The times., 1898-12-16
CANAL BILL Laid ASIDE
Measure Goes Over Temporar.
lily in the Senate.
A SUBSTITUTE OFFERED
Hoard of Trade Petition - Senator
Morgan 0utgenerals His Oppo-
nents-ScOres Those Who Anta%-
ontze the Cannl-SenatOr Aliens
Attack on the BILL Scheme of
senator Cnffery.

The Morgan Nicaragua Canal bill was
temporarily laid aside by the Senate yes
terday to allow the consideration of the
urgent deficiency bill. Notwithstanding
this, however, the canal discussion
cropped out at several places during the
days proceedings, and u substitute bill
was offered by Senator Caffery.
Senator Morgan, in presenting the petit
tion of the National Board of Trade, now
In session in this city. relative TO the
construction of the canal. urging speedy
legislation and commencing the pending
measure, requested that 1t be read by the
clerk and be inserted in the Record.
Senator Allen made objection to this,
whereupon the Alabama senator recalled
the petition from the clerks desk and
read it himself, thus Incorporating 1t as
| a part of his remarks and securing its
publication in the Record.
This action aroused the ire of Senator
Teller, who made the point that Senator
Morgan's remarks were all out of order,
| and, under the rules, they should not be
printed. Senator Morgan replied, scoring
the opposition to canal legislation by SEN
ators who, he said, claimed to be friendly
to the project, yet opposed with all their
viSor every measure looking TO its ac-
complishment
He incidentally remarked that ne would
accept and support any measure that
would build the canal; that he would
urge the adoption OF the pending one un-
less a better were offered, and, more
than this, he would do everything in his
power to let the country know what COM
mercial men of the country thought on
the matter
The resolutions which he had offered
he said, represented the sentiments of
forty-nine commercial bodies throughout
the country, and were entitled to much
weight
Senator Teller retorted that when he
| could reply to the senator without break
ing the rules of the Senate he should take
| occasion to do so.
Senator AEeR. however, made a further
| attack on the bill. charging that 1t was in
the interest Of a private corporation, and
saying that he should speak further on
the matter later.
Senator Morgan's remarks were allowed
to stand without further question.
The bill introduced by Senator Caffery
as Il substitute was ordered printed. All
the time 1t was introduced Senator Caf-
fiery failed to get It read. and when he
| called It up later for that purpose he was
informed that it had been sent to the
public printer.
The bill provides that the President
| SNAIL enter into negotiations with Great
| Britain for the abrogation or modification
| of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty so as TO en-
able the United States to construct, own,
| maintain and operate canal across the
Isthmus of Darien. under its exclusive
Jurisdiction. The President is also au.
thorized to purchase all va.id outstanding
grants ana concessions for the construc-
ton of such canal for u sum not 10 ex-
| ceed s. 000, 600.
| He is also TO purchase from the gov
ernments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica
a sufficient acreage of land with privi-
leges and easements for the construction
| of the canal after which the Secretary
of War is to proceed with the construc-
| ton of the canal as with other public
| works. one hundred and forty million
! dollars is placed as the limit of cost,
| 100000 of which is to be Immediately
| available for the purchase of the out
| standing concessions, including the stipu-
| lated purchase of right of way from
| Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
| Senator Harris presented n resolution
| of inquiry which was agreed TO by the
| Senate, calling on the President to trans
| nit to the Senate all Information avail
able in regard TO the work of the Nicar-
| aqua Canal Commission. and the time the
| full report of Admiral Walker would be
| in.