
of the arbitration of the question be-
tween Venezuela and Great Britain, II
established a f1fty-year limit, which
in effect gave to Great Britain all the
territory within the Schomburgk line.
1t was complete abandonment of
Venezuela and a surrender of all that
the United States had claimed. Ven
ezuela is a weak nation and had rea-
son to expect that the strength Of the
United States would be interposed in
her behalf. But this agreement gave
to Great Britain all that Venezuela
had protested against. 1t was time,
Mr.. PettigreW declared, that the pub
lie was taken into the confidence of the
administration on this subject, as the
original position on the Venezuela
question was about the only thing done
by the president, which commended it.
self to the public.
posed, saying he felt it to be his duty
to move that the senate doors be closed
as this was question concerning a
treaty, which should be properly treat
ed in executive session.
Mr. PettigreW insisted that he could
speak concerning the presidents mes
sage on the subject, and he proceeded
on that line
On the question to agreeing to the
resolution, Mr. Sherman asked that 1t
first go to the committee on foreign
relations, and, on Mr.. Pettigrew's as
sent, this disposition was made.
Mr.. Quay presented the report Of the
conference committee on the army ap-
preparation bill, stating that the con-
ferees had been able to reach an agree.
ment on all differences except as to the
hospital at Hot Springs, Ark The re-
port was accepted and a further con-
ference asked on the Hot Springs pro-
vision.
At o'clock Mr.. Turpie Dem. INDY
resumed his speech in opposition to the
Nicaraguan canal bill He said the So
called rights of the Nicaragua canal
company were not worth acquiring. 1t
would be thoroughly lunatic PROPOSE
ton, declared he, for the United States
absolutely no information on the most
important obligation to be assumed
The company, coming to congress with
a c0ncealment of vital points, was not
deserving Of a hearing The senator
pointed out differences between the
company's estimate and that of the
government engineers as to the cost
OF the canal. On the San Juan river
there were four rapids to be removed
The company estimated the cost at
about 100000, the government engin-
GERS at over $14,000,000, a difference of
$12,OO0000. In another instance a diff
ference of four millions occurred. Mr.
Turpie was very bitter in his denun-
citation of this concealment The com
pany estimate Of the total cost of the
project was $63,000 900, the government
estimate $133, 900. 0OO
At this point Mr.. Turpie yielded the
floor for the day, to continue tomorrow.
Mr.. Morgan said he would ask to have
a time fixed for the final vote as soon
as Mr.. Turpie closed his speech.
Mr.. Chandler asked for an agree
ment that the bill for an International
monetary conference be taken up Mon
day next at the close of the routine
business. This was amended to Tues
day and the agreement effected The
senate then resumed consideration of
and passed the legislative, executive
and judiciary appropriation bill At
5 O'Clock the senate went into execu-
tive session and soon after adjourned.
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