The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-15
But Draws $1,5OO,OOO More PensiOn
Money, rs an Alleged Example OF
FavOritism for Political Purposes.
IMMIGRATION BILL SHELVED
HOUSE REFUSES TO CONSIDER 1T BIZ
VOTE OF 1913 TO 1OOs
Speaker Reed Rcsents Criticism OF
Rules and Refers to History to-
COnfOund MIR. De Almond.

WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-THE Nicaragua
canal bill held its place as the principal
subject before the Senate to-day. Speeches
were made by Messrs. Harris, Money,
Stewart and Morgan. Mr. Money urged
postponement of the question i'm order to
permit an opportunity for negotiations with
Great Britain for a modification of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty and Mr. Morgan an
tagonized the proposition. An agreement
was reached to take a vote on the Turpie
postponement motion Tomorrow Other
questions before the Senate were the gov
ernment's pension policy and the bin re-
garding the registry of foreign-built ves-
sells wrecked on the American coast The
registry bill went over until tomorrow.
The pension discussion was precipitated
by Mr.. Vest, who again called attention TO
private pension bills and entered protest
against their passage without due consid-
GRAFTON, as he said the Senate was falling
into the habit of doing. He called attention
to the fact that, Notwithstanding Illinois
had furnished $1,000 more soldiers than In-
diana, the pension roll for Indiana exceed
ed that of Illinois by $500, ,0O0 He accounts
ed for this fact on the ground that Indiana
is pivotal State politically, saying that it
was notorious that the commissioner OF
pensions, who was an ex-Union soldier had
granted pensions to almost every applicant
in poltica1 districts which are close He
did not contend that the Republican party
was alone to blame, but knew that men OF
all parties were inclined to use the ma
chinery of the Pension Office TO further
their political interests. He was cognizant
of an instance in his own State in which a
in
ceived several Republican votes because he
had secured pensions for the voters He
had indorsed Mr.. Cieveland's veto of PEN
sion bills, and, while he did not want to re-
vive the old question, he would express the
opinion that the government had in this
matter fallen into "a most unjust and in
iquitous expenditure by its ill-advised legis-
lation, and through political Influences.
characterizing the government as an acci-
dent insurance company
Mr.. Gallinger suggested that Mr.. Vest in-
stead of scolding the Senate on priyata
bills, should propose amendments to the
pension laws which would correct the
abuses he complained of. Continuing, Mr..
Gallinger said the committee had been con-
sidering the advisability of publishing the
list of pensioners. Yet there were objec-
tions to the plan, and he feared that If un-
dertaken its only effect would be to take
two or three millions dollars out of the
treasury to no good purpose.
After the bill providing regulations for
the registration of foreign built vessels
wrecked on the American coast and repaired
in tho United States had been discussed and
laid aside the Nicaragua canal bill was
taken up the pending question being MIR.
Turpie's motion to postpone until Jan. TO-
Mr. Harris spoke on the general features
of the bill He said that as a boy he was
attached to a surveying party in the isthmus
in 1859, and ever since that time he had been
the Jealous advocate of the general proposi-
ton that canal should be built across the
isthmus. Still he did not consider it prac-
ticable for private corporation to con-
struct the canal, and he urged government
ownership, but the Maritime Canal Com
pany's charter supplied the only open door.
and the committee in charge of the bill had
determined to enter it, with the understands
ing that the company was to be got rid
OF. Mr.. Harris said he considered the Pam
anna canal as entirely impracticable. He
supported Mr. Berry's amendment relieving
the bill of it's bond provisions. saying it
would greatly improve the measure
The Clayton-Bulwer treaty formed the
basis of brief speech by Mr. Money lie
tunity for negotiations looking to the abro-
cation of the treaty. Mr.. Money said we
should at least notify Great Britain that we
desire a modification of the treaty as "A first
step. In this connection Mr.. 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 Importance
and propriety of dealing fairly and cour-
teously with Great Britain in this important
matter.
Mr.. Bacon gave notice OF an amendment
Uf the bill providing that work should not
be begun on the canal under the bill until
the government of Nicaragua should con-
sent to a modification of the treaty granting
title to the United States In perpetuity TO
the canal right of way. and also eliminating
Articles 50 and "a of the concession from
that document.
Replying TO Mr.. Money Mr.. Morgan said
he had never claimed that the Clayton-B Bull
wer treaty was not in full force. denying
the assertion imputed to him that the treaty
had vanished into thin air. He had been OF
the opinion that the treaty had been abro-
gated by the acts of Great Britain, and
would still hold that opinion but for Presi-
dent Cleveiand's recognition OF the treaty,
a recognition which had given It vitality
that it did not previously possess He op-
posed Mr.. Moneys proposition for opening
up the subject with Great Britain. At 5:25
p. IN. the Senate adjourned.