The Portland daily press., 1898-12-15
VOTE on DISAPPOINTMENT.
Senate To Decide Whether To Con-
slider Canal Bill.
WAS THE PRINCIPAL SUBJECT DIS
CUSsED YESTERDAY.

Pension Discussion Precipitated--Thc
House Votes Not To Consider Im-
migration BIZ BY a Very Narrow
Margin.
Washington, December 1.-THE Mica.
ragua canal bill held its place as the prin-
cipal subject before the Senate today.
Speeches were made by Messrs. Harris,
Money, Stewart and Morgan. Mr.. Money
urged the postponement of the question
in order to permit an opportunity for ne
gotiations with Great Britain for q
modification of the Clayton Bulwer treaty,
and MIR. Morgan antagonized the propo.
sition. An agreement WAS. reached TO
take vote on the Turpie postponement
motion tomorrow. Other questions be-
fore the Senate were: The governments
pension policy and the bill regarding
the registry of foreign-built vessels
wrecked on the American coast.
The pension discussion was precipitated
by Mr.. Vest The registry bill went over
until tomorrow.
The Senate opened with protest upon
the part of Mr. Gallinger. chairman OF
the committee on pensions, against tine
practice of senators introducing pension
bills in cases pending in the pension
office He said the COMMITTEES would nob
consider such bills and that 1t was use
less to present them.
Mr. Vest again called attention to prl'
vate pension bills and entered protesu
against their passage without due con-
sideratioD.
Notwithstanding that Illinois had FUR
pished 65 600 more soldiers than Indiana,
the pension roll for Indiana exceeded
that of Illinois by 81 800, 100. he account
ed for this fact on the ground that In
diana Is pivotal state politically, say
ing that it was notorious that the COM
missioner of pensions, who was an ex-
union soldier, had granted pensions TO
almost every applicant IN pol1tlcal dls-
tricts which are CLOSE. he did not CONTEND
that the Republican party was alone TO
blame, but he knew that men OF all par
ties were inclined to use the machinery OF
the pension office to further their polit1-
cal interests He was cognizant OF an
instance in his own state in which
Democratic candidate for Congress had
received several Republican votes because
he had secured pensions for the voters.
He had endorsed Mr. Cieveland's veto OF
pension bills, and while he did not want
to revive the old questions. he would
express the opinion that the government
had in this matter fallen into "a most
unjust and inquitious expenditure by It's
ill-advised legislation and through pollfl-
cal influence He characterized the gov
eminent as an accident insurance COM
pany. He did not want to deprive any
honest applicant of his pension, but ne
wanted the abuse stopped.
Mr.. Gallinger suggested that instead or
scolding the Senate on private Dilis, ne
should propose amendmentg GO Che PEN
sion laws which would correct the abuses
ne complained Of
| Continuing, Mr.. Gallinger SAID the
COMMITTEES had been considering the Rd-
visibility OF publishing the list OF PEN
siouers. Yet there were objections to the
plan and he feared that If undertaken
| its only effect would be to take two or
three million dollars out Of the treasury
| to no good purpose.
The bill providing regulations Tor the
registration of foreign puilt vessels
| wrecked on the American coast and ra-
paired in the United States, was taken
up at the instance of Mr.. hikins, and MIR.
Caffery addressed the Senate in opposition
to it. saying that under its provisions
vessels would be wrecked in order to Sc
cure American registry. he attacked the
nayi yation and tariff laws of the U n1ted
States saying they. had practicany oriven
our merchant marine from the seas. He
oontended that the bill was prohibitive
in it's terms, intended to remove the last
vestiee of competition In the matter OF
ship-building. There was no necessity for
this under the present conditions.
The registry bill went over until tomor-
row and the Nicaragua canal bill WAS
taken up. the pending question being
MIR, Turpie's motion to postpone until
fanr1arv 10
MIR. Harris did not consider it practica-
bIe for a priyRte corporation to construct
Inc canal and he urged government
ownership, but the Maritime Canal COM
pany's charter supplied the open 1oor,
and the COMMITTEES in charge OF the Dill
had determined to enter it, with the un-
derstanding that the company WAS to be
gotten rid OF.
MIR. Harris said he considered the Pana-
ma canal as entirely impract1eable. be
supporUed Mr.. Berry,s amendment relley-
ing the bill of its bond provisions. saying
it would greatly improve the measure.
The Cl yton- Bulwer treaty formed the
basis OF brief speech by Mr.. Money.
He advocated delay in order to afford
opportunity for negotiations looking to
he abrogation Of the treaty. Mir. Money
said we should at least notify Great
Britain that we desire modification OF
the treaty as a first step. In this connec-
tion MIR. Money referred to the entente
| cordiale existing between this country
| and England. saying that he wanted to
see the two nations brought even closer
| together than now. Hence the impor
tance and propriety of dealing fairly and
courteously with Great briIain in this
important matter. Mr.. Bacon gave no.
tice of an amendment to the bill provid-
ing that work should not be begun on the
canal under the bill until the government
of Nicaragua should consent to a Ii i'll
cation of the treaty, granting title gu the
United States in perpetuity to the canal
right . of way, and also eliminating arti-
cles 53 and "a Of ths concession from the
document. Air. Stewart advocated the
bill as a most important step in the pro-
gfess of the commerce OF the world and
urged sena ors to accept it as it stood.
i .l..s.a To