The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-14
ATTACKED
The Nicaragua
Canal Bill.
SUPREME COURT.
Bill Passed for Site for a
New Building.

Washington. December 13-To-
days session of the Senate was
largely consumed in the discussion of
the Nicaragua canal bill. Mr.. Turpie
made the principal speech in opposition
to the bill, attacking it on the ground
time company, which he characterized
as fraud and bankrupt He moved a
postponement Of the matter until after
the holiday recess. Mr.. Morgan de-
Tended the bill and the maritime com
pany and opposed the motion to post
pone. Messrs. Berry and Rawlins both
offered amendments materially affect
ing the bill. Previous to the proceed
ings upon the canal bill, Mr.. Morrill,
made an address in support of the bill
authorizing the purchase of a site for a
supreme court building, and this and
several other bills We're passed.
Upon the request of Mr.. Gallinger.
chairman of the committee on pensions.
the Senate today passed a bill increas-
ing the pension of Elezear Sim Smith
OF New Hampshire to $50 per month.
Mr.. Galllnger said that Mr.. Smith was
over 100 years old and one of the three
survivors Of the war of 1872
Mr.. Berry gave notice of an amend
ment he will offer to the Nicaragua ca
nal bill providing for the direct ap-
preparation of the money for the CON
struoticn Of the canal and limiting the
cost to $115,0OO,000 The amendment
provides for the construction of the ca
nal by the Maritime Canal Company,
ana gives the government lien upon
the property to be foreclosed under cir
cumstances fully enumerated
Mr. Berry stated the object of the
amendment to he to eliminate the bond
feature Of the bill. Another was to de-
prfve the Maritime Canal Company of
any shares of the stock as in the pres
eat bill, leaving the United States and
Nicaragua and Costa Rica the stock
holders.
Mr. Rawlings also gave notice of an
amendment to the bill providing that
the act Should not go into effect until
ths United States should obtain. by
ts&asy, 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 whom the United States
may be at war.
Mr. Morrill, Of Vermont. in accord
addressed
the Senate on his bill authorizing the
purchase Of site east Of the capitol
grounds in Washington, for a building
for the United States supreme court.
Mr.. Morrill, made a speech urging the
propriety of erecting such a building.
At the conclusion of which the Senate
passed the supreme court site build
ing bill
The bill reviving the grade Of lieu
tenant general was reachad ~, tto
calendar, but was passed over, at the
request of Mr.. CockreI.
At O'Clock the Nicaragua canal bill
was taken up, at the request of Mr..
Morgan.
Mr.. Turpie addressed the Senate upon
the bill, saying that no one could ex-
Gel him in zeal in advocating the 18TH
mian canal; but while he saw the vast
advantage of the proposed waterway.
ne was also fully aware Of the difficult
ties Of putting the plan for a canal into
execution. He was not opposed to the
canal ss much as he was opposed ia
the scheme of the Maritime Canal Com
pans and he denounced that company
IS the most venomous and effective OBJ
Ronent OF real canal enterprise He
old not believe it possible for that COM
pany' with its bad odor, to construct
the canal, and he held that the Mari
time company should get out of the
way OF the genuine canal enterprise.
Inc OBJECT Of the maritime company,
ne declared, was not to cut a canal
gut TO cut channel of communication
81 the least possible cost. between the
treasury Of the United States and the
empty Golfers of that beggarly corpor-
eAion." Mr. Turpie asserted that the
zovSrnment could not lawfully guar
antee the Maritime companys bonds.