The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-15
DEBLTlk N|clR|lG|JL Bill.
TaRpooss P0stp0aenent Motion
ToAay-vars0us Amendments Are
Proposea-C1ayton Treaty

w ASd1NGION, Lee, 14-lAe NtSdid& Va
canal b<il held its place - the principal
subject before the senate again today.
Speeches were made BY Harris. Money.
Stewart and Morgan. Money urged post
souement OF the question in .order TO per-
INIT On opportunity for negotiations with
Great Britain tor . modification OF the
Clayton Bufwer treaty, and Morgan an
tagonixed the proposition. An agreement
was reached TO take a vote cn the Turpie
postponemen1 motion tomorrow.
Other questions before the senate were:
The government pension policy and the
bill regarding the registry of foreign btxait
vessels wrecked on the American coast.
Tbs senate opened today vita protest
upon the part Of Gailinger, chairman OF the
committee on pensions, against the prac-
tics Of senators OF introducing pension bills
IN cases pending in the pension Office he
sid the COMMITTEES would not consicer sucn
bills and ii waa useless to present them.
Vest again called attention. to private pen-
sion bills and entered q prosesr against
their passage, without due consideration.
habit Of doing. He called attention to the
fact that notwithstanding nIiDots bad fur
nsshed 65.0o more soldiers than indiana,
the pension roll for Indiana exceeded that
OF Illinois by 81, 10000. He accounted for
this fact ON the ground that Indiana b q
pivotal state politically, saying that the
commissioner Of pensions. who was an ex-
Union soldier. had granted pensions 70 al
most every applicant, In political districts
which were close He did not contend that
the Republican party was alone TO blame.
but knew that men OF all parties were IN
clined To use the machinery OF The pension
Office To further their political interests. He
had indorsed Mr. Cleveland's veto OF pen
sion bills and while he did not want to re-
vive the old questions, he would express
his opinion that the government in this
matter had fallen into most un1uA ana
iDiquitous expenditure by its iil-adviseu leg
tsiation.
GaIIinger suggested that Vest, instead Of
scolding the senate on private pension
bills, should propose amendments to the
penz.on laws which would correct the
abuses complained Of. Continuing. Calm
ger said the committee had been consider
Ing the advisabidty OF publishing the list
OF pensioners. Yet there Were objections
to 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.
The bill providing regulations for the
ed on the American coast and repaired in
the United States was taken up AT the in
stance OF Efkins, and Caffery addressed
the senate In opposition to it. saying that
wrecked to secure American registry. He
attacked the navigation and tariff laws Of
the United States. saying they had prac-
the seas. He contender that the bin was
prohihstive in Its terms. intended to re-
move the last vestige OF competition In the
matter Of shipbuilding. There was no ne
cessity for this under the present condi-
tons.
I'VE may hold the Philippines. Cuba and
Porto Rico" he said. but II We adopt the
contractive policy OF this measure. our BAL
loon win soon collapse and our expansion
policy come to an end"
At the close Of Caffery's remarks the
registry bill went over until tomorrow and
the pending question being Mr.. Turpies
motion to postpone until January !.
Harris o. Kansas then spoke on the gen.
erai features Of the bin. He said that as
q boy he was attached to a surveying par
ty in the isthmus IN 1859. and ever since
that time lie had been the zealous advocate
s e ns g su the .haa
he did not consider It practicable for 4
corporation to construct the canal, and he
urged government ownership. but the Mar
itims Canal Company's charter supplied the
only open door. and the committee In
charge OF the bin had determined to enter
Il with the understanding that the COM
pany was to be gotten rid Of.
canal ~ entirely impracticable. He sup
ported Berry's amendment, relieving the
greatly improve the measure. The Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty formed the basis of q
brief speech by Money. He advocated de-
hay, in order TO afford opportunity for ne
gotiations looking to the abrogation OF the
treaty. Money said we should at least
notify Great Britain that We desire modi-
fication OF the treaty as nrst step. In
this connection Money referred to the en-
tense cordiale existing between this coun-
try and England. saying that he wanted to
see the two nations brought even closer to-
gethsr than now. Hence. the Importance
and propriety of dealing fairly and cour-
tecusly with Great Britain IN this impor-
tant matter.
Bacon gave notice OF an amendment to
the bill, providing that work should not
be begun on the canal under the bill until
the government of Nicaragua should con-
sent 10 o modification of the treaty grant
ing title TO the United States in perpetuity
to the canal right-of-way and also elm
mating articles S. and "a OF the concession
from that document
Stewart advocated the bill as q most I'M
portant step in the progress OF the conn
merce OF the world. and urged the senators
20 accept IL az il stands.
Replying to Money. Morgan said he had
never claimed that the Clayton ulwer
treaty was not In full force. denying the
assertion imputed TO him that the treaty
had vanished into thin air.
He had been OF the opirian that the
treaty was abrogated by the acts OF Great
Britain and would still hold that opinion
but for President Cleve And's recognition
Of that treaty. which recognition has given
Il vitality that 1t did not previously pos
sess. He opposed Moneys proposition for
-