The times., 1899-03-02
LITTLE Hope FOR
THE CANAL BILL
Its Friends Practically Con-
cede It's Defeat.
The Only Chance 1t May Have Is in
the Senate.
scaator White Mny Make II Fight
for the Measure in the
Upper Body.

So far as the House is concerned. all
hope for the Nicaragua Canal is at an end.
Monday of the present week witnessed the
bargain by which it was to be done TO
death, Tuesday saw the payment of the
blood money-exacted in advance by the
slayers-and yesterday the deed was done.
The canal was killed, and as a price the
Government has paid some 5000, ,O0O-more
than would have been expended on the ca
nal in two years.
The only chance for it at this session is
now in the Senate, or more particularly in
one Senator-Mr. White of Californa-who
declares that unless the agreement is
reached by which the United States Gov
ernment is committed to the building of
the canal he will filibuster against other
appropriation bills in the Senate, defeat
them, and force an extra session.
There is no doubt that Senator White can
do this if he will. He has held the floor
for days at time before this. This is his
last year in the Senate, as he retires to
ly anxious for the canal and would certain
ly approve anything that he might choose
to do for it. His fellow members, when
asked about the matter, reply: Well
White is just the man to try it." 1t all
comes down to his ability tofconvince his
fellow conferees on the River and Harbor
bill that he means what be says and to a
test of nerve to make good his word if the
necessity should arrive The friends of the
bill say that his position for making 4
stand is most eligible. The House con-
ferees are Representatives Burton OF Ohio,
Reeves OF Illinois. and Catchings of Mis-
sissippi Burton and Reeves, 1t is thought
will do whatever Speaker Reed wishes, and
Catchings is opposed TO canal. The Sem
ate conferees are Frye, Elkins and White.
Frye favors the Senate canal amendment,
Elkins is lukewarm, and Whites position
has Just been stated.
The contention is no longer for the Hep
burn bill nor for the Senate amendment,
but only for the Burton resolution, with
some amendments-for some declaration
that will commit the United States to the
work and enable an appropriation for it to
be put on one of the regular appropriation
bills next year, and for this the fight will
be made.
Speaker Reed has been opposing the ca
nal for years. but his opposition has be-
come stronger, it is said, since President
Mckinley came out in its favor His atti-
tude OF late has been so marked that there
has been some talk of his desiring an alb
solute break with the President but it is
unlikely that he would really wish to go
as far as this. At all events. it is claimed
that he had arranged with certain members
of the River and Harbor Committee to
make an attempt to hold their bill in the
committee and thus defeat any attempt Of
the House to concur in the Senate amend
ments as whole, including the canal
amendment On Monday. after much con-
sultation. it is said. he learned that the ad-
vocates of the canal would consent to let
the bill go to conference without a fight
if they were allowed to riot in public build
Ing bills at the expense of the Govern
ment. They would even risk the failure
of their River and Harbor bill from the
deadlock that might result between the
House and Senate If giving loot enough
But, it is said they bargained that they
must have their public buildings first So
the committee. il is claimed, adjourned
over Tuesday in order to see that the price
was paid. Mr. Dockery started to oppose
the building bills. but mysteriously sub
sided when told of the dicker. The price
was paid and yesterday saw the conclusion
of the bargain.
In the afternoon Chairman Burton re-
ported the River and Harbor bill. and
moved to non n-concur in the Senate amend
ments and to ask conference This was
the unanimous recommendation of a COM
mittee OF which four members had stated
two days before that they should stand
out for concurrence as whole and would
never consent TO a conference. The House
sat silent. The champions of the canal
were all in their seats, but no one spoke
except Mr.. Bailey, who merely enquired
whether the report had been unanimous
or not. By an overwhelming vote the bill
was sent to conference
Immediately afterward the conferees met
in the House River and HarbOr Committee
room. After several hours work they ad-
journed until O'Clock last night, and
after a brief session again adjourned
until today. So far they have
got through about half the bill
but have not yet reached the canal item.
When they do Chairman Frye will make
TO them the authorized statement that the
President will not consider that the Senate
amendment gives him power to buy out the
private corporations involved. thus remov-
ing one of the objections The Burton
resolution viii then be offered as a sub
stitute. and may possibly be adopted after
being amended so as to cut out all refer
ence to the Panama Canal. More than this
the friends of the measure do not expect.