The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-15

Nicaragua canal OH nelu lth plaCS -
the principal subject before the senate
again to-day. Speeches were made by
1iessrs. Harris, Money, Stewart and
Morgan. Afr. Money urged the post
ponement OF the question in order to
permit an opportunity for negotiations
with Great Britain for a modification Of
the Clayton-Bulwe treaty, and Mr.
Morgan antagonlsed the proposition.
An agreement was reached to take a
vote on the Turple postponement mo-
tion tomorrow.
other questions before the senate
wero: The governments pension policy
and the bill regarding the registry Of
foreign built vessels wrecked on the
American coast.
The pension discussion was precipita-
ted by Mr.. Vest. who again called at
tentlon to private pension bills and en-
tered protest against their passage
without due consideration, as he said
the senate was falling into the habit OF
doing. He called attention to the fact
that notwithstanding Illinois had fur
nished $1,000 more soldiers than Indiana.
the pension roll for Indiana exceeded
that of Illinois by Sl,5O0,0OO.
Nest on Pensions.
He accounted for this fact on the
ground that Indiana is a pivotal state.
politically, saying that 1t was notorious
that the commissioner of pensions who
was an ex-union soldier, had granted
pensIons to almost every applicant in
four districts which are close. he did
not contend that the Republican party
was alone to blame, but knew that men
OF all parties were inclined to use the
machinery OF the pension office to fur
ther their political interests. He was
cognlzant of an instance In his own
state in which a Democratic candidate
for Congress had received several Re
publican votes because he had secured
pensions for the voters. He had en-
dorsed Mr.. Cleveland's veto Of pension
bills and while he DID not want TO re-
vlve the old questions he would express
the opinion that the government had In
this matter fallen into "a most unjust
and iniquitous expenditure bV Its III
advised legislation and through polite
al influence" characterlZlng the gov
ernnent ns an accident insurance COM
pany.
Vest instead OF scolding the senate on
| private bills he should proposs amend
ments to the pension laws which would
the correct the abuses he complains OF.
Continuing, Mr.. GaiIinger said the
Committee had been considering tile ad-
Visibility OF publishing the list Of pen
nh4nNfInna IN
the plan and he feared that II under
taken It's only effect would be to take
two or three million dollars out OF the
treasury to no good purpose.
Senator Elkins Bill.
The bill providing regulations for the
registration of foreign built vessels
wrecked on the American coast and re-
paired in the United States was taken
up at the instance of Mr.. Elkins, and
Mr.. cafrery addressed the senate in
opposition to 1t, saying that under its
provisions vessels would he wrecked in
order to secure American registry. He
attacked the navigation and tarih laws
OF the United states, saying they had
practically driven our merchant ma
rlne from the seas, He contended that
the bill was prohlhlttve In It's terms, tn-
tended to remove the last Vestige OF
competition In the matter OF shipbulld-
| ing, There was no necessity for this
under the present conditions. I'VE may
hod the Philippines, Cuba and Porto
Rico" he said, "but II we adopt the
contractlve policy OF this measure our
balloon Will soon collapse and our ex-
panslon policy come to an end"
At the close OF Mr.. Cnffery's remarks,
the registry bill went over until to-
morrow and the Nicaragua canal Dill
was taken up, the pending question be-
| ing Mr.. Turple's motion to postpone
until January 10.
Mr.. Harris then spoke upon the gem
eral features OF the bill. He said that
as q boy he was attached to n survey
ing party in the Isthmus IN 1853, and
ever since that time he had been the
jealous advocate Of the general propo-
sItion that canal should be built
across the Isthmus. still he did not
consider It practicable for n prlVRte
corporation to construct the canal, and
he urged government ownership, but
the Maritime Canal CompnnV's charter
supplied the only open door and the
committee In charge OF the bill had de-
| termlned to enter X with the UNDER
standing that the company was to be
gotten rid or.
Mr.. Harris said he considered the
Panama canal as entirely Impractical
Bile. He supported Mr.. Berry.s amend-
mept relieving the bill of It's bond pro-
visions, saying It would greatly I'M
prove the measure.
Clayton Bulwer Treaty.
Tho Clayton Bulwer treaty formed
tho basis of a brief speech bR Mr. Mo-
noy. He advocated delay in order to
afforl opportunity for negotiation look
| ing to the abrogatlon OK the treaty. Mt.
Money said we should at least notify
Great Britain that we desire n modi-
iication OF the treaty as first step. In
this connection Mr.. Money referred to
the entente cordiaie existing between
this country and England, saying that
he wanted to see the two nations
| brought even closer together than now,
Hence the importance and proprlety OF
dealing fairly and cOurteously with
Great Britain In this important matter.
Mr.. Bacon gave notice Of an nmend-
ljment TO the bill providing that work
should not be begun on the canal under
/ tho bill unth the government OF Slcara-
qua should consent to modification of
tho treaty granting title to the United
States in phrpetulty to the canal right
OF way and also eliminating articles 90
ana 54 OF the concession from that doc
ument
Mr.. Stewart advocated the bill as n
moyt Important step In the progress OF
| the commerce OF the world and urged
"a a