New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-25
SENATE PASSES CANAL BILL
NICARAGUA MEASURE ATTACHED TO
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
POINT OF ORDER ovERRULED-rHE MEAS
IRE ADOPTED AFTER VIC
OROUs CONTEST.

POINT OF ORDER Wv tshiNbi'i-i ~
IRE ADOPTED AFTER VIC
oRoUs CONTEST.
Washington. Feb 24-After a session of near
~ eieht hours the Senate at $50 o'clock TINS
afternoon passed tho River and Haroor III"
nv the decisive vote Of 20 to J. The bill was
under consideration throughout the day ana Oh
several Of the committee amendments deter
mined night was made but In every Instance INC
opposition awaited nothing. The shalpest con-
test arose over the Nicaragua Canal amehu-
,,or, . ,,oint Of order was made against IL
thar u was general legislation. but the Senate
70 which the Vice President submitted 'he
point overrued It. II was then attacked as
not being relevant TO river and harbor meas
ure but this. too. overruled by the senate
Mr. Pettigrew ISL. Rep s. Dak). Mr.. hawhhs
Dem. Utah ard Mr.. Teller ISL. Rep, COLI
vigorously attacked the bill. their opposition
bei,e directed especially against the canal
amendment The statement was made that inc
measure would never see the light of day in the
House and that the canal would not be DuHt
under the proposition inserted in the bill "hen
the Nicaragua Canal amendment was read MT
Rawllns called attention to the fact that there
,vas no provision for the ratification by the
Senate Of any treaty that might be made with
Nicaragua or Costa Rica for right Of way for
the canal.
Mr.. FRYE replied that no treaty was provided
for.
Mr. Rawlins was OF the opinion that the ques-
ton should be dealt with a separate meas
ure He then made the point OF order that the
amendment was not in ORDER because IL pro-
vided for general legislation
Mr. Pcttigrew supported the point Of order
and Mr.. Frye contended that 1T was not wen
taken He admitted that a point of order TO
the effect that the amendment was not ger
name might he raised.
Messrs. Chiffon and Morgan contended for the
regularity Of the amendment
Mr. Rawlins in support of his point OF order
maintained that If the proposition had any Va
Tditv It was clearly general legislation On the
other hand. 1t might be regarded as uncohsu-
tutional because II proposed to confer on the
President authority to make a compact with
foreign Government which under the Constitu-
ton. treaty.
After q long discussion the Vice-Presdent.
ovailjng himself Of the rules Of the Senate. sub
mitte1 the question. rs the amendment in or
der and shall it be submitted to the Senate?
AMENDMENT DECIDED IN ORDER.
The ayes and noes were demanded and the
amendment was decided to be in order by vote
Of II to T. Those voting no were Messrs Al
len. Bate Cockrell, Pettgrew, Rawlins' Teller
and Vest.
Mr. Vest then raised the question Of relevancy
Of the amendment and demanded the ayes ana
noes It was decided to be relevant by vote
OF 40 to T. Those voting in the negative we're
Messrs. Allen. Bate Clay, Coclrell, Daniel Nc
Laurin. Pasco. Pettigrew Rawlins, Roach Tel
Ter and Vest
.Io oil In
10 the Nicaragua Canal amendment:
That if the President shall be unable to Sc
cure from the Governments of Nicaragua anu
Costa Eica such concessions as VIII enaple lhe
United states 10 build and pe1petuelly own ana
control said canal the President Is authorized
10 negotiate Cor control Of or right to con-
struct maintain and perpetually contIol some
Other canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacihc
oceans. and the President is required to nego-
tiate for the abrORaton or modihcatoh OF any
and all treaty obligations, if any such exist as
shall in any wise interfere with the cohstruc-
ton ownership and perpetual control OF any
such canal
Mr. Frye IN charge Of the bill. accepted the
amendment and It was agreed to.
Mr.. RawIins argued against the canal amend
mont and at the close Of his address proposed
an amendment striking out the appropriation
for the purchase Of the right Of way for the
canal. The amendment was defeated-fS TO ..
The amendment was supported by Messrs. Bate
Pettigrcw. Rawns. Turey and Vest.
Mr. Pettigrew had no idea the canal would be
built under this amendment. He maintained
that 600 would not pay for IT'S construc-
ton. nor in his opinion. would $215'OOoOO
build il. The canal must either he made neutral
absolutely and unfortihcd, IT must be fortified
at en- expense Of hundreds Of millions He de-
clared that for half the money which this canal
of doubtful expediency' would cost transcon-
tinental railroad owned by the Government
could be constructed. which would confer a
greater benefit on the people than any such
canal was proposed
PLACED IN THE BILL
At the close of his remarks the Nicaragua
Canal bill amendment as amended was agreed
to without division
Mr. Frye offered as an amendment a codihca
ton Of laws relating 10 river and harbor i'm
provements. and it agreed To without be-
ing read and without division.
MI Pettigrew remarked sarcastically that he
would not object. as it simply added to the mon
stroslties Of the measure. He was satisfied that
the House would never let the bill see daylight.
Mr. Teller made n vigorous argument against
the bill particularly the Nicaragua Canal feat
ure He denounced the canal plan. declaring
that it was based on no Intelligent information
and investigation. No living man. he said. could
say what the canal would cost. 1t might cost
$500 100000 or S400,000000 He declared that
Congress was going it blind in putting the
canal project on the River and HsrbOr bill and
hurrying Il through in such fashion.
After some minor amendments the River and
Harbor bill was passed-JO to .. Messrs. Petit
grew, Rawns and Teller voted against it.
CAPTAIN J. w. MILLER PRESIDENT.
The Board OF the Nicaragua Canal Company met
and organized Thursday by eecting as president
Captain J. ". Miller. also now president Of the
Providence and StoninGton Stea mshp Line. and as
Gordon McIOonald hn