Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-04-18
'HEPBURNBILL DEBATED.
Senate Discusses Measure Providing
For q Nicaraguan Canal
CUBAN BILL HOUSES THEME
Jenkins, Gaines and Warner Speak
In Opposition to the Measure.
Speech by De Almond At
tracts Much Attention.

Washington, April 1S.-Soon after the
senate convened a bill authorizing the
county commissioners of Crow Wing
county, Mimi, to construct bridge
across the Mississippi between Pine
River and Dead Brook was passed.
The resolutions offered by Mr.. Cul.
berson (Tex.) directing the secretary OF
war to send to the senate statement
of money paid by the United States on
account of the Philippine commission
and a statement of the amount of mon
ey expended for sending troops to the
Philippines and for their maintenance
were agreed to-
Mr.. Morgan (Ala.), chairman Of the
committee on isthmian canals, at the
conclusion of routine business address
ed the senate upon the Hepburn bill
providing for Nicaraguan canal.
He assumed, in beginning, that the
senate was convinced of the indispensa'
BILE character of canal that it was a
national necessity and that it was only
choice of methods and comparison
of national advantages which were left
to decide. "all questions Of tinancia,
ability, Of private interests, Of political
bias having been relegated to the rear
by command of Free honest and pow
erful people. 1t is to reach the logical
results that should follow the actual
merits of the claim of either canal
route in deciding the preference that |
will try to present an outline of the
questions that now require discussion
Mr.. Morgan said the subject could
be stated in six propositions: Investi-
CATION was complete, and nothing could
be gained 10y delay; it was choice of
two routes, Panama or Nicaragua; the
controlling factors were the success Of
construction and the best interests OF
the United States; the control of selec-
ton should not be affected, all things
considered, on account OF expense, say
within a limit of &5O,OOO,OO0; the prac
ticability of constructing the Nicara-
qua canal was beyond shadow of
doubt and within the estimates; if the
Bohio dam at Panama should fail, the
only hope of canal would perish,
while the failure of one dam on the
San Juan river would mean construc
ton at another point.
Mr.. Morgan said none of the three
commissions had expressed doubt or
apprehension as to the Nicaragua route,
The supplemental report of the last
commission in favor of Panama was
based upon a supposed gain to the gov.
eminent in cost of 5000. 704.
Mr.. Morgan spoke of the clouds of
doubt concerning the Panama route.
He said the political conditions of
Nicaragua and Costa RIGA were more
favorable than those of Colombia. He
said the commission had no authority
to accept an offer from the Panama
Canal company.
The Debate on Cuba.
When the house met, veto message
was received from President Roosevelt
of a bill pensoning Thomas f. Walter
and was referred to the committee on
invalid pensions.
Consideration of the Cuban reciproc-
ity bill was resumed, and Mr.. Jenkins
(Wis) spoke on the political status of
Cuba, maintaining that there could be
no suspended sovereignty and that at
the present time Cuba was under the
political dominion of the United States.
Mr.. Jenkins opposed the bill because
our relations toward Cuba We're not
such as to permit of the proposed rec-
procity treaty
Mr.. Gaines (W. Va also opposed the
bill. declaring that it was unnecessary
and unwise.
MIR. Warner Qll.), who followed, was
also against the bill. He insisted that
the measure was not along Republican
lines, and when he declared that at
heart majority of the members of
the Republican side We're opposed to
it the Republican opponents of the bill
gave him a round of applause.
Mr.. DeArmond (Mo.) made speech
which attracted much attention. He
employed his vitriolic comment upon
the attitude of members with his &C.
customed freedom. He commented
upon the statement of General Grosve.
nor few days ago that later the high
rates Of the Dingley law would be re
duced and revised by the friends of
that act. If the rates were too high.
ne saw no reason why the reduction
should not occur now, and in this con
nection he referred sarcastically to the
Babcock bill to place steel on the fire,
list.
Speaking Of the sugar trust he oh.
served that to hear members talk one
would think there was nothing so
friendless in the house as this trust
Fortunately" he said ironically, "there
will be opportunity later on for men,
bers to show by their votes that they
have not misrepresented themselves"
Mr. Cushman wash, made a breezy
speech against the bill. He minated
that the speakers position was respon-
Bible for the change of attitude of many
Of the members and followed this state.