The Yale expositor., 1898-12-23
CONGRESS AT WORK AGAIN.

Rep. Corliss. of Michigan, introduced
comprehensive bill providing for the
acquisition of right OF way and the
construction of an intcr-oceanic canal
by the United States. The bill pro-
vides that the United States shall ac-
quire from Costa Rica and Nicaragua a
strip of land sufficient for a right of
way for the canal and the necessary
ports and harbors, and authorizes the
payment of 81. 900, goo to the Maritime
Canal Co. in full compensation for the
concession which that company now
holds 1t guarantees to Costa Rica
and Nicaragua the use Of the canal
and harbors and authorizes the issu-
ance by the United States of S120, OOO,-
900 in bonds of denominations from
$50 to 900 at 3 per cent interest.
The President is authorized to extend
to all nations the use of the Nicaragua
canal on equal terms as to tolls and
the privileges of navigation, provided
said nations respectively enter into n
treaty providing for the neutrality of
the said canal, together with the ports
of entry therein in the Pacific ocean
and the Caribbean sea for at least the
distance of 200 miles from said respcc-
tive harbors.
Senator Proctor (Rep., Ver.) intro
duccd a resolution providing for the
appointment of n committee of five
senators to visit the islands of Cuba and
Porto Rico for the purpose of ''inquir-
ing into the military require
ments necessary TO establish and main
tain order In those islands until civil
government is inaugurated. Mr.. Hale
(Rcp., Me- opposed the measure.
senator Turpic Dem. Ind.), made a
strong speech in opposition to the Me
aragua canal bill, attacking it on the
ground that it is in the interest of the
Maritime Canal Co., which he charac-
terized as fraud and bankrupt. Mr..
Morgan defended the bill and the Mar
thine Co. Messrs. Berry and Rawlins
both offered amendments materially
Affecting the bill.
The urgent deficiency appropriation
bill, making provision for the army
and navy for the next six months, dis
placed the Nicaragua canal bill in the
senate for one day The deficiency bill
was passed after spirited discussion
turning principally on the point OF
keeping the volunteer soldiers in the
service.
The house for the second time during
this congress has refused TO consider
the Lodge immigration bill, which has
hn A. ho Ia
an attempt was made 20 take it from
the speakers table, but it was defeated
by large majority. This time the
vote was 100 to 103
During the discussion of the Nicara-
qua canal bill Mr.. Money urged post
poncmcnt of the question in order to
permit an opportunity for negotiations
with Great Britain for a modification
OF the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and Mr..
Morgan antagonized the proposition.
The house surpassed all previous re-
cords in the expedition with which it
passed the pension appropriation bill,
which went through in 90 minutes
without word of criticism. The bill
! carries total of Sl45. 233, O3O.
The bill 10 incorporate the lnterna-
tional American bank-to facilitate OK
change with Central and South Amer
! lean countrics-was buried under an
overwhelming adverse majority in the
| house.
The pension appropriation bill re-
| ported to the house carries SlI5. o3J. $40
being 81. 900, 900 more than carried by
the current act. The total number Of
| pensioners on the rolls is 093,7l4.
The house passed the District of Col
umbia appropriation bill, which ear
ries So. go, ojO-sl76.6 600 less than the
last bill and S2,s71, s57 less than the
estimates.
The bill to extend the customs and
| internal revenue laws Of the United
States over the Hawaiian islands was
passed by the house.
The senate passed bill authorizing
! the purchase OF site for Il supreme
court building east Of the capitol
The house refused to concur in the
senate amendments to the army and
! navy deficiency bill