The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-31
The CANAL BILLS May FAIL.
CHAIRMAN HEPBURN NOT VERY
SANGUINE or THE RESULT.
He Calls Attention TO the Game OF Delay
successfully Played Three Times In
the Past Six Years The Proposition
10 Sell the Panama Canal He Considers
o Part OF tho Policy Of Delay.


WASHINGTON, Dec. so.-The considera
don OF the Nicaragua Canal bill. which is
be the continuing order In the House o
Representatives until disposed OF. beginning
on Tuesday, Jan. 7. will be marked by al
unusual feature. In that the opposition u
II will be practically nothing. Mr.. Hep
burn. chairman of the Committee on Inter
state and Foreign Commerce, whose nam
the bill bears. said to-day hat no arrange
ment had been made for handling the
opposition to the bill.
'Mr. Davey Of louisiana he said. 'tht
senior Democratic member Of the com
mittee, told me that he wanted to contro
the time In opposition. but I do not see
how that can be done. as he favors the bill
Mr.. Fletcher OF Minnesota cast the only
negative vote in committee against re-
porting the bill. but he has expressed nc
desire In the matter. He has made nc
report against the bill. The only person
who has asked for time against the bin il
Mr.. Burton Of Ohio. chairman Of the Com
mittee on Rivers INC Harbors, who sale he
wanted about fifteen minutes
Despite this seeming lack OF anita gonisn
to a bill proposing to involve the United
States In the execution of a contract call
ing for the largest sum OF money ever ap-
piled to the construction OF a public work
Mr.. Hepburn. while hopeful of the accom-
plishment Of the purpose upon which he
has set his heart. Ia not enthusiastically
~sanguine of the result.
Il would not hazard an opinion he said
In reply to a question regarding the final
issue. Il should not be surprised to see
something interposed TO the progress OF
the legislation in the House or Senate or
In conference. II It should reach that stage.
TO provoke delay. THAI game has been
played. and successfully, three times in
the past six years. Just look at the RECORD.
This committee has investigated the sub
ject Of an Isthmian Canal for ten years
past. At a time when it seemed probable
that the committee would recommend
action, having become satisfied regarding
a course TO be pursued, another committee,
not charged with any duty respecting the
subject, brings in a River and Harbor bill.
with a paragraph attached providing for
the appointment of a commission TO in
vestigate and report. This scheme was
successfully carried out and has been
twice repeated with variations. Every
commission has reported in favor Of the
Nicaragua route and we have paid out a
million and a half dollars for investiga-
lions that rave not added one important
or substantial fact to our knowledge re-
gardinL h canal question not known
when this system Of delay vas i~naugurated.
Last time there were some funny pro-
ceedings In connection with the matter.
Canal bill. you may remember, was
attached TO the River and Harbor bill in
the Senate and sent back TO the House.
There was confusion among the opponents
OF the canal and a hasty conference was
held between Speaker Reed and Chairman
Burton, In which the Speaker notified Mr..
Burton that ne must either kill the canal
amendment or bring in n new bill. Mr..
Burton asked me If | would consent TO a
disagreement upon all the Senate amend
fnents and let them go to conference.
] told him would consider the proposition
and proceeded to consult the Senators.
Two Of them. who said they would be on
the Conference Committee. assured me
OF their intense interest in the cana and
that they should never consent 10 the canal
amendment going of. One Of them ac-
tually r~eproached me for my reluctance
to accept their assurances, and / finally
did so. ! agreed TO sending the bill 20 ron
ference and the canal amendment went
Oh In a jify. being replaced by the item
providing for the appointment Of the 18TH
mian Commission. which has just made its
report. Admiral Walker was chairman
Of the commission a. well as Of the Mica
ragua Commission, its predecessor in the
investigating business.
When the report was presented, ] was on
my feet demanding recognition In order
that might make a point Of order against
the substitute, 10 which IL was susceptible.
Auf the Aneukar TenngFlgQl sgVsful nftar
gentlemen before he reached me AID then,
when ! made my point 81 order, blandly
informed me- that ] was too late; that the
report. although covering a multitude 81
SUBJECTS, must he treated az an entirety,
and that by Permitting debate 10 be had
upon other topics | h'-i preclud@d myself
from making the point against the COfnmis
sion item. and later hset had the impu-
denoe "a come around and with his sArdOnio
smile TAFT me upon waiting until n was
too late 20 Intervene With ths point 81
order
sWhs, do you ,h.ink 81 ths new pfopo-
sltion a. Ill the aha Canal 10 ths
United statas lot SEQ go OOO7' Nas ask~i.
y don't nov that 40" proposition was
su,honn-f ~ all responded NJ Hepburn.
although ! have No. doubt that some suft
~ one NIn b. made t~fuTe tlo suhl~rt "
sist-t. sas q u'sratoh saying ths s@r-
lniie1 States a. mako that onor bat 1
don't know Nhu saut II genuine ! don't
knos t. .airIf of tls hlthuntg - ths
30 srntl"fnuH o. thf fw"ut ui.rtluE 20 ua
coiolany a. irlfurrud tls" 20tsS st,Hrh
LnlIsIs. aIad tIluu. NUat rIluuld 80 Lukf
ennialns au u%niunIsHi pn.llu.iian asalnss
30 tfansfFH II.tldiuF II lH raurlaiiHb
Tie iufirflI" "I oil .Hf IHfiHHIB - be
ouinpanD ~ ,a aH 70 u"Hu sl...ld IT, uiadH
sa.a-i nr ar aiisula 4. aI ia sl,r.
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