The San Francisco call., 1898-12-20
PLATT TALKS FOR EXPANSION
SAYS THE UNITED STATES CAN
 ACQUIRE TERRITORY.
Motion to Postpone Consideration of the Nicaragua Bill Causes an Interesting
 Debate.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The Senate important speeches. Platt of Connecti- cut spoke against the Vest resolution, which declares that the United States has no power to acquire territory. He said that the power of a nation to ac- quire territory was as inherent as it's sovereignty. The United States had the right to govern such territory in the best possible manner until the peo- pie of the acquired lands were capable of government
 Proctor of Vermont and Hale of Maine explained divergent views upon the committee of Senators to visit Cuba. Proctor thought such com mittee was necessary, while Hale thought it would be in extremely bad taste and useless.
 The Nicaragua canal bill was up dur ing last part of the day, and Senators Berry, Allen Hoar, Caffery and Nor gan discussed the measure.
 Lodge of Massachusetts, from the For egn Relations Committee. fayorably re- ported the following resolution and asked for its immediate consideration:
 That the President be and Is hereby required 10 give to congress so Tar as the same may be done without detriment to public interests, all the information in his possession concerning certain alleged outrages committed on the person of Bishop Earl Cranston and other citizens in the city of Peking China, by subjects of the Emperor of China, and what steps, ii any, have been taken by the State Department in the matter of requesting suitable indemnity therefore,
 The resolution was agreed to.
 Platt's speech was constitutional ar gument, maintaining the legal right of the United States to acquire territory, saying he did not propose to discuss the policy of expansion nor the features of the government we might establish in any pansion, he said, has been a law of our national growth. the handspring of our national development.
 Gallinger, from the Committee on Gen eral Expenses. attempted to report the resolution introduced by Proctor provid- ing for the appointment of select com report upon the conditions prevailing there.
 The effort on Gallinger's part developed stern resistance from Hale, and was the occasion of short explanation from Proctor.
 The Senate took up the Nicaraguan ca nal bill, and Berry of Arkansas spoke upon his amendments to the measure. ne announced preliminarily that on general principles he was favorable to the con- struction of a canal across the isthmus,
 
 fore he felt that such an enterprise would promote the interests of the South ern States, but always contended for it's construction by the Government of the United States He had been hopeful on this account that it might be possible to eliminate the Maritime Canal Company from the question entirely. He had voted against the companys charter in 1887. still, said he, Morgan insists that this accomplishment is out of the question at present If this be true, the question 0n Xyh work rf- ing the canal should proceed under the name of the Maritime Canal Company or be suspended entirely. In this connection he also took into consideration the ad- ditional fact that another company would secure concessions from Nicaragua, to take effect immediately upon the expira- hence 1t seemed difficult to get away from corporation interests, but he hoped that before the final vote all corporate inter- ests would be eliminated, and in view of this fact he had considered it desirable, if not incumbent upon the Senate, to make the pending bill as perfect as 1t could be made and 1t was to this end that his amendment had been made He did not commit himself to vote for the bill even if his amendments were adopt ed, but would determine that question when a vote was reached.
 Berry then explained the provisions of
 Allen of Nebraska followed Berry. He was not opposed to the canal scheme, he said, because he antagoniZed certain fea- lures of the bill. One of it's most per nicious features would be eliminated by the adoption of the Berry amendments, namely, the bond feature. He was op- posed to the provision for the adjustment of the claims of the Maritime Canal Com pany. He wanted the Government pro- tected from all loss and all possible fraud and pecuIation by that company.
 Caffery of Louisiana, at the request of Turner, who was unavoidably absent, read the latter's motion to postpone the consideration of the bill until January 10.
 Hoar said he thought the canal should be built and at once. While Senators did not know what the canal would cost, they knew enough to know that it's con- struction was necessary for the protec- tion of the commercial relations between the coasts of the United States. The ca nal. he insisted, should be built by the Government.
 Morgan maintained that the concession of Nicaragua and Costa Rica was not forfeitable next October. Morgan said that the Berry amendments for financing the enterprise were more acceptable to him than the provision of the committee. He predicted that the United States would secure at least per cent divi- dends upon it's investment and drew a glowing picture of the use to which the funds could be put.
 At 5:15 D. m. the Senate went into ex- ecutive session, and at 5:30 D. m. ad- journed.