Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-13
Measure for Island Government
viii Take But Little Time.
THEN COMES PUERTO RICO.
Neat I'm Order In the senate ~ the
Canal Measnre-Advantages
OF Neutrality,

EARLY Dispatched
New York, Feb l2,-A special to the
Herald from Washington says.
Advocates OF the Nicaragua canal
bill hoped to be able to call up the
measure In the Senate Immediately al
ter the vote on the financial bill next
Thursday. but 1t has been decided that
Senator Cullom should have the right
Of way with his bill providing for the
government Of Hawaii
The measure is not expected TO lead
to a protracted debate and after 1t is
disposed Of the measure providing for
the government Of Puerto Rico will
probably be taken up. AS the latter
pill involves the tarln question, long
discussion ig probable. The canal Dlu
viii likely be made the regular order
after Hawaii and Puerto Rico nave
been disposed OF.
Senator Morgan, in charge Of the
canal BILL says II Is not his Intention
to antagonize the other bills with the
canal proposition. lie realizes tnat
more time will be required for the con-
sideration of the canal bill, because OF
the opposition shown In some quarters
against the Hay Pauncefote treaty lie
regards the final passage OF the meas
ure as inevitable, for there Is an over
whelming majority for II In each
house.
Senator McI4auun Of South Carolina
SAYS none Of the recent objections Of
fered by the opponents of the canal,
based on the new treaty, win have any
inhuerte on his vote in favor OF the
prompt passage OF the bill He says
he is confident Congress VIII PROVIDE
all the safeguards necessary TO pro-
tect the interests Of the United states
IN time OF peace or war. He regards
The building OF the canal by the gov
eminent as an aid 10 the commercial
Interests OF the south lie is confident
that even II there should be no interna-
tIonal agreement Uncle Sans navy ana
army will be able to protect the calai
against all foreign Interference
The authorities say tina, primarily lne
concessionaires must seek redress ron
Nicaragua and Costa kica IN the eN.hs
of government construction OF tne
canal. and II is presumed 'he paIt,Vs
are taking measures for the prOIeullo"
OF their interests as far as posslpe'
Eventually the matter OF eompensa-
ton for the Eyre-Cragln syndicate nis'
be- discussed in the negotiations "
tween Nicaragua and the United Slates
for the acquisition Of territory LOT .ne
waterway. The right Of the Martins
Canal company to ask for an eHlSisiS'i
az lis concessions is TO be settled' .he
state department explains, by q COM
mission Of four members, provided the
Wicarae,lan government viii agree "
the appointment Of persons other 'nsn
its own citizens as members Oh '"e
Should the United States proceed win
The construction OF the canal II Is eA
nected II would purchase the properly
~ the Maritime Canal company, Nhlch
Roar Admiral Endicott estimated az
worth not more than half million aoi-
lars and which Representative hep
hnrn chairman OF the House commit
Toe on Interstate and foreign conn
MERGE says Is worth about S20OVVV.
Naval officers are much Interested IN
the canal ia -, oncer
Gin case the canal were entirel. under
American control. II would be an easy
matter. even with forti1cations' TOT an
enemy to slip a stick OF dynamite IN
der one OF the locks and thus destroy
the usefulness OF the waterway 10 the
commerce OF all nations. What would
than he its value for war purposes Of
his government? With strong heets
stationed AT each end of the canal II
would be an easy matter TO destroy ev-
erv shin OF the enemy, which dared to
make the passage through the water
way. go,
Suppose this government had iort-
dcations at the terminus OF the cahai.
In time OF war Il might be considered
advisable 10 reinforce the Atlantic
feet. The vessels OF the Pacific station
would enter at Brito, for instance, ana
proceed 10 Lake Nicaragua. The des-
struction OF locks on the eastern and
western slopes by the use Of dynamite
perfectlv feasible at night, would re-
suit In the penning W OF TINS section
Of the American force. Even supposing
that the fleet did succeed In making
the passage and after getting through
the canal locks were destroyed, there
would be grave danger Of the Pacific
slope being unprotected.
ION the other hand, with the neutral
lty of the canal guaranteed by all ma
tions OF the world there would be less
danger OF its being destroyed. Besides
the control OF the Caribbean sea as
sured to us by our natural position and
the acquisition Of Puerto Rico and rhe
contemplated purchase Of the Virgin
rstee viii enable us TO protect the east
ern end OF the waterway. For the pro-
lection OF the western terminus this
government proposes TO acquire Chat
ham Island Of the Galapagos group,
and we will consequently have Import
mt bases az which our men-of-war
can lie In wait for an enemy"