The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-03

as NAV be necessary for the safety
and protection o fsaid canal and har-
bors.
Sec. That the President shall cause
such surveys as may be necessary Tor
| said canal and harbors and in the
construction of the same shall en-
| ploy such persons as he deems neces-
sary
Sec. T. That in the excavation and
construction of said canal the San
Juan River and Lake Nicaragua. or
such parts of each as may be made
| available, shall be used.
Sec. 3. That in any negotiations
with the State of Costa Rico or Mica
ragua the President may have, the
| President is authorized to guarantee
| to said States the use of said canal
| and harbors upon such terms as may
| be agreed upon for all vessels owned
bv said States or by citizens thereof.
'Sec. 6. That the sum of 500. 900. 900
| is hereby appropriated out of any
money in the Treasury not otherwise
| appropriated toward the project here
| in contemplated. and the Secretary of
War is further hereby authorized to
enter into a contract OF contracts for
materials and work that may be deem
ed necessary for the proper eNcava-
ton construction. completion and de-
| Tense of said canal. to be paid for as
appropriations may from time to time
| be hereafter made. not to exceed in
| the aggregate S140,000.000'
At the opening general debate was
closed and the bill read for amendment
under the five minute rule.
Mr. Hepburn offered the committee
| amendment to substitute the word pro
| tect" for defend in the first section. 1t
| was adopted.
| Mr. Parker On. j., offered an amend
| ment to strike out that portion Of the
| bill limiting the Presidents selection to
| the Nicaragua route This amendment
| called forth a protest from Mr.. Hepburn
who declared that it was intended to re-
| yiye interest in the Panama route which
| had caused one of the ''foulest scandals"
| in the history of the modern world. He
| charged that the emissaries of this dis
credited corporation were seeking to un-
| load the enterprise on the American peo-
| pie. He would not trust any Chief Exc
cutive with unlimited means at his dis
posal to make the choice of routes of
the canal
Mr.. Burton (Ohio) declared very en-
phatically that he was not in favor of the
Panama Canal route. but plain business
sense demanded a proper investigation
and examination of both routes.
The Parker amendment was defeated
| 81 to 81.
| Mr.. McCulloch (Ark), offered ar
amendment to insert the words ''fortify,
garrison between the words construct
| and and Defend
Here occurred the sensational scene be-
| tween Messrs. Cannon and Hepburn. Mr..
| Cannon rose and resented some remarks
| made last night by Mr.. Hepburn impugn-
| ing his (Cannon's) sincerity. Mr.. Cannon
| spoke under excitement saying he had
| just read Mr.. Hepburns attack upon him.
| He recalled an intmation that had come
! to him of which he mad spoken yesterday
| that those who were promoting this bill
| were doing SO to delay the canal. Yet he
| said he had acquitted Mr.. Hepburn of
! any such intention. Today he frankly
! stated that Mr.. Hepburn's name had been
| connected with the rumor
'.Who was the author of the rumor.
| asked Mr.. Hepburn. jumping to his feet.
"A newspaper man." replied Mr.. Cam
| non. Il do not know his name"
Continuing and speaking with great de-
| liberation, Mr.. Cannon said he would have
| been satisfied with the acquittal he gave
| MIR. Hepburn yesterday had not his
| doubts been aroused" my observation .
| said he "is that when man is willing
to challenge the sincerity of another it is
| because he is turning the glass inward
! upon himself | do not rise to justify my
| own reputation for sincerity. Upon my
| record Of 20 years in public life l will
| stand or fall"
| The excitement grew as Mr. Cannon
| proceeded.
| Mr. Hepburns face was white and his
| words came in a perfect torrent when
| he replied. He thought it entirely
| possible, he said. that some one whose
| name could not be recalled was lying
about the capitol in the interest of their
| pet projects. Interests in Mr.. Cannon's
| own city of Chicago, he declared were
! trying to sell things to the Government
and he thought it altogether likely that
the Panama Canal Company might be
| trying to defeat this bill
| Il know no man connected with the
| Panama Company" cried Mr. Cannon
hereby. Can the gentleman say as
| much?''
fes, except as they have appeared be-
lore my committee" replied Mr.. Hepburn.
VINO, continuing appealed to the record
| for confirmation of what he said about
Mr. Cannon.
NOW Mr.. Chairman, he continued (Mr.
| Hepourn), for what | said of the gen
| tleman | appealed to the record, and |
| say that on all occasions where he has
! mad an opportunity by insolent interfer-
| ence he has attempted to stop the pro-
| gress of this great work Twice in the
| last five years his committee that never
| gave word of attention or study to the
| subject, have interviewed and have Sc
! cured divergence, have stopped the pro-
| ject under the pretense of more infor-
| nation, the same plea made then that
was made here yesterday. | appeal to
| the record nothing more than that l say
| this to him, if he means to father it, that
! the man that said that l was not in
| good faith, that | had any other purpose
| than that of securing at the earliest mo-
ment that canal that would most benefit
us, say that he lied, and if it was par
/ liamentary to do it, | would say the man
| that attempted to give currency to it by
| It's repetition here was liar. That is all
| desire to say about it,