The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-07
OBJECTED 70 BY BURTON.
HEPBURN's CANAL BILL FAILED OF
UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Town Congressman's Request to
Make 1t a Special Order Denied
Upon Objeetion-Burton's Action
Based Upon the Pending Treaty.


Special Dispatch to the Post-lntelligencer.
WASHINGTON, March e. objecti'
Those two words, uttered by Represen-
tative Burton, on the floor of the house.
prevented Chairman Hepburn of the COM
mittee on interstate and foreign commerce,
from securing the unanimous consent OF
the house to make his canal bill special
order for March 10.
Mr. Hepburn's bill, In utter disregard of
the pending Hay-Pauncefote treaty in the
senate, provides for the construction of
waterways connecting the two oceans in
Nicaragua BY this country, and further
more, gives this nation the right to con-
troll the canal and fortify it. Just after
the final vote on the Puerto Rlcan bill
in the house Mr.. Hepburn arose and asked
the unanimous consent of the house 10
make his bill special order for March IS.
Mr. Burton was on his feet in a moment.
II desire TO ask the gentleman from Iowa.
said Mr. Burton, "if he conternplates pass
ing his bill before disposition is made
of the treaty relating to the canal, which
is now pending in the senate"
II know nothing about the treaty. re-
piled Mr.. Hepburn.
Then / object" was Mr.. Burton's re-
tort, as he sat down.
Later. In his committee room, Mr.. Bur-
ton denied that he objected to the con-
sideration OF the canal bill under instruc-
tions of those DESTROYS of having the Hay
FauDcefOte treaty
He did admit that he had discussed the
canal proposition with prominent Repuh-
lican leaders. but said that the response
blity for the objection he made on the
floor rested solely on himself.
Opposed to Fortifcations.
81 am opposed to a fortified canal" said
Mr. Burton, land under all circumstances
would therefore be opposed TO the Hep
burn bill as it is now drawn. But l am
more opposed TO IL just at present be-
cause Of the fact that the Hay-Pauncsfote
treaty, which modifes the old Clayton
Bulwer convention so that this country
can construct the canal itself, Is now
pending in the Senate. If that treaty Is
ratified It would prevent as from fortify-
ing the canal / believe we ought to wait
10 see what disposition the senate makes
OF the convention. l myself do not be-
lieve it will be ratified OF course / do
not know this positively but l Judge it
from reports that have reached me. An
other reason why l am opposed to the
immediate reconsideration of the canal
bill is that believe congress should await
a report from the canal commission which
has already completed ITS survey of the
Nicaraguan route and ia now engaged In
inspecting the Panama route | see no
reason why the report of the commission
should not be heard so that II will reach
congress by perhaps the last of April
Ihat VIII leave ample time Tor the con-
sideration of the canal bill at this SEES
sion
II don't take any stock in bellicose
spirit which some people are manifesting
regarding the canal Ii is all lingo 70
talk about fortifying the canal and keep
ing other nations from using it. This adj
ministration has gained wonderful dip
lomatic victory FOR negotiating for an
open door in the Orient with other for
etgn nations who have large fleets and
armies there 70 guard their possessions
and privileges. What a position this
country would be in after negotiating for
that to say to the nations who have
granted our requests that the vessels
bound for those ports could not pass
through our canal unless we saw 1T TO
permit them. n great deal OF our wealth
comes from our trade with foreign ma
tions. We should foster II and encoura se
1t, and / see no reason why we shouia
not enter now upon an era OF commercial
prosperity. instead OF talking about whip.
ping the world.
II am not opposed TO the canal. am In
favor of IL, but am not in favor of for
tifying the canal"
Senator and Mrs. Addison c. Foster en-
tertained at very handsome dinner the
other evening at the Cairo The private
dining room was beautifully decorated
with La France roses, palms and smiIax
The guests We're Mrs. C. H. Gripgs apd
Miss Griggs. Of Tacoma, Wash: Senator
and Miss Perkins; Mr. and Mrs Dawes,
Mr. and Mrs. Heatwole; Mr. and Mrs
IL. Clay Evans; Gen. and Mrs Sternberg
the minister from Guatemala; Mr.. Van.
derllp: Mr.. Lee McCiung and Mr.. and
Miss prftpheft 1855