Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-01-18
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL

THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
Almost the entire session of the Sen
ate yesterday was devoted to cons;d-
Grafton OF the pending Nicaragua
Canal bill. Speeches made 10 support of
the measure by Mr.. Chiffon, OF Texas,
and Mr.. Turner, of Washington, and in
opposition to it by Mr.. Spooner, OF Wis
consin. At three o'clock consideration
of the bill under the ifteen-minute rule
was begun, and was continued to the
close Of the session. The first vote
reached was on the following amend
ment offered by Dir. RawlinF, of Utah ::
THAT this act shall not take effect un'
til the government OF the United STAT,
shall have secured By convention with
the governments ofCosta RIGA and Mic
aragus, and with other governments
which the United States may have
treaties inconsistent Herewith, the right
70 for:ify and garrison the proposed
canal and to maintain armed vessels
therein or upon Lake Nicaragua, and
to move military forces through the
territory of either OF said States for the
purpose of protecting the canal and the
citizens of the United States operating
the same; also the right OF passage
through the canal of the armed vessels,
troops, munitions and supplies of war of
the governments of the United States,
Costa RIGA and Nicaragua in case
either of said governments is at war
with any foreign government, with the
right to close the canal to the ships,
troops and munitions of war of such
foreign government during the exis.
tence of such state of war;"
MIR. Rawlins made the amendment a
text for severe attack upon the canal
project. At the conclusion of his re-
marks he asked for avote on his propo-
sition. Pending the taking OF the vote,
even after the roll call had begun, Mr.
Turner, of Washington, said he desired
to submit some remarks upon it. He
argued that the Clayton Bulwer treaty
was not in force now, if it had ever
been, ss he said it had been modified,
and the notifications made had never
been ratified by the Senate. He be-
lieved that the bill could be enacted
without 10 the least disturbing our re-
lations with Great Britain.
The Rawlins amendment was de-
feated by decisive maiority-9 yeas to
3S nays.
The yeas were Messrs. Bate, Lind
say, McLaurin. Mantle, Pettigrew,
Rswlins, Teller, Turley and Vest.
Mr.. Sullivan, of Mississippi, offered
an amendment limiting to 100000
the amount to be paid the Maritime
Canal Company in the way of compen-
sation for its concession or reimburse
ment for its work.
Mr.. Morgan opposed the amendment
as likely to hamper action under the
bill.
Mr.. Pettigrew said he was satisfied
that no canal would oe built even if the
bill were passed aud that the only
thing that would be accomplished
would be the payment of FIVE million
dollars TO the promoters of the scheme.
He declared that nothing practical had
been accomplished by the Maritime
Canal Company, and the members had
done nothing since 1889 but lmportune
Congress to pay them an immense sum
of money foT nothing. He said that it
ought to be provided, if the country
was to GO op with the project, that the
United States should secure from the
canal company its property at a fair
valuation in cash, and not cent more
should be paid.
The amendment was adopted with
out division, Mr.. Morgan withdrawing
mis- objection to it.
Mr.. Gallery, of Louisiana, then Of
fered as an amendment to the Morgan
bill his bill for the construction of the
canal by the United States, one feature
of which is the direction to the Presi.
dent to secure the abrogation OF the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
Then, at 4:50 p. NJ, the Senate went
into executive session.