Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-04
IN CONGRESS-.
House Begins Consideration of the
Nicaraguan Canal MEASURE
senate Proceedings.

Washington, May 2.-For the first
time during the 80 years of agitation of
the project for the construction of an
interoceanic canal the house of repre-
sentatives on Tuesday entered upon the
consideration of a measure to actually
authorize the building of Il canal.
Many times propositions bearing upon
the subject have been before the house,
but this was the first time positive ac-
ton can be predicated. y session for
debate was held Tuesday night, and to-
day the bill will be voted upon before
adjournment. The debate was mem
orable because of the unexpectedly
powerful opposition il developed. Mr.
Burton (O.). chairman of the rivers and
harbors committee; Mr.. Hit Qll).
chairman of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, and Mr.. Cannon CID, chair
man of the appropriations committee.
threw the weight of their influence
against it. not because they are OPP
posed to the building of the canal, but
because they considered that the time
for authorizing its construction was
not ripe. Mr.. Burton and Mr.. Hit con-
tended that the bill would violate the
-Buiwer treaty, which guaran
tees the neutrality of the canal. and
chairman of the isthmian canal COM
mission, as saying that the commits
sion was not yet prepared to say which
was the best route. Mr.. Cannon con-
tended that the authorize ton of the
construction of the canal over the Mic
araguan route at this time would de-
lay its building for years and cost the
government $50,000000. The debate
also developed other lines of opposi-
ton. Some of the democrats insist that
the amendments striking the words
defend" and "fortifcations" from the
bill are designed to make it harmonic
with the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. and
that it is therefore Objectionable. and
Mr.. Shackleford (Mo.) desired the bill
amended so that if that treaty is rati-
fed the bill will not go into effect.
AT the night session Mr.. Levy (dem..
n. " and Mr.. Adamson dem. Ga.)
opposed the bill. Mr.. Sparkman (dem..
Fla.), MIR. Mesick (rep.. o., Mr.. Ball
(dem., Tex) and Mr. Berry (dem.. XVI
favored the bill. Other speakers at the
night session were Messrs. Newlands
(silverite, New, Ridgely pop., Kan.).
Devries fdem., CALI, Hepburn (rep..
Ia.), Stewart (rep, N. J), Waters (rep..
CALI, DAILY dem, n. W, Polk (dem..
Pa.). Pearce Gep., MOI, Ryan dem.
n. " and Parker (rep., N. J.). At 1880
the house adjourned.
Washington, May 2.-After having
been under consideration more than
two months. the Alaskan civil code bill
was passed by the senate Tuesday.
Senator Carter to do this withdrew the
amendment relating to alien location
of mining claims and all other points
in dispute.
The army appropriation bill, carry
ing supplies for the military establish
ment of more than $114,C00, 900, was
then-taken up. The feature of the dis
eussion of the measure was debate on
trusts precipitated by an amendment
offered by Senator Berry (dem., Ark
providing that the quartermasters de-
partment should not purchase supplies
from any recognized trust. The amend
mept was defeated. The bill had not
been completed when the senate adj |
iourned