The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-02

Il want" Mr.. Hepburn said, "and
think the American people want. al
| American canal, which can, if necessary
| discriminate in favor of our own people
giving our commerce the advantage ovel
| the commerce of other countries. We art
| entering upon the most intense contest ii
| the history of time and 1t Is the intention
| Of the American people that they shall
| have their full share of the worlds COM
merce. l want the canal. when completed
! under our control. l do not want ouI
| hands tied before we enter the contest"
Mr.. Clark Of Missouri interrupted to
| ask: IF we pass this bill and the Senate
| then ratifies the Hay -Pauncefote Treaty,
| the provisions OF which conflict with it,
which would take precedence?"
| Mr.. Hepburn replied. Il do not know.
If they absolutely conflict the law would
| be superior to that treaty"
| No MOI" said a number of members.
IF We decide TO protect the canal the
| Hay-Pauncefote Treaty would give Eng
| land the same rights declared Mr.. Clark.
Il am afrai2,' said Mr.. Hepburn, that
| such action would be unfortunate for the
provisions of the bill But if the House of
! Representatives by an overwhelming vote
declares the policy of the American people
to be for an American canal, untrammeled
| by entangling alliances, no one in the
| United States would dare say nay Zap
plause.l l do not think there is any dis
position by the Administration to thwart
the will of the American people" ZAP
| piause.l
| do you thlnk the same legislative body
| would pass this bill and ratify the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty." enquired Mr.. Mann
of Illinois.
Certainly not"
IF it is not the intention to press the
Hay Pauncefote Treaty why is it not
withdrawn" asked Mr.. Clark.
we must not stop now for fear of some
thing in the future" answered Mr.. Hep
burn.
IF you viii put that word fortify back
in the bill it will have the unanimous vote
of this side" returned Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Hepburn responded: Il do not think
the changes the committee consented to
make in the interests of harmony, as we
supposed. make any radical difference in
the bill"
DO you think the Clayton Bulwer
Treaty can be abrogated by an act of Con-
gress?" asked Mr.. Dolliver.
Il do. 1t would be better were the abro-
CATION to be arranged through the State
Department, but l entertain no doubt of
our power to abrogate it by legislation in-
consistent with its continuance
Mr.. Terry of Arkansas, interrupting,
gave dissertation on the Clayton-Bulwer
Treaty which brought from Mr.. Hepburn
the query whether he or Mr.. Terry were
making a speech. The latter apologized
for monopolizing the time, and a laugh
was raised when Mr.. Hepburn said he cnly
asked out of idle curiosity
The committee rising, informally, the
Speaker arn1unced the signing by the
President of tie Porto Rican resolution5.
Advocated by SbnckIeford
Mr.. Shaekleford of Missouri advocated
the bill with the exception that he wished
to fortify the canal. He announced that
he was as much in favor of constructing
the canal and constructing it Immediately,
as was the gentleman (Mr. Hepbu:ci who
had just taken his seat.
Replying to question by Mr.. Clark, Mr..
Shackleford said the word 'fortir'' was
stricken out of the bill in order to satisfy
those partisans OF the Administration
who desires to parallel British policy in
all particulars. If canal was to be built
and controlled by British influence, in
Gods name said Mr.. Shackleford. ''let
Great Britain put up the money for it,
The United States had to fear Great
Britain alone. this old robber of he sea
who had for this country the same senti-
ments that she entertained for Paul Kru-
ger" Mr.. Shacklefcrd said he was in
favor of an open, bold, and just declara-
ton Of the contention for which they stood
by the representatives of the people on the
floor of this House. The imperialists on
the other side OF the House. he said
wanted the country to give up its doctrine
of isolation and the Monroe Doctrine
The bill was further advocated by Mr.
Lowering of Massachusetts,. The time had
gene by, he said, for talking upon the sub
ject OF a Nicaragua Canal. The prelimi-
nary work had all been done and il was
interesting to note the unanimity which
marked the reports Of the several sur
veying parties. These had all been con-
frmed by the Walker Commission, whose
report was made on the ct of March,
this year. II was not a party question,
Administration after Administration had
recommended the construction of an inter-
oceanic canal. 1t had first been suggested
in 1929, and had been exploited ever since
II the time had not now arrived for the
construction of the canal it never would
come. There was 10 part of the United
States which would not be benefited by
the construction of the canal. We had
reached the time when the next thing to
do was to build the canal. The people
want it, and they want it now.
Mr. Fletcher Of Minnesota, a member of
the Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, expressed his regret that he
was not in accord with the other members
Of the committee. He did not desire to act
on the canal matter until the report of the
Walker Commission had been made to Con-
gress. He thought no action should be
taken on the subject. He ia cred the con-
OF a canal. as did the residents
of the district which he represented. but he
thought it was bad policy to go on with
out waiting for the report of the Walker
commission, SO that the House may know
which was the best route to follow
Mr.. Burton's Argument
He yielded his time to Mr.. Burton of
Ohio, who opposed the passage of the bill
He opposed it for the reason that, In his
opinion, it violated treaties entered into
and would tend to delay. if rot defeat. the
construction of the canal. Three questions
arose in the consideration of the matter. he
said-first, shall the United States or pri-
the route; third shall the canal be neu-
trial?
AS to the first question, Nr Burton said
that he individually favored Government
control The matter OF the route occupied
much Of Mr. Burtons time He said that
by this bill the House was saying that il
knew without the aid OF the judgment and
knowledge of experts the best canal route
in the tropics. three thousand miles away.
After comparing the advantages of the
Panama and Nicaragua routes, Mr. Burton