The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-10
MORE DILA4ORY TACTICS
Determined Opposition TO the Mic
aragua Canal Bill.
\ Favorable Report From the Senate
Committee Prevented by Mr.. Hmm
mas Motion to Hear From the Mem
bcrs of the Isthmian COmmi.sion-
Another Bill May De Called Up.


the consideration of the Nicaragua Canal
bill in the Senate Committee on Inter-
Oceanic Canals. hitch that caused some
feeling and some animated discussion in
the committee room between Senator
Morgan and Mr. Hanna
When the committee assembled yester-
day morning for special session it was
the hope of the friends of the canal that a
favorable report would be promptly or
dered to be made to the Senate. When
the committee had been called to order.
Senator Hanna made a few observations.
They were the observations which oppo-
nents of the isthmian waterway have been
making for years. The Senator from Ohio
declared that the construction of an Amer
ican canal across the isthmus was propo-
sition that lay close to his heart. With
him it was an ideal. He did not know
that the construction of an inter- oceanic
waterway would be antagonistic to the
interests Of the trans-contnental railways.
He did not know that great railway in
terests were striving to strangle the canal.
He did not care. Vast wealth and mighty
interests could not swerve him from the
path to which duty pointed. But, although
he favored the construction OF canal, he
thought that its construction at this time
would be inauspicious Some other time
would do.
Senator Hanna did not indicate when
according to his view. the canal ought to
be built. He declined to commit himself
on this point. Senator Hanna said he
would have the treaty rights of the United
States determined. He thought the Hay
Pauncefote agreement should be taken up
and disposed of before the canal project.
He wanted all the routes explored. He
wanted to get all manner of information
about all possible routes. Personally he
had no preference to route. Nicaragua
was no dearer to him than Panama. In
conclusion. Mr.. Hanna moved that the Ca
nal bill be laid aside until the Isthmian
Cana. Commission should have reported.
This motion aroused Mr.. Morgan. who
has been making most determined fight
for consideration for the Canal bill this
session. He denounced the suggestion as
dilatory plea. intended only to postpone
action and make il impossible to take up
the House bill at this session.
Mr.. Hanna denied this and declared that
his only object was to secure information
so that the committee could act intelli-
gently when 1t believed the time had come
for it to act. Mr.. Morgan's desire for
prompt action was supplemented by Mr..
Harris. who asserted that nothing the COM
| mittee did not now know could be laid be-
| fore it by the members of the Commission.
Mr.. Hanna's met on would have prevale |
| had not Mr.. Morgan proposed as COM
| promise that the committee should first
ascertain from competent authority at
what time that Isthmian Canal Commits
| sion might be expected to report.
| By vote of five to three the committee
| decided that Ii would summon members
of the Commission 10 appear b fore L..
| Those who voted for delay were Sena ors
Hanna, Sewell Hawley. Platt Of New
York and Mcbride. while those who
! favored prompt action were Senator's Mo-
gan, Harris and Turner. Senator Culber-
| son was absent.
Admiral Walker is expected to appear
| before the committee tomorrow.
! In addition to giving information as to
| the completion OF the report of the Canal
| Commission he will be asked 10 give his
personal views to the relative merits
Of the Panama and Nicaragua routes
The Administration has expressed the
desire through its agents that Admiral
Walker should be conservative in the
| expression CT his views and that he
should not pronounce Judgment in favor
of the more northerly route until al ths
returns are in At the time Of the crea
ton of the Isthmian Canal Commission In
succession to the Nicaragua Canal Com
mission OF which Admiral Walker was
president II was generally believed that
this was merely ruse for delay and that
no new information was expected from the
later commission. But when Admiral
Walker appears before the committee to-
morrow he is expected to state his views
conservativeiy.
Mr.. Hepburn. author of the bill which
has been passed by the House. is in Iowa
Chairman Morgan would say absolutely
nothing yesterday about the meeting 1t
| is apparent. however. that he is incersed
| at the methods that have been adopted
Paunce.ote Treaty shall be ratified before
| any vote shall be permitted in the Sen
ate upon the Hepburn bill. 1t is now be-
| lieved to be impossible to get the bill out
of the committee owing to the majority
| the Administration men have.
| Senator Morgan, however, has one
| chance to get vote on a canal bill, or at
least put the members of the Senate on
record. Last January there was reported
| from his committee a bill almost identical
| with the Hepburn bill it rassed the
| House. II is now on the Senate calendar
| with a favorable report. He can move to
| take up this bill and only yea and nay
| vote can prevent its consideration By the
| Senate. By this method he can at least
| put the Senate on record. This may yet
| be done.
THE CONFERENCE PATRIOTIC.