New-York tribune., 1899-02-16
CANALS FRIENDS DEFEATED
THE NICARAGUA BILL KILLED FOR THIS
SESSION or CONGRESS-
RULED OFT OF ORDER As A RIDER on THE
sUNDRy CIVIL BTI1-THE CHAIRS
DECISION SUSTAINED.

DECISION SUSTAINED.
Washington. Feb 1.-THE House to-day set
tied the fate Of the Nicaragua Canal bill in this
Congress by refusing 20 override the decision OF
the chair in Committee OF the Whole that the
offering Of the Canal bill as an amendment to
the Sundry Civil bill by Mir Hepburn was out
Of order The friends II the Canal bill were con-
ldent yesterday and to-day that they would
win but after four hours Of debate the Chair
was sustained 10y vote Of 127 10 100. Mr..
Bailey. the Democratic leader. argued that the
amendment was in order. Mr.. Grosvenor Ntep.,
ohio bore the Drunt Of the argument to-day In
behalf of this contention. Messrs Moody Rep,
Mass). Dockery Dem, Mo- and Fleming
Dem, Ca were ptted against him. The de
bate throughout the day exceedingly
spirited. Party lines not adhered to. the
division in favor Of and in opposition to sus-
tanning the Chairs decision being about equal on
both sides OF the political aisle About ten pages
Of the Sundry Civil bin were disposed Of.
a HOT FIGHT IN THE HOUSE.
one Of the herccst contests Of the session
in progress when the House met The friends
and opponents of the plan to attach the Mica
raeua Canal bill TO the sundry civil bill were
working assiduously, and every argument which
could influence members one way or the other
was being brought TO bear. The fate Of the Canal
bill at this session II Congress was in the bal
ance.
Mr. Sherman Of New-York who had been
snowbound between New-York and Washington
for two days arrived this morning lie
designated as chairman OF the Committee Of the
Whole by the Speaker when the Sundry Civil
bill was taken up. but IN his absence Mr.. Hop
kins OF Illinois. occupied the chair ordinarily
the member originally designated would resume
the chair on his return from such an absence.
but owing 70 the fact that Mr.. Hopkins heard
the debate yesterday on the points OF order
raised by the chairman Of The Appropriations
Committee against the Canal amendment it was
decided that ne should hear the remainder of
the argument and make the ruling.
Some time was spent Al the opening of the
session with routine matters. Just before the
motion was made TO 8, into Committee Of the
Whole. Mr. Hepburn. OF Iowa who conducted
the fight behalf OF the Niacararua Canal
amendment asked unanimous consent that the
/ Canal bill he made special order for Tuesday
next bat objection was made
The House then Went into Committee of the
Whole C1r Hopkins in the chair on the Sundry
civil bin, the pending question being the point
OF order raised against the Canal amendment
BAILEY FOR THE AMENDMENT.
I J
sired 10 address himself he said TO the remarks
OF Mr.. Cannon yesterday about the scandals
which gr-w out Of the building Of the Pacific
railroads. Although Mr.. Cannon had not said
so in many words. ne assumed that he feared
in connection with the Nicaragua Canal q repe-
tition Of the scandals which had disgraced the
promoters OF the Pacific railroads
Mr. Cannon Interrupted 10 say that his criti-
cism Of the Pacific railroads legislation was
that II loosely enacted and therefore opened
the way to the scandals which hal followed
Mr. Bailey. IN reply. declared that the Pacific
railroads scandals had not arisen out OF loose
legislation. There had been d deeper cause
/ They had grown out OF the unfortunate part
nership between the Government and certain in
dlviduals The virtue in the canal proposition
before the House that It avoided this very
ptfall. BY its terms the canal would be
structed by the Government He desired to
vote on that proposition because ne realized
that sooner or later the House would be com
PEELED TO choose between this proposition and
one to allow a private corporation with GOV
ernment credit TO build the canal II the canal
was to be built 10y the Government II must be
on the theory that II was necessary for mill
tary and naval defence. Otherwise. IL the Gov
ernment could build waterways in foreign ter
ritory. why could it not come back home and
build railroads for the benefit Of Interstate
| commerce?
DOCKERY UPHOLDs THE RULES
Mr. Dockcry Dem. MOI made an argument
in favor Of sustaining the rules Of the House.
which. ne conteudcd. the proposed amendment
violated No one with any respect FOR his rcpu-
tation as a parlIamontarian. hc declared. could
hold that the amendment was IN order. II was
already open secret he said. that the House
ready 20 overrue the decision of the Chair
because il was known that the Chair must rule
against the amendment He realized that the
members were eager 10 get al thu public treas
ury on this proposition. hut he warned his
colleagues on the Democratic side that II they
helped 10 overthrow the RUE they swept away
for an time the rights ~ the minority. lie had
no respect FOR the rules as sucn. They degraded
the individual member and massed too much
power IN tho Speaker but the members Of the
minority. especially dare not override this rule
that had come down from the Democratic
fathers Even iu the turbulent days of the List
Congress hc said 10 never occurred % those M
power to attempt 90 place the Force hiil' on "a
supply bu as ID rider IL remained for those
behind this hin To- attempt this. But if this
amendment was declared IN order he gave no-
tice that he would offer au amendment 90 il
% provide for the issue IF enough additional
lcgal-tenGcr notes 10 meet the entire cost IF the
construction Of the canal
Mr DocRery declared himself I'm favor Of
building the Nicaragua Canal. because i' would
aid In the National defence and promote com
mercal expansion. which ne preferred % ter
rtOrial expansion
Mr.. Quies O;cp.. y. " interrupted to call at
tention 10 the fact that the rights under which
the canal Was 10 De CONSTRUCTED would expire
/ IN eight months.
Mr.. Dockcrs in reply. said he welcomed the
~, eruption II disclosed the 'lttle 'ker u!
inc, shan. of the claim of the Maritime Canal
Company for which the senate bin appr"rri-
ated S1OOONNO