The Portland daily press., 1900-04-14
Effort To Have Bill
Taken Up.
No Opposition Found on Dem
cratic Side.

Washington, April 13.-Representative
Burton whose objection to the oonsidsra-
ton Of the Nicaraguan canal bill at
traoted much attention today, explained
his course In the following authorized
statemsnt:
az wish It distinctly understood the OBJ
jection In made upon nay own Fesponsi
bility. Objection to the consideration Of
the pending bill was made because, first
It abrsgates . treaty solemnly entered In
to and now in full foros. while its abro-
CATION could be accomplished By the pas.
sage Of this bill, such action 10 without
precedent in our relations with foreign
powers; 1t 10 also unnecessary because the
same result could be obtained by the
Hay -Pauncefote treaty, measure whicb
though much misunderstood 10 nsverths-
less q triumph Of diplomacy.
"Second, IL commits ~ to fortified
canal, instead Of q neutral canal. A neu-
trail canal Ia not only In accordance with
the general tenor Of our policy, but woald
best subssrvs our own interests.
"Ihird, there are also serious objections
to tn, present consideration Of this bill
which might not exist at later time.
(l)-It ID desirable that the present COM
mission. the first which have given COM
prehesive and complete confederation to
the subjsct Of the construction OF an In
ternAtional canal should oomplsts Its
work before Q route Is selected. (2) In
the same line, IL IL desirable that pro-
visionsI treaties be made with the ooun-
tries controlling each Of the proposed
routes. viz:
"Costa Rloa and Nicaragua on the one
hand and Colombia on the other hand.
10 pass bill committing the United
Statas to either Of these routes would pre-
vent MS from obtaining a. favorable terms
for right Of way ana control, a. could
readily be obtained In case the question
CT the route should be postponed.
''No loss could result from . postpone.
ment until the next session because ex-
tended examination will bs required be-
fore definite route can be safely and
judioioualy selected, even II the general
route should be chosen. Some I've hun
dred men are now ct work making ex-
animation and exploration. This work
which II absolutely essential before the
canal 10 commenced, will require consid-
cradle time. There u no desire on the
part Of those who are opposing the
present consideration Of this bill to OPP
pose the construction OF . canal The
administration and both political parties
are com mitted to the early beginning Of
the work but 1t Is desirable that all
necessary prsliminariss in the way Of sx-
animation and engineering features. set
Elements Of diplomatic questions and g.
curing the most favorable privileges shall
bs thoroughly attended 60. Il has bsen
proposed that an early date In the next
session be fixed for consideration of the
bill. 10 this do not bslisvs any objes-
ton would be yuade."
Following Mr.. Burton's notios Of OBJ
jection. Mr.. Hepburn took steps TO over
come this opposition. A petition to the
com mittee on rules was prepared, re-
aussting that body to fix time for tax.
ing ur the canal bill. Mr.. Hepburn Or
enlatsd the petition on the Republican
side and up TO the time OF adiournmsnt
seonred sixty- one signatures. He said he
considered this good showing. consider
ing the small attendance.
MIR. Adamson who circulated the petit
tion on the Democratic side said:
"There Is no opposition whatever on
this aide and every man present today
has signed the petition. II the attendance
had been larger We would have had many
more signatures, but a. 1t is the numbsr
exceeds sixty and many more win be
added 90 fast ~ mem hers can be seen."
Notwithstanding these efforts. Il was
intimatsd pretty strongly In well In
formed quarters that the committee on
rules wss not likely to hriag In special
rule. The members Of the committee de-
slinsd. however. to make any definite
aEntsmsns an tha m b aot.s s..s