The record-union., 1898-12-14
Principal Subject of Discussion in
the Senate Yesterday.
Turple Of Indiana Speaks In Opposition to
the Measure.
Attacks the Bill on the Ground
That It is in the Interest Of the
Maritime Canal Company,
Which He Characterizes as a
Fraud and Bankrupt-Pro-
ceedings in the House.

WASHINGTON, Dec 13.-To-day'
session of the Senate was largely con-
sumed in discussing the Nicaragua Ca
nal BILL Temple made the principal
speech in opposition to the bill, attack
ing it on the ground that it is in the
interest of the Maritime Canal Com
pany, which he characterized as fraud
and a bankrupt. He moved post
ponement of the matter until after the
holiday recess. Morgan opposed the
motion to postpone. Berry and Raw
lins both offered amendments material
~ affecting the bill.
Previous to the proceedings upon the
canal bill Merrill made an address in
support of the bill authorizing the pur-
chase of a site for a Supreme Court
building, and this and several other
bills were passed
In bis opening prayer in the Senate
to-day Chaplain Milburn made a touch
ing allusion to the death of Mrs. Bright,
wife Of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the
Senate.
The Senate passed a bill increasing
the pension Of Eleazir Smith of New
Hampshire, who is over 100 years old,
and one of the three survivors of the
war of 1872, to $50 a month.
Berry gave notice of an amendment
he will offer to the Nicaragua Canal
bill, providing for the direct appropri-
alton of money for the construction of
the canal, and limiting the cost to
S15O,00O,O00 The amendment pro-
vides for the construction of the canal
~ No ri+
the Government a lien upon the prop
erty, to be foreclosed under circum-
stances fully enumerated.
Rawlins also gave notice of an amend
ment to the Nicaragua bill, providing
that the act should not go into effect
until the United States should secure
by a treaty right to fortify and gar
fison the canal, to send armed vessels
and munitions of war through it in time
of war, and to close it against any
other nation with which the United
States may be at war.
Morrell addressed the Senate on his
bin authorizing the purchase of a site
east of the Capitol grounds in Washing
ton for a building for the United States
Supreme Court. Notwithstanding his
advanced age, the venerable Senator
handled the subject with exceptional
vigor and effectiveness. He urged the
propriety of erecting building in keep
ing with the dignity of the court. and
claimed that the recent fire in the courts
quarters in the Capitol emphasized the
Importance of the measure.
The Senate, after the speech promptly
passed the Supreme Court site BILL
A bill was passed authorizing the
Choctaw and Memphis Railroad to con-
struct bridges over the Arkansas and
other navigable rivers in Arkansas
Simon, the new Senator from Oregon,
was placed upon the following commit
tees: Mines and Mining, Irrigation,
Revolutionary Claims, Potomac River
Front and Trespasses upon Indian
Lands.
Bills were passed as follows: Grant
ing right of way to the Kettle River
Valley Railroad Company of Washing
ton through the Cofville Indian reserva-
ton; for the relief of homestead set
tiers in Florida, who were driven from
their homes by the storm of 1896:
amending Section 4T66 of the Revised
Statutes relating to pensions provid-
ing that in cases in which pensioners
desert their wives or children one-half
the pensions shall be paid to them
Turpie O) of Indiana then addressed
the Senate on the Nicaragua Canal bill,
saying that no one could excel him in
zeal in advocating the isthmian canal,
but while he saw the vast advantage
of the proposed waterway, he was also
fully aware of the difficulties in the
way of putting the plan for a canal
into execution. While not opposed TO
the canal as such, he was opposed to
the scheme of the Maritime Canal Com
pany, and he referred to the company
as a most venomous and effective op-
ponent of a real canal enterprise.
Turpie asserted that the Government
could not lawfully guarantee the Mari
time Canal Company's bonds as pro-
posed. The case was not parallel to
the Pacific Railroad companies, as in
those cases the bonds were made di-
rectly payable to the companies.
Mr.. Turpie renewed his plea for a
postponement of the question until the
Nicaragua Canal Commission should
report He said he had favored the
appointment of this commission, be-
cause he knew that no commission
could report in favor of the Maritime
Company, as he did not believe the
present commission had. Information
was wanted on the points offered by
it, time and expense, and the Senate
had a right to be informed before
acting upon the bill
Mr.. Turpie closed for the day with
motion for postponement of further
consideration of the bill until January
10th, by which time the report of the
commission would be received.
Morgan antagonized the motion,
pleading for the continuation of the
debate, saying there were many points
connected with the enterprise upon
which light could not possibly be
thrown by the Walker report He de-
MED that the Maritime Company had
ever applied to the United States for
assistance, but on the other hand ap-
plication had been made to them be-
cause they owned the only concession.
He declared, in answer to a sugges-
ton from Turpie, that it would never
be possible to get an agreement bind
ing the United States, Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, because Of Costa Rica's