The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-09

The Senate Committee on InteroceanId
Canals met today and had under considers
alton the Hepburn Nicaragua Canal bill.
which was passed by the House OF May 2.
The members Of the committee present
were Senator's Morgan, Harris, Turner,
HawIey. SewelI. E7latt OF New York. Nc
Bride. and Hama. Senator Cu.b .berson was
absent.
So far as could be learned, no member
Of the committee would make ahy state
ment concerning the action that was taken.
Senator Morgan said: Il will not tell you
a hing about il. will rot give outore word
OF what transpired in the committee tom
upon the subject Of the canal
Senator Hanna said: NO. / an not 60
ing to divulge any Of the secrets OF the
committee room, and cannot talk with you
about the work Of the committee on the
Canal bIIi.-'
Senator Mcbride said: The COMMITTEES
on InterOceanic Canals met and considered
the House Canal bill That is all I am at
liberty 10 say
OJher members OF the committee were
equally tactitUrn on the canal question.
Notwithstanding that the Senators nam
ed declined 20 discuss the matter directly
with newspaper men two stories gained
credenCe al the Capitol One was that the
consideration Of the bill was Indefinitely
postponed pending the receipt OF further
information from the Isthmian Canal Com
mission. The other was that the com
mittee had determined 10 adversely re-
port the bill by a vote Of five 10 three.
The first account Of the action Of the con-
mIttee appeared TO have the greater
weight Of credibilty. Il was said that
Messrs. Morgan. Harris. and Turner stout
ly contended for immediate action. despite
the absenee-of Mr. CUIbersOn. these mem
bers being eager to begin the fight OF the
floor Of the chamber, even with a majority
report Of tbs -9mmittee against them.
Mr.. Hanna appeared as the champion oS
delay he put forth the arguments made
familiar BY the opponents OF the canal he
said that he favored an iuterOceanic canal
that IS. he favored the construction Of it
at some other time. At present. be said,
he was opposed 70 the canal proposition
He wanted all routes explored, surveyed.
and reported On. and he wanted the treaty
rights Of the United States in the premises
determined
Fer these reasons. he moved that the
matter be delayed until the Isthmian Canal
Commission should have made its fraI
report When il was evident 70 the MI
nority members Of the committee that Mr.
HalEa's proposition would have the sup
pcTt o. the RepuOAcaES and mat II WOULD
prevail. M Morgan moved that further
consideration Of the bill should be post
FoEed until information could be obtained
from the Isthrnian Canal Commission as 20
when its report would be presented This
motion prevailed M Mcbride voting for
il. The committee then adjourned
The second account Of the committees
action is probably founded on Two facts;
first AIr. MOrga1's apparent Dependency,
and Mr. McBride's long. close conference
with Nr- Fairbanks When Mr. Morgan
announced 70 newspaper men that he
would not talk about the canal matter. he
made the statement IN a gloomy manner
and as though he were oppressed and dis-
COUrEged. Mir Mcbride, directly after the
adicurnmeDecf the committee, sought Mr.
Fairbanks and the two cOuversed together
in the Senate Chamber for haf an hour
They seemed 20 perfectly agree
This is significant in that Mr. Fairbanks
is enc OF the stalwart Administration men,
ard Mr. Mcbride is said 10 be Uldctcr-
mined as to whether his political fortunes
lie with the people OF Oregon or with the
Administration
Mr.. Hepburn, author OF the bill which
was under consideration. is IN Iowa.
The next meeting OF the Committee
viii be held on Friday. Rear Admiral
Walker has been invited TO appear and
give his views as to the comparative prac-
ticahility Of The Nicaragua and Panama
routes