Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-25
NICARAGUA CANAL.
Added by the Senate to the River ana
HarbOr Bill.

The Senate last evening at $50 o'clock
passed the river and harbor bill by the de-
cis1ve vote of 30 to 3, after session of
nearly eight hours. The measure was I'M
der consideration throughout the day and
on several Of the committee amendments a
determined fight was made, but in every
instance the opposition awaited nothing.
The sharpest contest arose over the Mic
araguan canal bill amendment. A point of
order was made against 1t that it was gen
eral legislation. After a long discussion
of the point of order, the Vice President
availing himself of the rules of the Senate
submitted to the Senate the question, rs
the amendment in order and shall it be
submitted to the Senate?"
The ayes and noes We're demanded and
the amendment was decided to be in order,
II to {. Those voting no We're Nessrs AL
len, Bate, Cockrell, Pettigrew, Rawlins,
Teller and Vest
Mr.. Vest then raised the question OF rel
evancy of the amendment and demanded
the ayes and noes. 1t was decided to be
relevant 4s to 70. Those voting in the
negative were Allen. Bate. Clay, Cockrell
Daniel. McLaurin. Pasco, Pettigrew, Raw
iins, Roach, Teller and Vest
Mr.. SpOoner offered an amendment to
| the Nicaragua canal amendment, as fol-
| lows: That If the President shall be I'M
able to secure from the governments of
NlcetTdS.l ia ana costa E(lca Such concessions
as Will enable the United States to build
and perpetually own and control said
canal the President is authorized to nego-
tate for g control of a right to con-
struct, maintain and perpetually control
some other canal connecting the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans, and the President is
required to negotiate for the abrogation
or modification of any and all treaty Obli-
cations, If any such exist, shall in any
wise interfere with the construction, own
ership and perpetual control of any such
canal
Mr.. Frye, in charge of the bill, accepted
the amendment and it was agreed to.
Mr. Rawlins argued against the canal
amendment.
At the conclusion of his address he pro-
posed an amendment striking out the APP
preparation for the purchase of the right of
way for the canal The amendment was
defeated. AZ to 8. The amendment was
supported b. Messrs. Bate, Pettigrew,
| Rawlins. Turley and Vest.
Mr.. Pettigrew had no idea the canal
would be built under this amendment. He
maintained that sl15,HO0.0OO would not pay
| for its construction nor, in his opinion,
would S215,0010o0 build ii. The canal must
either be made neutral absolutely and I'M
| fortified or we must fortify it at an cx-
| pense of hundreds of millions.
| At the conclusion of Mr.. Pettigrew's re-
| marks the Nicaragua canal bill amendment
as amended was agreed to without division
! Mr.. Teller (Colo.) made vigorous argu-
| nent against the bill, adverting particu-
1 larry 10 the NlcaraSuan canal feature.
! The measure was finally placed on its
passage and passed, 10 to 3. Messrs. Petit
| grew. Rawlins and Teller voted against
! the bill
/ Mr.. Hawley, chairman of the military af
/ fairs committee reported the compromise
! bill for the reorganization of the army
/ This measure" said he, has been agreed
/ to in committee with great unanimity anG
| with the hearty belief that it will pass the
! Senate
/ The Hull-Hawley bill was then recon-
3 n7itted 10 the committee
/ An agreement was reached that the Sen
ate convene at IL am. today.
The Senate then. on motion of Mr.. Plat
| Comm, at 6:40 adjourned.