The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-15
THE CANAL BILL DISCUSSED.

NOUS Ly InS SquauHuH soAue mum uS d6o'
THE CANAL BILL DISCUSSED.
Government Ownership Urged-Mr.
Vest on Pension Abuses.
Washington. Dee. 1.-THE Nicaragua
Canal Bill held its place as the princi-
pal subject before the Senate again
to-day, the pending question being on
Mr.. TuFpie's motion TO postpone until
january 10TH Speeches were made by
Messrs. Harris, Money, Stewart and
Morgan.
Mr.. Harris spoke upon the general fea-
lures of the bill He said that as n
boy he was attached to a surveying
party in the Isthmus, in 1859, and ever
since that time he had been the Jealous
advocate Of the general proposition that
a canal should be built across the 18TH
mus. Still he did not consider it prac-
ticable for private corporation to con-
struct the canal, and he urged Govern
ment ownership.
Mr.. Harris said he considered the
Panama canal entirely impracticable.
He supported Mr.. Berry's amendment
relieving the bin of its bond provisions,
saying it would greatly improve the
measure.
The Clayton-Bulwer treaty formed the
basis of brief speech by Mr. Money.
He advocated delay in order to afford
opportunity for negotiations looking to
the abrogation Of the treaty. Mr..
Money said we should at least notify
Great Britain that we desire a modifica-
tion Of the treaty as a first step. In
this connection Mr.. Money referred to
the entente cordiale existing between
this country and Eng and, saying that
he wanted to see the two nations
brought even closer together than now.
Hence the Importance and propriety
of dealing fairly and courteously with
Great Britain in this important matter.
Mr.. Bacon gave notice Of an amend
ment to the bill providing that work
should not be begun on the canal under
the bill until the Government of Nicara-
qua should consent TO a modification of
the treaty granting title to the United
States in perpetuity to the canal right of
way and also eliminating articles 53 and
IA of the concession from that docu-
ment.
Mr. Stewart advocated the bill as a
most important step III tue progress VI
the commerce of the world and urged
Senators to accept it as it stands.
Replying to Mr.. Money. Mr.. Morgan
said he never claimed that the Clayton
Bulwer treaty was not in full force. de-
nying the assertions imputed to him
that that treaty had vanished into the
air. He had been of the opinion that
the treaty had been abrOgated by the
acts of Great Britain, and would still
hold that opinion, but for President
Cleveland's recognition of the treaty,
recognition which had given 1t a vitality
that it did not previously possess. He
opposed Mr.. Moneys proposition for
opening up the subject with Great Brit
ain.
AT the conclusion of Hr. Moro"n's
remarks an agreement was reached to
vote upon Mr. Turpies posi- ttu4 II
motion tomorrow, after which the
Senate went into executive session.
The bill regarding the registry of for
eign built vessels worked on the Amerl-
can coast, was also discussed, but was
not disposed of.
During the early part of the session.
Mr. Vest called attention to private
pension bills, and entered protest
against their passage without due con-
sideration, as he said the Senate was
falling into the habit of doing. lie said
that notwithstanding, Illinois had fur
nished 65,00O more soldiers than IN