The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-19
In Favor of Passing the Nicara-
qua Canal Bill.
EVERYBODY WANTS 1T.
Both Political Parties Have De-
cIared For It.
Nothing Mere Necessary But to
Vote and Dig.
Both Houses of Congress Ad-
journ For the Holidays.

Washington. Dec. 19.-Representative
Hepburn (Ia.), chairman of the house
committee on commerce. today made
the report of the committee in favor OF
the Nicaraguan canal bill. After stat
ing the terms. OF the bill the report says
in part:
THE purpose of this bill is to con-
centrate authority and responsibility for
the construction of this great work IN
the hands of the president 1t has been
believed by your committee that this
course would be safer one to be pur-
sued in carrying out the purposes or
the bill, involving the expenditure OF 80
large sum of money, all the work and
all the expenditure to be made At a dis
tance so far from the capital, than any
have tried to concentrate authority and
responsibility, rather than to disperse
1t among many persons
The report refers to the exhaustive
report made by the isthmian commis-
sion, of which Admiral Walker is the
head, in which every feature OF this
enterprise is fully and at length dis
cussed.'' and ADDS: mo doubt is ex-
pressed by the commission as to the
practicability of the enterprise; on the
contrary they join with a score of pre-
decessors in expressing their belief that
the work can be carried to a successful
termination within the limits of reason
able cost and reasonable time. All of
the great politic>1 parties are committed
to the policy Of the construction of this
canal
The report then quotes the declarations
of the various party platforms and
Presidents Mckinley and Roosevelt IA
voring the canal In conclusion II says:
In view of the many thousands or
pages written and spoken in advocacy
of the immediate undertaking and COM
pletionl of this work; in view OF the
should be undertaken and completed;
in view of the recommendations made
by the president of the United States,
and in view of the almost universal de-
mand of the American people that con-
gress should at once do something
effective in the inauguration and speedy
completion of the isthmian canal, your
committee content themselves with a
brief report embodying their earnest
recommendation that the bill pass"
IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. 19--When the house
met today there was a waste of vacant
seats owing to the holiday exodus. The
session was brief.
The message of the president relative
to an appalachian reserve was laid
before the house. Mr.. DeArmond CMo).
at this point rose to a question of per-
sonal privilege. He said that while he
was absent in the Philippines report
was circulated in his state to the effect
that the rural free delivery service was
being held in his district until his re-
turn.
Il desire.'' said Mr.. DeArnond. ito
present some testimony to disabuse the
minds of those who may have been mis-
led, to. uncover those who may have been
hypefcritical and to confute those who
may have lied
He thereupon sent to the clerks desk
and had read a letter sent by him to
the first assistant postmaster general
asking that official what his status was
to be in regard to appointments in the
rural free delivery service in his dis
trict.
Mr.. Payne IN. W made the point of
order that the letter did not constitute
a question of personal privilege.
Speaker Henderson held that con-
trcversy with a department about pa
tronage did not constitute a matter OF
privilege. If it were, he said, members
might constantly arise on such pretext
to air their grievances.
Upon Mr.. De Almonds representation
that he would develop a question Of