Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1895 — FIFTY – THIRD CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

FIFTY - THIRD CONGRESS

The Senate convened at noon, Jan. 3. About twenty members were present. Vice President Stevenson called the Senate to order, and laid before the Senate a letter from Secretary Gresham relative W the transmission of the resolutions oi sympathy on the death of President Carnot, The resolution of Mr. Allen relating to the Senate restaurant was taken up, and Mr- Allen addressed the Senate al some length. He thought the restaurant should not be furnished by the Government. Senators Hale and Manderson both thought the best interests of the Senate demanded that there be no change. At t o’clock the resolution went over and th« Senate proceeded to consideration of the Nicaraugua bill. Mr. Morgan criticised Senators who opposed the bill by imputing to those who favored the bill other than patriotic motives. He defended the constitutionality of the present bill, which had been attacked. The Senator consumed a great portion of’ his speech in controverting the statements made by Mr. Turpie.He quoted liberally from the speech, paid considerable attention to the “conspicuous errors of fact” upon which the Senator’s argument is based. The Senator had contended, said Mr. Morgan, that thecompany mustcomplets theoanal by 1897, ten vqars from the date at which the concessions were granted. The fact was, however, asserted Mr, Morgan, that the company had two years to make preliminary arrangements and teu years after that, or until October 1899, to complete the project. He urged against the proposition of Mr. Turpie that the canal should be built by sections, and asserted that the cost would be three times greater to build it than if constructed in the ordinary manner. Mr. Morgan declared that if the Senator’s position regarding the possibility of the successtai completion of the canal fn view of the obstacles named by him was correct, the substitute offered by Mr. Turpie, providing for a survey to ascertain- the practicability of construction was illogical. If the pictures drawn by the Senator from Indiana of the conditions existing were true, there could be nothing but an affront to Nicaragua in a survey designed to bring his sketches into a stronger light and to display that country in horrible nakedness. If the company had gone to London instead of coming co Washington for a charter, the canal would now be completed, or nearly so, and would, like the Suez canal, be under the civil and military control of Great Britain. Before Mr. Morgan finished his speech the Senate adjourned. When Speaker Crisp called the House to order, Jan. 3, one-half of the member* were present and the galleries wert packed. The currency bill debate occupied the time. Mr. Black denied at the outset that the banking and currency committee had hoard only National bankera while considering the pending measure and had turned a deaf car to all others. He met this and parried other criticisms of the opponents of the hill and gave an historical review of the financial doctrines of Democratic Presidents from Jefferson to Cleveland. Legislation had not caused all the misfortunes under which the peo pie were suffering, he said. It might have contributed to their misfortune and he believed the passing of the present bill would contribute to their relief, bnt he deprecated tho feeling abroad fn the land that for all the ills and misfortune of the people they should turn to Congress. Mr, jjfack’s advocacy of the State banks of tfe... sue was ardent, but he concluded by expressing. amid applause, the opinion that the only real function of the Gove nment was the coinage of gold and silver. Mr. Haughen followed in opposition, and characterized the bill as crude and ill-con-tidered. The debate became genera), various members speaking for and against the bill. At 4:45 the House adjourned.