Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-15
55th CONGRESS.
Nicaraguan Canal Bill Again
Before Senate.
Money Wants Negotiations to Modify
Clayton-Bu wsr Treaty.
Grows Speech on Limit Of Debate Arouses
Speaker Reeds Sarcasm.

Harris, Money, Stewart and Morgan.
Mr.. Money urged the postponement of
the question in order to permit an OPP
portunitys for negotiations with Great
Britain for a modification of the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty and Mr.. Morgan
antagonized the postponement. An
agreement was reached to take vote
on the Turpie postponement motion,
tomorrow. Other questions before the
Senate We're: s-,
The governments pension policy and
the bill regarding the registry of for
eisn built vessels wrecked on the
American coast. sE.-
The pension discussion was precipi-
tated by Mr.. Vest. The registry bill
went over until tomorrow.
The Senate opened, today, with a
protest upon the part of Gillinger,
chairman of the committee on pensions,
against the practice of senators intro
dusing pension bills in cases pending
in the pension office. He said the com
mittee would not consider such bills
and that it was useless to present them.
The Senate took up the bill to amend
the law relating to the registry of for
eign built vessels wrecked TN Ameri-
can shores and CaffeaW spoke against
The measure.
Seator Proctor introduced a resolu-
ton providing for the appointment Of
a committee of five senators to visit
Cuba and Porto Rico for the purpose
OF 'inquiring ilIto the military re-
quirements necessary to establish and
maintain order in these islands until
civil government is inaugurated.
The resolution also directs the commit
tee to investigate the existing con-
ditions, military, political, economic
and sanitary in the islands and re-
ports such facts and recommendations
as they may deem important for the
Information of the Senate
Vest again called Alteration to private
pension 'tifts ard entered a protest
against their passage without due con-
sideration.
Notwithstanding that Illinois had
furnished $1,000 more soldiers than
Indiana. the pension roll for Indiana
exceeded that of Illinois by Sl.5OU. 90.
He accounted for this fact on the
ground that Indiana is a pivotal state
politically. saying that it was notori-
Gus that the commissioner of pensions.
who was an eX-Union soldier had
granted pensions to almost every APP
plicant in political districts which
were close. He did not contend that
the Republican party was alone to
blame. but he knew that men of all
parties We're inclined TO use the ma
chinery of the pension office to further
their political interests. He was cog
infant of an instance in his own state
in which d Democratic candidate for
Congress had received several Repub-
lican votes because he had secured
pensions for the voters. He had en-
dorsed Mr.. Cleveland's veto of pension
bills and While he did not want to re-
rive the old questions, he would ex-
press the opinion that the government
had in this matter fallen into most
unjust and Ubiquitous expenditure by
it's i'll advised legislation and through
political influence" He characterized
the government as an accident lnsur-
ance. He did not want to deprive any
honest applicant of his pension, but he
wanted the abuse stopped.
Gallinger suggested that instead of
scolding the Senate private bills he
should propose amendments to the
pensions laws which would correct the
abuses he complained of. Continuing,
Gallinger said the committee had been
considering the ACCESSIBILITY of pub
fishing the list of pensioners. Yet
there We're objections to the plan and
he feared that if undertaken it's only
effect would be to take $2,0O0,0OO or
$3,000.000 out Of the treasury to no
good purpose.
The bill providing regulations for the
registration of foreign built vessels
wrecked on the American coast and
repaired in the United States was
taken up at the instance of E,lkinS
and Caffery addressed the Senate in
opposition to it, saying that under its
provisions vessels would be wrecked in
order to secure the American registry.
He attacked the navigation and tariff
laws of the United States. saying they
had practically driven our merchant
marine from the seas. He contended
that the bill was prohibitive IN its
terms. intending to remove the last
vestige of competition in the matter
of shipbuilding. There was 10 neces-
SHY IOF tHlS uluef the present con-
ditons.
The registry bill went over until to-
morrow and the Nicaragua canal bill
was taken up. the pending question
being Turpie's motion to postpone UNI
til Jan. 10. Harris did not consider 1t
practicable for a private corporation
to construct the canal, and he urged
government ownership but the Mari
time Canal Company's charter sup
piled the only open door and the com
mittee in charge of the bill had de-
termined to enter it. with the under
standing that the company was to be
gotten rid OF.
Harris said he considered the Pana-
ma canal as entirely impuacticable He
Berry's amendment relieving
the bill of its bond provisions, saving
ii would greatly improve the measure
The Clayton Bulwer treaty formed /
the basis of brief speech by Money. !
He advocated delay in order 10 nffnrd I
Continued on page 81