The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-17
Fridays Proceedings.

Efforts were renewed In the House Fri
DAY FOR consideration of the Nicarag aqua
Cahai Dill. At the start these were not
as successful as Col. Hepburn, chairman
OF the Committee on Interstate and For
eign Commerce. hoped for, as Mr.. Bur-
ton, OF Ohio, objected TO the request made
Tor unanimous consent to take up the bill
on May /. This did not discourage Col
Hepburn, who, during the afternoon. cir
culated a petition asking that a rule be
granted to take the bill up on that day.
Late IN the afternoon he stated that he
had received the signatures of all but one
OF the sixty-four Republicans present and
all of the sixty-one Democrats present.
Il have been told by every member Of
the Committee on Rules" said Col. Hem
burn, that they were in favor of giving
me this rule. 1 believe that we shall reach
consideration Of the measure al this ses-
sion."
Mr.. Burton, who objected in the House
TO the consideration of the Nicaragua
canal bill, gave out a statement yester-
day explaining his course as follows:
Il wish ii distinctly understood the OBJ
lection is made upon my own responsible
lty. Objection to the consideration of the
pending bill was made because
't1rst-lt abrOgates treaty soIemnly
entered into and now in full force While
its abrogation could be accomplished by
the passage of this bill. such action is
without precedent In our relations with
foreign powers; IL is also unnecessary. be-
cause the same result could be obtained
Dy the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, measure
which. though much misunderstood is.
nevertheless, triumph Of diplomacy
SecOnd-it commits Us to a fortified
canal, instead OF neutral canal. A neu-
tral canal Is not only in accordance with
the general tenor OF our own policy hut
would best subserve our own interests
Third-There are also serious objec-
lions TO the present consideration OF this
Dill, which might not exist at a later tim !.
ID IL Is desirable that the present COM
mission, the frs, which has given com
prehensive and complete consideration to
the subject Of the construction OF an In
ternatiOnal canal, should complete its
work before route Is selected % In The
same line II Is desirable that provi-
SlOn&l treaties be I72de with the countries
controlling each OF the proposed routes
viz, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. on fhe
one hand and Columbia on the ether
hand To pass bill committing the Unit
cd States TO either OF these routes would
prevent us from ob'sdning as fayoT9 bic
terms for right OF way and control as
could readily be obtsiled IN case the .iues-
tiOn Of the route shDulC % postponed.
No loss could resglt from a postpone
Z K
tended examination VITA b. required before
definite route SSr oe safely and judi
ciously selects1. fySu u the general route
should be ch3Ser- eO.5- so men are new
at work making cIs N r2tisJTI and ..xpIOra-
ton. This %0rk. WIN ch Is absolutely es-
sential beSort> tn. anal j. commenced
Will require eolSS.c eYable time
There iN no DIE IN the part Of those
who are opposing tb1 present eonsidera-
ton OF this bill 10 oppose the construction
OF canal The administration and both
political parties are cour1itted to the
early beginning OF the .~sf.. But IL Is
desirable that ali necessary preliminasies
In the way OF examination and engineer
ing features, settlements Of diplomatic
questions. and securing tie most favor
able privileges shall be thoroughly attend
ed TO. IL has been proposed that an carly
date in the next session be liked for con-
sideration OF the bill To this do no, De.
lieve any objection would be made
The tOint resolutions, under discussion
when the House adjourned Thursday, for