The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-19


Washington, May 1S-Soon after the
senate convened today SIr, Morgan of the
committee on inter-Oceanic canals offered
a resolution directing the committee 10
make an investigation, sweeping in its
character, of the dealings of individuals
or corporations with view to monopolize
a ship canal at Panama or in Nicaragua
and whether the individuals or corpora
ton proposes to obstruet the United
States in the construction Of an isthmian
canal.
Mr.. Morgan stated that the object Of
the inquiry proposed is to enable the pres
1dent of the United States to check the
escape from and destroy 4 conspiracy
founded in fraud and corruption and AFRO
gance against the highest rights and priv
llegeS OF the people and government of
the United States
The resolution was referred.
Story of the Canal.
Discussing the resolution, Mr.. Morgan
said the old Panama Canal company was
chartered under the laws of France. A
syndicate four years ago purchased the
assets of the old company and reorganiz-
ed under the name Of the New Panama
Canal company. This syndicate had Of
Tered to permit the United States TO
share in its work. SO far as it was able
without violating its concessions, which
would have to be iScrupulouSly observed.
+ThlS proposition was made, he said, when
il was realized that The New Panama
Canal company was approaching bank
ruptcy. 1t could not be considered by the
United States, he said, without involving
the United States in serious trouble with
France, as the 1000 or more French share
holders in The old company would also
share in the new company, and the Unit
ed States could not, anyhow, identify it
self with corporation organized, as had
been suggested, Under the laws of New
IL
He invited attention 70 the charters of
the canal concessions companies organic
ed In New Jersey, saying congress should
make a rigid Investigation of the subject
and most comprehensive monopoly ever
organized under the laws of New Jersey.
Senator Morgan said he did not propose
TO delay action upon the pending Near
aqua canal bill until this investigation
was concluded.
Debate on Pneumatic Tubes.
Nearly the entire day in the senate was
devoted to the pneumatic tube system in
the pOstOffice appropriation bill The de-
bate at times was sharp and almost I.sr-
sOnal The appropriation was defended
by Senators Chandler, Mason Carter and
Wellington and opposed by Senator'S Al
LSOn, Tillman, Lodge and WOlcOtt
Mr.. Chandler On. l1.) declared this use
full modern invention should not be aban-
doned any more than we should abandon
biles.
Mr.. Chandler commented upon the ex-
traOrdinary delay of the postal commits
sion, of which Mr. Wolcott is chairman,
in not making a report. This delay, he
said, permitted the railroads to increase
their vast receipts for carrying the mails
and at the same time prevented an ade-
Quate understanding of the merits of the
pneumatic tube service. He believed the
railroads had much to do with the Difficult
ties congress encountered in dealing with
these questions
Mr. Hale protested against loading down
the bill with a mere fanciful scheme, -
which had been advanced before congress
with the most "brazeI- efTrontery.
Carter Criticises Wolcott.
Mr.. Carter CMont) said the difficulties
of the chairman of the pOstoffice commits
sion CWOlCOtD with the members of the
committee did not reflect credit upon that
senator. He had attacked private cnarac-
ter with that immunity given those speak
ing in public debate and instead of pre-
senting facts, had INDUCED IN ponderous
defamation.
Mr.. Carter said that the extension Of the
tube service would to some extent add
competition to the telegraph and express
companies, and this, the senator thought,
might account for some of the opposition
to the system
Mr. WOlcOtt said he would not be di-
verted by the grossly unjust and Unbound
ed remarks of the senator from Montana
Garter, nor Of the charge of the senator
from New Hampshire (Chandler) that the
railroads were behind the opposition. The
railroads had no more to do with it than
they had in fixing the color of stamps.
The matter went over without final &C
ton
department of agriculture, prohibiting the
TRANSPORTATION by interstate commerce of
game killed in violation of local laws was
passed.