Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-01-25
CONGRESS-.


body convened at u O'Clock it proceeded at
once to the hall of the House of Representa-,
tives TO attend as a body the funeral of
Mr.. Dingley. At 1 O'Clock the Senate re-
turned TO it's chamber, and at 1:O7 p. M,
on motion of Mr.. Allison, adjourned until
tomorrow.
Almost the entire session of the Senate
was devoted to consideration of the pend
ing Nicaragua canal bill. Speeches were
made mad, in support of the measure BY Mr.;
in opposition to it by Mr.. Spooner wis.,.
At o'clock consideration of the bill under
the hfteen-minute rule was begun and was
continued to the close of the session.
The feature of the session of the Senate
on the 18th was q speech delivered by Mr..
Bacon III support of his resolutions declar-
ing that the United States would not as
sumo sovereignty over the Philippine isl
ands. Following Mr.. Bacon's speech the
Nicaragua canal bill was taken up. Amend
ment after amendment voted down.
ana until almost the last minute it seemed
likely that a vote on the measure would be
reached; but just as a final vote was about
to be called for Mr. Allison exploded 4
bomb under the bill by offering an amend
ment providing that the secretary of the
treasury should issue bonds to raise money
with which to construct the canal The
friends of the measure then consented to an
adjournment.
The Senate listened to further discussion
Of the policy of expansion on the 10Th.
Mr.. Turner wash, Pop delivered care
fully prepared speech Oh the Vest resOlu-
constitutional argument in which Mr.. Turn
er took issue with Senator Platt and Sena-
tor Foraker upon their recent utterances.
The Nicaragua canal bill was under cOnsid
Grafton nearly three hours. After much de-
bate Il substitute presented by Mr.. Morgan
tAla.) for the bond amendment offered by
MIR. Allison was adopted. 1t is as follows:
That the secretary of the treasury is here
by authorized and required to limit the pay
ments of the appropriation made in this act
so that such payments shall not exceed the
of $50. DOC, 900 in fiscal year.
The Senate was in session for five hours
and half on the Goth, but the session
was practically barren of results. Two
Mr.. Nelson in opposition to Mr.. Vests anti
expansion resolution, and the other by Mr..
White, personal explanation of his posi-
ton with respect to the Instructions given
the California senators by the Legislature
IN that state as to voting on the pending
peace treaty. AT the conclusion of the
speeches the Senate resumed consideration
OF the Nlcaraguan canal bill Mr.. Berry
offered the following amendment to section
>; Nothing IN this act shall be construed
to authorize the payment to said company
or TO any other person or persons a greater
sum than the value of such property as
aScertained by the commission herein
named, shall any warrants be deliy-
such value" Mr. Morgan accepted the
amendment, and it was agreed to- Mr.
GaHery,s amendment was then defeated.
- 10 20. Mr.. Chiffon (TeX) offered an
amendment reducing the number of di-
rectors of the canal from eleven to seven,
FIVE of whom are to be from the United
States. The amendment agreed to.
The Senate passed the Nicaragua canal
bill on the 21st. The bill continues the
name of the Maritime Canal company 1t
provides for the issuance Of 100000 shares
Is required to call in all the stock issued,
except that held by the Nicaraguan and
Costa Rican governments. The company is
also required to redeem and cancel ali bonds
and scrip heretofore issued by the company
sdnd to satisfy all cash liabilities. To enable
the company to comply with this require
ment, treasury warrants to the amount of
So,OOO, OOO are authorized. with a proviso TO
the effect that only so much of the amount
shall be paid as shall be required to pay
the actual cash value of the rights, priyi-
leges, franchises and property at the time
OF the payment, the value to be determined
by commissioners to be appointed by the
PRESIDENT. This being done the secretary
of the treasury IS authorized to subscribe
Tor 10000 shares Of the cOmpany'S stock
for the government of the United States.
Inc present members of the board of di-
fect0rS are then to resi- gn, and Il board of
seven IS to be appointed in their stead con-
Sisting Of five on behalf of the United States
ana one each on behalf of Nicaragua and
Costa RIGA. The directors on behalf of the
United States are to be appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Senate.
Each OF the directors, except the president,
is to receive salary of $4,000 per annum,
and the president is to have $4,000 There
is Il provision against declaring dividend
except upon net earnings. The company is
authorized to contract for the completion
Of the canal within six years The pay
inents are restricted to $50, 900, 900 annual
y. The canal is to be large enough for
the use OF the largest SeagOing vessels. at
COST not to exceed the estimate of the en-.
glneerS and not to exceed S115,000 600.
This amount is made permanent appropri-
alton for the work, to be used occasion
may require. The bill gives the government
a lien upon the property TO secure the repay
ment Of the moneys advanced and the
president empowered declare
fixture of the property to the United States
without the necessity Of judicial other
aScCrtainmentS. Thereafter full title is to
rest in the government of the United States.
The President is authorized to suspend pay
ments at any time. The President is also
authorized to secure any change in or mOdi-
t1cation Of the terms of the concession
either from the cOncessiOnaireS or from
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In case of fail
IRE in such negotiations the President is
also empowered to negotiate for another
route across the isthmus. He is further
requested to open negotiations for the abro-
cation Of the Clayton Bulwer treaty or
any other treaty found to be in existence
and standing in the way of the construction
Of the canal The neutrality of the canal
is guaranteed, but the right to protect it
against the Interruptions of business be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Of
the United States is reserved. The six
votes against the bill We're cast by Senators
Bate. Catfery, Cockrell, Mantle, Martin and
Smith
state funeral almost majestic in it's
impressiveness was given the late Repre-
sentative Nelson Dingley at noon on the
10th in the House Of Representatives, where
he has so long been such q commanding
figure. When all had departed save the
members the House adjourned as further
mark of respect.
The House the 18th passed the naval
personnel bill without division on the final
passage, thus accomplishing what the of
ficers Of the navy have striven for during
more than decade. BY it's provisions the
line and the engineer corps are welded into
an amalgamated line, staff officers are given
positive rank, but their command is limited
to their own corps. and system of vol
untary and compulsory retirement on three
quarters pay, as Of the next higher rank
of forty officers year, is established, which
is designed to remove the congestion in the
lower rank at forty-tve. The bill also prac-
tically equalizes their pay with that of
army officers.
The committee on interstate aud foreign
commerce had the right of way in the
House on the 18th and succeeded in passing
quite number of bills of minor Importance,
most Of which authorized the construction
of lighthouses, fog signals etc. Then the
bill to grant the Pacific Gable company
subsidy Of 500, 900 year for twenty years
for the construction and operation of a
cable was called up and very spirited de-