New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-17
ISTHMIAN CANAL DEBATE
SENATOR'S CULLOM AND KITTREDGh
SPEAK FOR THE PANAMA ROUTE.

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNF.l
Washington, June 16.-The last week OF DEBATE III
the Senate on Isthmian Canal bill opener To-
day with two speeches favorng the substitution OF
the Panama for the Nicaragua route. Mr.. Cullom
the chairman of the Committee Foreign Kela-
tons whose study the isthmian waterway prop
lem has covered fifteen to twenty years OF at
tempted canal legislation. spoke emphauealiy IN
support OF the Spooner amendment to the Hepburn
bill which sf1 es the President authority to utilize
the Panama route if in his opinion the frehch
company controlling the Panama enterprise ca"
transfer a clear title to the United STATES MI
Kittredge. Of South Dakota, a new Senator WI"
has had place since December last on the com
mittee on Interoceanic Canals. also vigorously al
vocated the choice of the Panama route
Mr. Cullorn said the question was not partisan
one. Both political parties had indorsed the col
struction of isthmian canal We had' sal" ne
for so many years been of the opinion thaL II
would be impossible for the United states TO Sc
cure title to the Panama route that we hao
ceased giving that route attention. ana the
popular idea had been American cahai via
Ni,arae,,a and Costa Rica and hence We are all
a little prejudiced in favor of Nicaragua oe
Iieve there many convincing reasons why ~
Spooner amendment should be adopted ara why 'il9
canal should be constructed the Panama route
The principal one on which 1 base my preference
for the Panama route Is the Recommendations -
the Isthnian Canal Commission
THE dangers from volcanoes and earthquakes
Mr. Cu1Ion continued lis merely speculative III
either there is equal danger iroii car ~
ouakes but by selecting the Panama route we CAN
at least avoid the possible danger from volcanoes
However if il is found that we cannot oplaih Z"
good title from the Panama Canal Company Oh INC
Government of Colombia we will go aheao Win
the constrl .tion of canal along the Nicaragua
route and take whatever risks there may be from
volcanoes called upon to select oet"ee"
a route 1S3 miles long and one 40 miles long, oe-
tween route costing $3.50 100000 and one costing
1854 600 900, between a route which VIII arludhS
fD
will cost only 100000 to operate and MAINTAIN
between a route that will take only twelve hours
to navigate and that will take thirts-l
hours; between a route that has been a highway
of commerce for four hundred years and one that
has never been used; between route the entire
length Of which there is in operation raliroao
worth $1,000 900 and route with no transportation
facilities For all these reasons the Panama route
should be selected.
u believe the Panama Canal Company can con-
vey a good title TO its property to the United
States Mr. Cullom said In conclusion, but IT, on
examination by the law officers of the govern
ment, it is found that the title of the Panama
Canal Company is defective then the Panama
route will be rejected, and the canal Will be con-
Mr. Kittredge contended thar the action of the
Isthmian Canal Commission in recommending the
support of that route. That report, supplemented
BY testimony taken ~ the enteToGeac ~ Sa tt
to the Panama Canal The attitude Of the govern
ment OF COLOMBIA he continued lnolcated tilal sue
most liberal spirit. He had doubt that the dip
lomatic negotiations concerning the Panama Canal
could be brought to successful issue without az
fculty. The canal by the Nicaragua route, he as
serted. was blocked by almost impossible bar
rier, because of the position OF Costa Rica. which
could not enter into negotiations with the
United States the subject. and would not be Die
to do until her constitution had been amended
This. he said. matter of argument. but
matter of established fact: and. If the Hepburn
bill were enacted it would mean simply that there
would be canal
In answer 70 an inquiry by Mr., Clay, Mr.; kit,
tredge said the minority of the Canal Commute
had recommended the Nicaragua route as an al
tentative proposition, assuming. OF course, that a
firm and stable legal foundation for the govern
ment's work could be obtained. He pointed out
that Panama the United States, by the acqui-
siton OF the Panama Canal Companys rights and
property. would obtain all the lands required for
the canal. while in Nicaragua this government
would have buy all lands except those held by
Nicaraguan Government, which. he declared.
would add millions of dollars to the estina ted cost
of the Nicaragua Canal.
Mr. Kittredge also said that the Maritime Canal
Company would have a claim against the United
States in the event OF the adoption OF the Ncara-
qua route Of $1,000 coo. in addition to the amount
of the Compauy's claim against Nicaragua, which
the United States would have 10 assume.