Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-06-19
THE CANAL QUESTION
Senator Morgan Discusses Its Dip.
lomatic Phases.
The IRRIGATION BILL IN The HOUSE
Memorial Asking for q Congressional
Committee to Go to the Philippines to
Investigate Conditions There-Ths
Committee on Rules Defended.

Washington, June 13.-After con
sidering the London dock charges
bill for an hour and half yesterda!
without completing it the senate re
sumed consideration of the isthmiaI
canal question. Senator Morgan, O.
Alabama, occupied the floor for three
hours and half discussing particu
larly the diplomatic phases Of thu
question. From this point he wal
diverted by an amendment intro
duced by Senator Fairbanks, of In
diana, providing for the issue Of
bonds for the construction of thu
canal. Senator Morgan vigorously
attacked the amendment. maintain
ing the expense Of the canals taxa
ton should be paid out Of the treas
ury's current receipts. Incidentally
Senator Morgan again opposed the
Panama route, and assailed the re-
port of the new Panama company to
dispose Of the concessions held from
the old company.
A bill was passed to amend an act
to prohibit the passage of local laws
In the territories, and to limit the
territorial indebtedness.
Senator Mason introduced a joint
resolution looking to the advance
ment Of money out Of the treasury
of the United States to pay the ex-
penses Of members of the G. A. R.
who may wish to attend the forth
coming annual encampment in Wash
ington, and who may not be fnan-
cially able TO pay their own expenses.
The house yesterday adopted q
special rule for the consideration Of
the irrigation bill, which passed the
senate some time ago, and devoted
the day to general debate Of the
measure. To-day the bill will be
read for amendment under the five
minute rule.
Mr.. Robinson, Of Indiana, opposed
the adoption Of the rule for the con-
sideration of the IRRIGATION bill. He
declared that the bill would be bene-
fetal to the arid land states and dan
gerous to all others. He criticised
severely the action Of the demo-
cratic congressional committee IN
adopting a resolution favoring the
irrigation bill. He declared that the
committee was without jurisdiction
and had no power to bind the demo-
cratic members. The whole scheme
was undemocratic he asserted, and
was in the interest of land grant rail
ways.
Mr.. Underwood argued that the
only way of building up the arid land
states was to provide for their irri-
cation. The bill would not take a
dollar out of the treasury, he said.
1t would only use the proceeds from
the sale of lands in each state for the
benefit of each state.
Mr.. Mccall, of Massachusetts, pre-
scented memorial signed by Charles
Francis Adams, Andrew Carnegie and
Carl Schurz asking that a congress
sional committee of investigation be
appointed to go to the Philippines
to inquire into the report upon con-
ditions existing there. Mr.. Carne-
gie's signature was authorized by
cable. The memorial is dated at Bos-
ton, and states that the signers are
a committee appointed at a recent
meeting of persons, irrespective Of
party, interested in the policy pur-
sued by the United States toward
the Philippines.
Mr.. Olmstead, of Pennsylvania, re-
piled to remarks made by Mr.. Cush-
man, Of Washington, some weeks
ago, in which the Washington men,
her denounced the committee on
rules for its alleged misuse of its
power to prevent members from OBJ
tanning consideration Of meritorious
bills. Mr.. Olmstead read a list of IS
bills Mr. Cushman had introduced,
including one appropriating $4,000
for a commission to investigate the
question of universal language"
81 presume" observed Mr.. Olmstead,
shat this is the language we are to
use when the rules committee has
been abolished and every member
can speak in behalf Of his own bill
whenever the spirit moves him."
Mr.. Olmstead defended the machin-
cry Of the house, arguing that pres
ent legislative methods were neces-
sary for the transaction of public
business. Fourteen thousand bills
had been introduced at the present
session. The house would have to
sit day and night for ten years to
consider and pass on all of them.
ua xyapt ovar fba ranord "a chotv TINT
more bills had been passed and more
unanimous consents had been ac-
corded in the last congress than in
the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth con-
crosses, before the present system
went into effect. He concluded by
adjuring members in the language Of
a western music hall notice, don't
shoot the fiddlers, they are doing
the best they can"