Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-02
INTER- 0CIANTIC
CANAL MEASURE.
Continued from Page {

tiSA ibiPVoCQ ny 4tlOlHOI
halI century ago. Regarding exist
ing franchises, MIR. Hepburn said there
nau been wonderful traffic in fran
chises by Costa Rica and Nicaragua
whenever the treasures were low those
countries sold franchises. In all TWEEN
ty-seVen had been granted during the
last nfty years. The owners OF these
franchises always had something to
sell. This bill recognized and dealt
with none of them.
AS to the Panama canal, Mr.. Hep
burn expressed the opinion that it
would never be feasible for the United
States. In addition to the physical OBJ
stacles to it's completion, he doubted
whether the United States could ever
obtain control OF it. Il want" said he.
and think the American people want
an American canal, which can, If neces-
sary, discriminate in favor of our own
people. giving our commerce the adj
vantage over the commerce of other
countries. (Applause). We are enter
ing upon the most intense contest in
the history of time. and it is the inten-
ton of the American people that they
snail have their full share of the
worlds commerce. CRenewed applausc)
| want the canal, when completed. UNI
der our control. l do not want our
hands tied before we enter the contest"
HAY-PAUNCETOTE TREATY.
IF we decided to protect the canal
the INTERCHANGEABLE treaty would give
England the same rights" urged Mr..
Clarke. of Missouri.
II am afraid" responded Mr. Hep
hurn, that such action would be unfor-
tunate Tor the provisions of my bill But
II the House of Representatives. by an
overwhelming vote. declares the policy
OF the American people to be for an
American canal untrammeied by en-
lanshng alliances no one in the United
States will dare to say Nay CAP
plause). / do not think there is any
disposition by the Administration to
thwart the will of the American peo-
pie" (Applause)
IF Nnn-win put that-word .fortify'
back in the bill it will have the unnni-
nous vote of this side" said Mr. Clark.
Replying to Mr.. Doliver, Mr.. Hep
burn said he believed the Clayton Bull
wer treaty could be abrogated by an
act of Congress-
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
Mr.. Shackleford, who made the mi
norlty report in favor of an additional
section providing that the canal should
not be built if the ay-Pauncefote
treaty was ratified, took the floor. He
was, he said. earnestly in favor of
canal. He believed our commercial ne
cessities required it; that it would be
o. inestimable benefit in time of war,
and that the tolls would pay n fair in
tcrest on the cost of construction. But
great as its benefits to the American
people would be. there was one uue;-
ton dearer to the American hcart-the
Monroe doctrine No exlgency should
compel us TO depart from that doctrine.
which would always be our shield
against foreign encroachment.
Mr.. Shackleford charged that the
language of the Hepburn bill had been
so ingeniously changed that diplomats
4.
Hay-Pauncefo.e treaty. If England
was to have the benefits of the canal
why should it be built with American
money.
OUR INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS.
Once built the canal would aid III the
solution of our Industrial problems. 1t
would furnish n short ana chean route
TO the great East. where 100000 goo peo-
pie were to be better fed and better
clothed. Recent events emphasized the
necessity for its Immediate construc-
ton. Any delay on account OF the cost
would be unworthy of a great nation.
Mr.. Alexander (New York; also sup
ported the bill. He devoted his time to
the development of some figures to
show the advantage of the Nicaragua
over the Panama route. A sailing ves-
sci, he said, could travel from New
York to San Francisco via the former
route IA days quicker than via the Pan
ANA route.
Mr.. Ransdell (Louisiana) made a
general argument in favor OF the i'm
mediate construction of canal. and
was followed by Mr.. Fletcher (Minne-
sota) in opposition to the Bill. The
findings OF the last commission. he
said should not be forestalied.
Mr.. Burton (Ohio). who was one of
the leaders of the opposition to the
bill, spoke at length.
At 5:25 y. III. the House recessed till
p. IN.
NIGHT SESSION.
At the night session Mr.. Levy Qem).
of New York. opposed the bill on the
ground that the time is not opportune
Mr.. SpariIman pem.), of Florida. re-
GREETED that the bill had come up be-
fore the Walker commission had had
an opportunity to report. He was in
favor of the canal
Mr.. Adamson Dem.). of Georgia, the
ranking minority member of the Inter-
state Commerce Committee, who
warmly supported the bill as it was
originally reported from the committee.
said he was unalterably opposed TO the
proposed amendments. If certain
amendments were ado9ted lie should
feel constrained, much as he would
regret il, to vote against the bill.
AIR Rail (Onr1 Tay1S cOufan6a6