The times., 1898-06-30
DEFICIENCY BILL PASSED.
After Many Amendments, Ii Passed
Yesterday Afternoon

Yesterday Afternoon
Immediately at the conclusion OF the
routine morning business yesterday in the
Senate, Mr. Hale moved to take nm the
general deficiency bill and after the adop-
tion OF number OF amendments. some
of which caused debate. the bill was pass
ed at 2:40 o'clock
The most important amendments were
those proposed by Senators Hale. Carter
and Morgan.
Mr.. Hale's amendment provided for the
expenditure of sii5.c99 for dredging Pearl
Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands IL al
so provided for the purchase Of not less
than SOC acres Of land contiguous to the
harbor. BY condemnation or otherwise. to
be used for coaling and repair sta
tion.
This amendment was attacked By anti
annexationists. and considerable time was
spent in debate on a.
Mr.. SToOner objected to II OF the 6 -o,snf
that we had no right TO condemn land
that was not under our control and said
we had not annexed the islands vet.
Mr. Pettigrew. who had not YET visited
Pearl Harbor. said that ali the land
around it was owned by private parties.
and that the most desirable land for A
coaling station was owned by an anti
annexationist, named Campbell He
valued this land at SO an acre. Mr.. Pet
tigrew urged that the island Of Kiska.
which already was ours. had a far super
ior harbor and that it would be far
cheaper and better to improve that har-
Dor.
The title of the United States to Pearl
tlarbor was brought into question. Mr.
Allen contended that our rights there
were not permanent. depending solely up
on our treaty.
The amendment was modified in regard
TO the condemnation proceedings. making
the islands are annexed by this Govern
ment. In that shape it was adopted
An amendment appropriating 100000 TO
pay superintendents and inspectors of the
various forest reservations was adopted.
This amendment was offered by Mr.. Car
ter.
Mr.. Morgan then submitted an amend
ment providing for the collection of the
debt due the United States by the Central
Pacific Railway Co. by a commission com
posed of the Secretary of the Interior
the Secretary OF the Treasury and the
Attorney General The sum of $4,000 is
appropriated 10 pay the expenses OF the
commission in making the settlement
They are not to agree to accept less than
the fun amount of the principal and in
terest due al the time of said settlement
The commission is empowered TO grant
such time for payment and 70 accept the
security offered as they may deem ade-
quate- Interest on deferred payments Is
10 be not less than three per cent per
annum. This amendment was finally
adopted. Mr. Morgan made an additional
amendment. however. which was reject
ed on point OF order. which provided
that the money collected from both the
Central and Union Pacific Railroad Com
pantes should constitute a charge on the
Treasury Of the United States % b. ap-
piled toward the construction OF he Me
aragua canal
Mr.. Morgan made quite an elaborate
statement of the Nicaragua Canal case
He said that this Government had no
ofhcial connection at present with that
project and that the only way in which
could be said 90 be connected with IL
was by certain concessions which had
been made 10 citizens Of the United
States by the Nicaragua government.
These concessions will terminate In Oc-
tober of next year. After that time. Mr..
Morgan predicted that the United States
would have a difficult matter i'm getting
a hold upon the enterprise
There is about Sl25. co. 80 that will come
TO the Government from the Union and
Central Pacific roads. Mr. Morgan
urged that this was money which had
been advanced by the Government to Sc
cure and promote the development OF
the Western country. and which should
now be used To secure competition in
traffic and freight rates for the benefit
Of that country by building the Mica
rasua canal.
An amendment was adopted. II pro-
vided that all existing conduits within
the fire limits and all overhead electric
light wires without the fire limits in the
District of Columbia are legalized until
otherwise provided for. House connec-
tions may be made with overhead electric
light wires outside of the fire limits
The cable of the Postal Telegraph Com
pany now in the conduits of the Potomac
Electric Light and Power Company may
be connected with the existing wires of
that telegraph company on the Aqueduct
Bridge by connection not to exceed 800
feet in length
The salaries of the Second and Third
Assistant Secretaries of State were in
creased to $500.