Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-03-04
RIVER AND HARBOR
BILL PASSES SENATE
The Nicaragua Canal Amendment
Is Adopted After o Hard
Fight.
THE HOUSE LIKELY TO KILL II
Opponents or Waterway Declare the
Measure Will Never See the
Light In the Lower
Branch.
THE HOUSE LIKELY TO KILL II

Washington, Feb. 27.-After a ses-
sion of nearly eight hours yesterday,
the senate at $3.50 p. IN. passed the
river and harbor bin by the decisive
vote of 80 TO 3. The measure was un.
der consideration throughout the day,
and on several of the committee
amendments n determined fight was
made, but In every instance the oppo-
sition availed nothing. The sharpest
contest arose over the Nicaragua canal
amendment. A point Of order was
made against IL that 1t was general
legislation, but the senate overrulecd
the point. The amendment was then
attacked as not being relevant to a riv-
er and harbor measure, but this, too,
was overruled by the senate. Senator'S
Pettigrew, silver republican, of South
Dakota; Rawlins, democrat, of Utah,
and Teller, silver re republican, OF Colo
RADIO, vigorously attacked the bill,
their opposition being especially
against the canal amendment. The
statement was made that the measure
would never see the light Of day in the
house, and that the canal would not be
built under the proposition inserted in
the bin.
Referring to the amendment provid-
ing for the construction Of reservoirs
at the headwaters of the Missouri
river and appropriating $4,000 for
three reservoirs i'm Wyoming, Senator
Frye, In charge Of the river and har-
Dor bill, asked that the amendment be
passed upon. He was not himself in
favor OF IL. The amendment was dis
cussed at length, Senator Spooner, of
Wisconsin, doubling its advisability
and saying it had every appearance OF
being the entering wedge of an elab-
crate system of irrigation OF arid
lands, which, If carried into effect,
would cost the government hundreds
of millions Of dollars.
Senators Warren, Of Wyoming;
Clark, of Wyoming; Allen, Of Nebras"
ka; Foraker, Of Ohio, and Gallinger,
of New Hampshire, spoke in favor OF
the amendment, which was adopted
without division.
Nicaragua Canal Amendment.
The reading Of the bill was then pro-
ceeded with without objection until
the Nicaragua canal amendment was
reached,
Senator Rawlins, of Utah, expressed
the opinion that the question was one
to be dealt with as a separate meas
ure, and made the point OF order
against the amendment because it
provided for general legislation.
After q long discussion the amend
ment was decided to be in order-5l to
7. Those voting nay were Senator's Al
len, Bate, Cockrell, Pettigrew, Raw
Inns, Teller and Vest.
Senator Vest then raised the ques-
ton of relevancy. The amendment
was decided to be ~releyant--4S to IL.
Those voting in the negative were Sen
ators Allen, Bate, Clay, Cockrell, Dan
lei, McLaurin, Pasco, Pettigrew, Raw.
Inns, Roach, Teller and Vest.
Senator Spooner offered an amend
ment to the Nicaragua canal amend
ment as follows:
That IL the president shall be unable to
secure from the governments OF Mica
ragua and Costa RiCa such Concessions as
will enable the United States to build and
perpetually own and control said cahal
the president is authorized to negotiate
for a control Of or a right to construct,
maintain and perpetually control some
other canal connecting the Atlantic
Pacific oceans. and the presldent rs re.
VI VI w H'AAA ~ 49,
modification Of any and all treaty obliga-
lions, if~any such exist, as shall In n
wise Interfere with the construction, own
ership and perpetual control or such
canal.
The amendment was agreed to-.
Senator Pettigrew said he had no
idea the canal would be built under
this amendment. He maintained that
S115, 000, 900 would not pay for its con-
struction. In his opinion $2l5,000, 900
would not build it,. The canal must
be made neutral absolutely
and unfortified or we must fortify 1t at
expense of hundreds of millions.
At the conclusion of his remarks the
canal bill amendment as amended
was agreed to without division.
An amendment for the coditication
Of laws relating to river and harbor
was agreed TO.
Senator Teller, silver republican, of
Colorado. made n vigorous argument
against the bill, particularly the canal
feature. lie declared the plan was
based on no intelligent information
and investigation. No living man, he
said, could say what the canal would
cost. 1t might cost $500, 900, 900 or
$500, 600, 900.
After some minor amendments the
was passed, 50 to ,.
Senators Pettigrew, Rawlins and
voted against the bill.