The times., 1898-12-15
SENATOR MORGAN,S Bull.
Varying Canal Views Expressed i'm
the Senate


the Senate.
Very little IL any progress was made yes-
terday by the Senate in the consideration
of the Nicaragua Canal bill. The earnest
desire on the part of Senator Turpie TO get
vote on his previous motion to postpone
further consideration of the measure until
January 10 was. however again unsuccess-
full and the bill s.ill has the right Of way.
The debate yesterday. which did not be-
gin until nearly . O'Clock, as the measure
was temporarily postponed to allow Sen
ator caffery to finish his speech in oppo-
sition TO the bin in regard to American
register for foreign vessels. hinged more
on the question of postponement than on
consideration of the terms of the bill
Senator Harris of Kansas was the first
speaker. He favored going on with the
consideration He declared there was
nothing in the terms OF the bill which pre-
cluded any arrangement with regard TO
detail, or which forestailed in any way
future diplomatic relations between the
| governments of Nicaragua. Costa Rica
and the United States in regard 70 any
matters in connection with the canal
Senator Harris. being a member of the
committee which reported the bill. and
especially familiar with its terms, having
| taken an active part In preparing it, urged
with particular force the necessity for i'm
mediate action
Senator Money followed Senator Harris
in plea for postponement. which he
urged on the ground that the United
States should first inform Great Britain
of Its intention and changed attitude to-
! .--I Of,
Senator Morgan had said that the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty had vanished into thin
air" and for that reason he urged that II
would be an act of extreme discourtesy
on our part. especially in view of the
friendly attitude which England had taken
toward us in the recent war. to utterly
ignore her in this great enterprise
] On these premises Senator Money talked
] for some time, and when he concluded
| Senator Morgan calmly informed him that
| he had never said the Clayton-Bulwer
! treaty had vanished into thin air. but
I on the contrary, ne had urged that 1t was
I In force. To what extent he did not care
| to say.
He had urged. however. that the passage
I of this bill would not hinder or in any way
/ affect any agreement that might be neces-
/ sary or desirable between this country and
/ Great Britain with reference to the canal
Senator Morgan called attention 20 the
! fact that there was commission new con-
sidering certain questions relating to the
/ differences between England and the
! United States in this city. and he ques-
/ TONED the advisability or propriety of
I stating on the floor of the Senate what
! the status Of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
I was. il might be taken advantage of by
the English commissioners to further their
/ ends in the commission. ne said.
Senator Bacon offered an anne endmen To
the bill, which provided that il should not
| become operative until certain provisions
| of the concession had been altered He
I particularly referred. he said TO h clause
which stipulated that after the first nine
| ty-nine years had elapsed the canal should
/ only be held by lease. the title going to
! the governments of Nicaragua and Costa
/ Riea, who were TO receive 3 per cent. Of
/ the profits as a rental for the same.
No action was taken on this amendment
| and no discussion was had on it. The
pending amendments. offered by Senators
| Berry and Rawlins, were not taken up.
AT the conclusion of the debate Senator
| Turpie said he would like to get a vote
/ on his motion to postpone. Senator Berry
/ however. had secured the floor TO speak
I on his amendments. and the vote was
/ postponed until today.
According TO the understanding at al
| journment, the vote will probably be taken
az clock this afternoon. This vote, il
| is expected. will be somewhat in the ma
| ture of test Vote. as II has teen amp
explained that there is no reason for Ia.
/ lay.