The times., 1899-01-18
MIR. MORGAN'S CANAL BILL.
Vote May lie Reached in the Senate
TnlnH.

tote Reacheu the
To-day.
4 final vote on the Nicaragua Canal bill,
which has been before the Senate during
the greater part OF this session. will be
reached today. AT least that is the eXpec-
tation of those in charge of the bill.
The matter was brought speedily to a
head yesterday when the measure was pro-
ceeded with under the five minute rule
and on a roll call on an amendment. the
effect of which was 10 delay action on the
canal, it was developed that instead OF the
expected two thirds majority the measure
will be passed by the sanction of at least
three fourths of the members OF the
Senate.
At t2:50 Mr.. Morgan called up the bill
and after Mr.. Caffery, who is trying TO
delay action on the bill. mad given notice
that at a future time he should i,ive rea-
sons why the bill ought to receive further
consideration. Mr. Chiffon of Texts took
the floor and spoke for an hour iii favor
of the bill.
He called attention TO the fact that the
Suez Canal was built and operated Under
| the same plan as proposed in the pending
| bill.
Mr.. Chiffon also said that the attitude
of Great Britain in respect to an isthmian
| canal had been changed by the building
| of the SueZ Canal. and that she no longer
| felt the need of the canal for trade III Inc
| East, but, on the contrary. it would be
rather of detriment to her trade in those
| countries ii the United States should be
| given shorter route there.
| Mir. Chiffon believed that the pending
measure was the only practical solution
! of the question at the present time, ana
| he devoted considerable time to answer
| ing previous objections that had been
made TO it.
Mr. Spooner who had been an inter
! ested listener during the debate on the
against it. He was heartily in favor of
| the canal he declared, but thought the
| only way to get it was to first treat dip
lomatically with Great Britain and gain
her consent, and then buy the right IL
| way, and thus own the canal when il was
| completed.
Mr.. Turner of Washington. an earnest
advocate of the bill, then took the floor
and urged that the time would never come
| when objections would not be piled up
| mountain high against the propositions,
| and that he believed the present bill 4
good beginning. The people OF the Pacific
| Coast he declared. demanded action in
| this great work.
Mr.. Turner spoke until his time limit
reached on January 10, the debate was
| proceeded with under what is known as
the five minute rule so modified that each
Senator was allowed fifteen minutes or
| each amendement.
Mr.. Rollins of Utah submitted an amend
ment that nothing be done under the bill
until the President had made sucl
diplomatic arrangements with Nicaragu;
and Costa Rica as would place the it'll
to the canal in. the United States and oc
III, IIrst 4.
amendment.
Mr. Turner was then recognized for tif
teen minutes on the amendment of Mr.. Rol
Inns and proceeded to conclude his pre-
viOus remarks
y vote was then taken on the Rollin
amendment which was for the purpose o
postponing action. The amendment wa
lost by vote of . to IS.
Mr.. Sullivan offered amendmen
touching the section of the bill providin
for the purchase by the United States @
the concession and work of the Martini
Canal Company. The amendment provide
that all money so paid should be for wor
only.
Mr.. Morgan explained that the com
mittee had made an exhaustive considera
ton Of that question, and that the prescn
provision provided that the matter shouL
be settled by three commissioners to b
appointed by the president, ana lHdt
the full amount of s.. 600. 600 should be de
decided on by the commission as due to tn
company they would then only receiv
$500. 900 over what they have actually eX
pended for work, and that far more TIA
l that amount had been expended by tn
1 company. He hoped the amendment woul
} not be insisted on.
Mr. Pettigrew said that in his opinio
the payment of this money to the Mari
D | time Company was the only tangible thin
| that would be accomplished under tn
r | present bin. Mr.. Morgan interrupted Nj
I | Pettigrew and called his attention to tn
a ! fact that the bill provided that the Pres
S ident of the United States could stop a
I payments of money. and he thought tn
= | President could be trusted in this matter
| Mr.. Morgan withdrew his objection {:
. Mr.. Sulliyan's amendment and it Wa
J adopted.
r Mr.. Carter inquired if it would be poss
a | bic at this time to proceed TO eXecutiS
business. Mr.. Morgan said he would lii
{ to get the amendments disposed of
5 Mr.. Caffery submitted his substitute Il
= the bill. on which he has previously az
t dressed the Senate. The amendment pre-
Il vides that the President shall first obtai
I through diplomatic negotiations with Enl
= land, the abrogation of the Clayton Bu
n wer treaty and then proceed TO negotia
o with the governments of Nicaragua al
l. Costa Rca TO obtain right f-way for Il
e canal. after which the construction sha
i begin.
i Mr.. Morgan asked that the bill be r.
| printed and Mr. Gallery then yielded #
| an executive session at 1. i5