The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-04

sires the construction of the Nicaragua
canal II has declared not only in favor
OK the canal, but urges the passage OF
the bill for its construction now pending
before the United States senate.
After protraeted discussion. continuing
through two special meetings Of the local
commercial organization and participated
IN BY many of the most prominent repre-
sentatives of Seattle's business interests
the decisive action was taken last even
ing by the adoption of the majority re-
port OF the divided committee on state
and national affairs and the adoption of
the following:
Resolved. That the Seattle Chamber of
Commerce favors the passage of the
Nicaragua canal bill now pending in the
senate of the United States"
The present consideration OF the mat
ter, as has been stated. was brought
about by the request Of Senator Foster
for action by the commercial bodies in
the several cities of the state in order
that he might have late expression Of
sentiment upon which to base his atti-
tudc In relation to the canal bill when
II comes up for consideration In the sem
ate, scheduled. on December 10, Sena-
tor Fosters letter was received and read
at the regular meeting OF the Seattle
chamber. November n, and was referred
to the committee on state and national
AFFAIRS. This committee divided. and sub
Hhlptliy anu iHl0urltN rtpoFtS 10
| the chamber at the meeting of November
| o. the majority report favoring the canal
and incorporating the foregoing resolu-
ton. Discussion at that meeting was
brought up by a motion to adopt the
majority report. and after several hours
debate an adjournment was taken TO last
evening.
Great interest in the question was man.
| Tested by the members of the chamber
at the meeting last Wednesday and again
last evening. On both occasions the audi
forum of the chamber was crowded and
the debate was earnest and thorough
AT the earlier meeting strong sentiment
adverse to the canal was apparent, but
last evening the situation was reversed
and those who spoke In favor of the
pending bill considerably outnumhered
those speaking in opposition. The debate
WAS disnifed throughout. though pot in
frequently pnnctuated by witty illusions
and good-humored raillery. The fact that
! the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce had
gone on record as opposing the construc-
| ton of the canal was frequently urged as
good and sufficient reason why Seattle
should favor II. II was laughingiy argued
| that Tacoma would not have taken such
action except in the belief that the open
| canal would benefit Seattle.
The debate, adjourned from Wednesday,
was resumed at s O'Clock hast evening
without Formally President elise called
the meeting to order and the special bust
! ness was at once taken up.
spoke for Manufacturers.
The first speaker was f. r. Blaine. who
Stoned the minority report OF the COM
| mittee In opposition to the canal Mr..
Blaine expressed the belief that not a
! person who had money invested In man
ufacturlng in Seattle was In favor of the
canal. He took up the products OF the
| state OF Washington. both native and
| manufactured. one by one and pointed out
| how. IN his Judgment. each would DO adj
| versely affected by the opening of the
| canal. which would bring the Oriental
market so much nearer the great supply
| depots OF the Atlantic and Gulf states.
| san Francisco he understood. would not
! be SO seriously affected, as vessels COM
| ing through the canal, bound for Asiatie
| ports could call at the Golden Gate with
| only forty odd miles deviation from their
| course. But TO come 20 Seattle for any
| purpose would take them over 100 miles
/ out OF their way This fact he Thought,
4 would take from Seattle the trade now
| enjoyed with the orient and blight She
/ prospees for future development
John W Roberts. who made an effective
| speech against the canal at the previous
1 meeting. was again heard along the same
| line In the interim MIR Roberts had forth
| iied himself b. a statistical investigation.
I He quoted from report of Warner
Miller president of the Nicaragua Canal
! Company. to the effect that the censirue-
I ton % the canal would bring New York
| city e0D0 miles nearer 10 Yokohama, and
/ would enable New York 60 monopoitze
I the trade % Japan
The Atlantic states" continued the re.
| mort with their dense population and
1 highly developed trade aud manufactur-
| INK wnl rgap benefit greater than all
| the rest % the United States ppt to-
I gether"
/ Mr.. Roberts had LEARNED that each orr
| entail liner. during the period Of discharge
/ and reioading AZ Seattle discusses locally
I from Neo 90 $1,000 the average dis
\ hursoment ~ each ship being about
s. 90
/ No great city, Mr. Roberts claimed hsd
l ever been established BY the productions
/ ana business az its Immediate vicinity:
I foreign commerce was essential ta large
( development The trade Of Negs York di8
not make Nee York ciis nor dit the trade
/ Of Massachusetts, make Boston, these and
4 All other great seapOrss Nere built az by
I the eofunaerct az this wut3d passing
/ through them The Nicaragua canal q
| hal been asserted would open the Atlantic
I rosst markets rs Wastinatru aDd Oregon
I nr This Mr. Roberts ilseellFeed f1f the
rvAaou inst the canal passage would -
I impraetieable for saiiing vessels aut al
I rriiflnr h To t. true h. foresaw that The
! iumher laden vessels from WaFaiuEion-
( baura 20 Atlantic ports Sa0@ Fnest Ia
den ships from tAe A9MtNeyA Ftnt states
~ vsssge a. tha orient Tho advantage
"a me Northwest would De very foahtfui
4 The WAshlrEton market. Ne believed lay
/ Across the iaciac, ane there NoHil - ~
~.ol resut 80 this state from making
I n,ax market accessible tn tire Atlantic
state ana Europe
NJ ! Carkeek spoke hyfeaF Ire favor %
I as esnnf taking TIE vteR thsf great AZ
/ vsnsnxe wn,ild snsi8e traM opening . va
teF route gu competition vita ihe RAD
roads
seattle Wsnia Share nsssHts.
r. % Graves followed IN stsniiar vein
1 Afr Graves stated that b. had tar many
I Years doubted 35N adytEAnliity y the ca
AL nat had hecpm9 convinced that -
ans afte 81 The great ohsfructians o. com
! mere auA thar its opening XII facilitate
/ he placing ~ Northwestern preiucts aad
< tha securing " needed supplies TIE
( ssnns ohtsctions urged against the canal
I WOULD apply ne believed, % ire eae alias
/ 81 nsw line ~ railway The dement's -
| -ns canal wouid 30 world wlte- srd 20
( fbens seattle would have fail share
/ II X Fowler also favored the cRnAi
1 -. frf ~ he stated thai "a