The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-11

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-The Nicara-
qua canal bill is expected to monopolize the
! attention of the sesiate next week. I'm
doubtedly majority favor its passage. but
a determined minority win fight for delay
IN the hope OF preventing vote for the
present session. The programme Of the OPP
ponents of the measure is to kill time until
the appropriation bills arc reported. The
latter will then have the right-of-way.
Advocates In the house OF the Nicaragua
canal bin say that IL bill providing for
the construction OF the canal passes the
senate early this session, 1t will certainly be
put through the house.
A strong lobby. in fact two or three lob
bies, are here 10 antaGoniZe legislation, and
the plan of attack is 10 get up a conflict be-
tween rival propositions. 1t LIS insisted, how
ever. that 1t will not be possible to prevent
legislation.
That the transcontinental railroads are
doing all In their power to defeat the Mic
aragua canal legislation is now doubted by
no ona who Is watching the course OF
events. In the house committee. where
there has heretofore been unanimity In ad-
vocacy OF the canal. there is a condition
which may defeat any report upof; the BILL
AT meeting Of the house committee on
interstate and foreign commerce yesterday
Chairman Hepburn took up the question
and announced that he was framing a bill
which would provide for the acquisition OF
a strip OF territory through Nicaragua and
the building OF the canal a public work
This VIII mean at the same time a rnodlfca-
tion of the Clayton -Buiwer treaty. It is the
plan which has been prepared by Senator
Caffery CT Louisiana. and Will be proposed
in the senate during the coming week. II
was. however. in the course OF his re-
marks that Hepburn showed his feeling. He
said the plan OF the Morgan bill was one
contrary 10 the spirit OF the concession to
the Maritime Canal Company, and that it
was never contemplated by Nicaragua that
another nation should acquire rights In .ts
territory.
Fletcher Of Minnesota said he was in IA
vor OF investigating the Panama offer. and
others OF the committee Indicated tha.
doubts of the proper course mad arisen in
their minds. and when the committee ad-
3ourned I, was with a decidedly blue out
look for any action favorable 10 the canal
In other quarters IL has developed that
the railroad lobby has alleged that there Is
in the Zavaia- a-Frelinghuysen treaty such
most iavBlid. Il Is alleged many nara
graphs which appear in the English transla-
tlon of the treaty do not show In tie signed
copy. which will make the tenure OF the
Maritime company insecure. This IS bat
ore Of the matters which ars being urged
30 raise doubts in the minds OF congress.
men and so make ii impossible 70 reach any
conclusion at this session OF congress which
means that the Maritime Canal Cornpanv's
rights viii lapse and the Cragtn-R Rice con-
cesSioD viii Re operative.
In fac,. The making of these concessions
has been such beck Ia The way q the
CafTery-Hepourn plan ths, 4: Is said here
their action Is only meant to cause loss Of
time 20 prevent action.
II IS said there are In the city hal. n
6ozsn railroad sobbie. working axsius, sny
action on ,he canal lis opponents are rails.
ing every KIND of question which NAV
cause douAt or argument ard hope thus 70
cause delay ana ultimate defeat. As IN ,he
las, session. they have on taslr side power-
fAl sieznenss CT he house a<rayed agst.s.
the administration.
W iilfam Black. the Novelist. Dead.
LONDDN. Dec. io.-The death is an
ne2nesa oc W.lia1a Black. .ae norsi.st