The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-02
They Propost 10 Substitute "Pruiser' fsr
"0sfsnd' In tho Original Measure.
THE HISTORY OF THE CANAL PROJECT.
Retrieved al Length BY Mr. Hepburn. Who Strongly
Advccaisd The Building Of Ia Nicaragua
Canal Speeches Ia Opposition

Washington. May 2.-Under the order
made by the House last week yester-
day and today were set aside for the
consideration OF the Nicaragua Canal
bill. Before the special order was called
up yesterday the speaker announced
the resignation OF Mr.. Shafroth OF Col
orado from the committee on irrigation
and the appointment OF Mr. King of
Utah TO the vacancy; also the appoint
ment of Mr.. Capron Or. ID as a MEM
Der OF the board TO visit the Military
signed.
Mr.. Hepburn DAD. chairman OF the
committee on interstate commerce, in
charge OF the Nicaragua Canal bill,
then sought TO reach an agreement
about the length OF general debate and
the division of time. He suggested
that general debate should be closed
yesterday.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman OF the commit
tee on appropriations, thought that half
of the time should be controlled by
those who were against any canal bill
ut this session.
QUITO temper WAS Nlspldyeu Dy MT.
Cannon and Mr.. Hepburn and the
House finally went into committee OF
the whole TO consider the bill (Mr.
Cooper of Wisconsin in the chair)
without any agreement as TO the
division of time, but with the under
should be held in the evening. The bill
was read.
AMENDMENTS OFFERED.
Mr.. Hepburn then offered tie amend
ments OF the committee substituting
the word protect for defend and
the words provision for defence in
stead of "fortifications for defence"
Mr.. Hepburn made the opening argu-
ment in support OF the bill. The sub
ject now before the House, he said.
had been engaging the attention OF the
country for "a years. 1t was now al
most exactly that number of years
canal was first broached. Since then
volumes had been written and thou
sands OF speeches had been made, but
this was the first day "a bill TO carry
such project into effect had received
the attention OF the House. He recalled
how five years ago a petition signed
by 307 members for the consideration OF
a canal bill had been sidetracked. and
how tugce since then the appropriations
conlm1ttee had snunted Off the main
proposition with appropria atoms for in
vestigations. And now again today"
he continued. I'VE see some or the gen
tlemen. notably the gentleman who has
twice before defeated action, standing
here protesting that this Is not the aus
picious moment.
Mr. Hepburn reviewed the whole his
tory of the canal project, the exami-
nations and surveys of the route by
the various commissions appointed, in
cluding the Walker commission OF
last year which has not yet made Its
report. All the reports were practical
ly unanimous in favor OF the Nicarag-
uan route.
INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE.
Speaking of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty and the objection raised TO the
project on the ground that IL was still
in force Mr.. Hepburn declared that
the interests of the American people In
the canal had become SO great that
they would refuse longer TO be bound
by a barrier imposed by another gen.
Grafton half a century ago.
Regarding existing franchises, Mr..
Hepburn said there had been a wonder
ful traffic In franchises by Costa Rica
and Nicaragua. Whenever the treas
uries were low those countries sold
franchises. In all q had been granted
during the last 80 years. The owners
OF tneSt- ITHnCnlStS dlNdyb hau oOhN-
thing to SELL This bill recognized and
dealt with none of them. AS to the
Panama canal. Mr.. Hepburn expressed
the opinion that II would never be
feasible for the United States.
II want" said he. "and 1 think the
American people want, an American
canal. which can III necessary dis
criminate in favor OF our own people,
giving our commerce the advantage
over the commerce OF other countries.
applause We are entering upon the
most intense contest IN the history OF
time and II is the igtention or the
American people that they shall have
their full share OF the worlds COM
merce. / want the canal when COM
pleted under our control. | do not
want our hands tied before We enter
the contest"
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
When Mr.. Hepburn concluded Mr..
Shackleford. who made the minority
report in favor of an additional section
providing that the canal should not be
built if the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was
ratified. said great as its benefits TO
the American people would be, there
was one question dearer to the Amerf-
can heart-the Monroe Doctrine. No
exigency should compel us TO depart
from that doctrine which would al
ways be our shield against foreign en-
croachment. If England was 10 have
-