The herald., 1898-12-14
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, Dec. l3.-Today's ses-
sion of the senate was largely consumed in
discussing the Nicaragua canal BILL Turpie
made the principal speech in opposition to
the bill, attacking it on the pround that it
is in the interest of the Maritime Canal COM
pany which he characterized as fraud
and bankrupt He moved postponement
Of the matter until after the holiday recess.
Morgan defended the bill and the Maritime
company, and opposed the motion to post
rone. Berry and Rawlins both offered
amendments materially affecting the bill.
In his opening prayer today Chap
lain Milburn made a touching alusion to
the death of Mrs Bright, wife of the SER
geantat-arms of the Senate.
The Senate passed bill increasing the
pension OF Eleazr Smith of New Hamp-
shire, who is over 100 years old, and one OF
the three survivors of the war of 1872, to $50
a month.
Mr. Berry gave notice of an amendment
he will offer to the Nicaragua Canal bill
providing for the direct appropriation OF
money for the construction of the canal and
limiting the cost to $ll50O0,0o0. The
amendment provides for the construction of
the canal by the Maritime Canal Company,
and gives the Government lien upon the
property to be forecosed under circum-
stances fully enumerated. Mr.. Berry stated
the object of the amendment to be to elimin-
ate the bond feature of the bill Another
was to deprive the Maritime Canal Company
of any shares of the stock as in the present
bill, leaving the United States, Nicaragua
and Costa Rica the only stockholders
Mr. Rawins also gave notice of an
amendment to the Nicaragua bill, providing
that the act should not go into effect until
the United Staes should secure by treaty the
right to fortify and garrison the canal to
send armed vessels and munitions of war
through it in time of war and to close it
against any other nation with which the
= United States may be at war.
Mr. Morrill,, in accordance with previous
notice, addressed the Senate on his bill
authorizing the purchase of site east of the
capitol grounds in Washington for building
for the United States Supreme Court. Not
withstanding his advanced age, the vener-
able Senator handled the subject with ex
ceptional vigor and effectiveness He urged
the proprety of erecting a building in
keeping with the dignity of the court, and
he maintained that the recent fire in the
courts quarters in the capitol emphasized
the importance of the measure.
The Senate, after the speech, promptly
passed the Supreme Court site bill.
A bill wa, passed authorizing the Choc-
taw and Memphis railroad to construct
bridges over the Arkansas and other navig-
able rivers in Arkansas.
Simon, the new senator from Oregon, was
placed upon the following committees:
Mines and mining, irrigation, revolutionary
claims, Potomac river front and trespasses
upon Indian lands.
Bills were passed as follows: Granting
right of way to the Kettle River valley
Railroad company of Washington through
the Colvile Indian reservation; for he re-
lief of homestead settlers in Florida who
were driven from their homes by the storm
OF 1886; amending section 4766 of the re
vised statutes relating to pensions, provid-
ing that in cases in which pensioners desert
their wives or children one half the pensions
shall be paid to them.
Turpie, Democrat, of Indiana, then ad-
dressed the senate on the Nicaragua canal
bill, saying that no one could excel him in
zeal in advocating the isthmian canal, but,
while he saw the vast advantage of the pro-
posed waterway, he was also fully aware
OF the difficulties in the way of putting the
plan for canal into execution. While not
opposed to the canal as such, he was opposed
to the scheme of the Maritime Canal COM
pany, and he denounced that company as
the most venomous and effective opponent
OF real canal enterprise.
Turpie asserted that the government
could not lawfully guarantee the Maritime
Canal companys bonds as proposed. The
case was not parallel to the Pacific Railroad
companies, as in those cases the bonds were
made directly payable to the companies.
Mr.. Turpie renewed his plea for post
pcnement of the question until the Nicara-
guam commission should report. He said
he had favored the appointment of this COM
mission because he knew that no commission
could report in favor of the Maritime COM
pany, as he did not believe the present COM
mission had. Information was wanted on
the three points of feasibility, time and ex-
pense, and the senate had a right to this in
formation before acting on the bill
MIR. Turpie closed for the day with mo-
tion TOR postponement of further consdera-
tion of the bill until January 10, by which
time the report of the commission would he
received
MIR. Morgan antagonized the motion, plead
ing for the continuation of the debate. saw.
ing there were many points connected with
the enterprise upon which light could NOT
possibly be thrown by the Walker report
He denied that the Maritime company had
ever applied to the United States for assist.
ance, but on the other hand, the application
had been made to them because they owned
the only concession. He declared in answer
to suggestion from Mr.. Turpie, that if
would never be possible to get an agreement |
binding the United States, Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, because of Costa Rica's sus.
picions of Nicaragua. Costa Rica knew ner.
fectly well that Nicaragua was desirous Of
nothing SO much as the downfall of Costa