The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-06
NO PENSIONS WANTED
The Confederate Veterans Against
Buffers Amendment.
CALL IT UNGRACIOUS
ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR
THEMSELVES.
Gallery Concludes His Speech Against
the Nicaragua Canal Bill-Canal
Must Be Neutral Under the Clay
ton-Bulwer Treaty-8ills Passed
By the House.

Washington, Jan. 5.-Little business
except that of routine character was
transacted by the senate today. A res
olution, offered by Mr.. Hoar of Massa-
chusetts, directing the committee on
foreign relations to report to the SEN
ate whether the treaty of Paris makes
any provision for the claims of citizens
of the United States against Spain
which were in existence before the
present war-and the status of such
claims after the ratification of the
treaty, was adopted:
Mr.. Gallery of Louisiana continued
and practically concluded his speech
begun before the holiday recess in op-
position to the pending Nicaragua ca
nal bill. -
In the absence of the vice president
on account Of illness Mr.. Frye (Maine)
was president pro tenn.
Mr.. Berry (Dem., Ark.) presented a
protest from the ]. E. Murray camp
of United Confederate Veterans of Ar
kansas against the adoption of the
proposed amendment of Senator Butler
Pop., n. CO to the pension appropria-
ton bill, providing for the payment of
pensions to confederate soldiers. Mr..
Berry said the members of the camp
declared it unwise to adopt such d
proposition. They say, said Mr. Berry,
that they have provided for themselves
and for their families for more than a
generation. and they regard such a
proposition as that Of Mr.. Butler as
''ungracious."
Mr. Hoar introduced a resolution re-
questing the president if, in his judg-
ment, not incompatible with the pub
lie interest, to- communicate to the sem
ate all instructions given by him to the
commissioners who negotiated the
treaty of Paris; all correspondence be-
tween the executive and the state de-
partment and the commissioners, and
all reports made by the commissioners,
made either to the president or to the
state department
At the request of Mr.. Davis, one of
the peace commissioners, the resclu-
ton went over
A bill granting to the state of Cali
fornia per cent of the net proceeds of
the cash sales of public lands in said
state was called up by Mr.. White of
California and passed.
The senate bill providing for the
classification of clerks in first and sec
ond-class postoffices was passed. The
bill also fixes salaries. It divides the
clerks in first-class offices into eight
grades, at salaries ranging from $500 to
81, 900.
NICARAGUA CANAL DEBATE.
On motion of Mr.. Morgan the Nicara-
guam canal bill was taken up at 1870
p. m, half an hour in advance of the
regular time Mr.. Caffery was recog-
nized to continue his speech in oppo-
sition to the Clayton-Bulwer treaty,
asserting that the bill sought to do by
indirectiOn. what the treaty prohibits
doing directly.
Mr.. Caffery said, in reply to a ques-
ton from Mr.. White, that it was mis-
opinion that if the United States
should build the canal under the pend
ing bill in the face of the treaty, the
canal would be absolutely neutral, and
Great Britain would have every right
TO use the canal in time of war. He
thought the treaty should be abrogat-
3D. and that the United States should
construct the canal Independently of
the Maritime company.
Mr.. White expressed the opinion that
the interests of the human race de-
manded the construction of the canal,
but said that in proceeding we should
have due regard for all interests. He
thought however, that we ought to be
able to devise q scheme for proceeding
with the construction of the canal with
out infringing upon the rights of other
nations, and intimated that tho canal
might be built and negotiations with
other countries conducted later.
During his speech, Mr.. Caffery al
luded to the statement, which had been
made repeatedly, that the opposition
to the canal was fostered and main
tanned by those who were behind the
transcontinental railroads as support
ers. This charge he repudiated and he
declared he would scorn himself if he
could be supposed to be guilty of it
Mr.. Caffery had practically concluded
his speech when Mr. Mclaughlin IS. c.
raised the point of no quorum.
A call of the roll developed the pres
ence of only twenty-nine members,
seventeen less than a quorum.
On motion of Mr.. Plat Comm, who
said it was evident that no quorum
could be secured, the senate, at 1925 p.
m, adjourned.