Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-06-26
CANAL BILL PASSED.
The Senate Finally Adopted the
Spooner Substitute.
PANAMA ROUTE GIVEN PREFERENCE,


Washington, June 20.-An isthmian
canal, while not yet absolutely as
sured, Is nearer to construction than
1t ever has been. The senate yester-
day by a majority Of eight votes
adopted the Spooner substitute for
the Hepburn Nicaragua canal bill,
the vote on the substitute being AZ
to 81. After two amendments to the
measure had been adopted, one pro-
viding for q commission to supervise
the construction of the canal and the
other providing for the issuance Of
$13o,oOooOo of two per cent. gold
bonds to raise money with which to
construct the waterway, it was
passed by a vote of 81 to 6.
1t has been evident for several
days that the Spooner substitute,
which in brief provides that the
president shall select the Panama
route II he can obtain clear title
to the Panama Canal company's
property, but, otherwise, he shall
adopt the Nicaragua route, would
command the votes Of q majority of
the senate. The Panama route was
considered more desirable by the SEN
ate than the Nicaragua route. The
only question left open is the title
to the property and that the presi-
dent will determine if the house
should adopt the senate's amend.
ment to its bill.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama,
closed yesterdays debate with an
earnest appeal for the adoption Of
the Nicaragua route. He had been
preceded by Senator Clark, of Mon
tana, in support of the Nicaragua
route, and Senator Allison, of Iowa,
in support of the spooner PROPOSE
ton. Only minor amendments, ex-
cept those indicated, were adopted,
all others being voted down.
The senate had some debate over
the trouble into which it had gotten
with the house over amendments to
the army appropriation bill, and
finally asked for a conference with
the house, ignoring the Offensive"
message which caused the trouble.
The following bills were passed:
TO authorize the secretary of the
treasury to adjust the accounts Of
Morgan's Louisiana and Texas Rail
road and Steamship company for
transporting the United States mail;
authorizing the construction of a
bridge across the Missouri river with
in five miles north of the Kaw river,
Wyandotte county, Kan, and Clay
county, Mo-; to set apart certain
lands in South Dakota as a public
park to be known as the Wind Cave
national park.
The opening day of the weeks de-
bate on the Philippine government
bill in the house was signalized by
a remarkably strong and exhaustive
speech by Mr. Cooper, Of Wisconsin,
chairman of the committee on in
sular affairs. He spoke for almost
three hours and was given close at
tention by both sides Of the house.
Much OF the speech was a general
defense Of the policy pursued by the
administration and drew repeated
applause from his side of the house.
He commended that the problem Of
the Philippines should not be h
party question, that both political
parties brought on the war with
Spain and the votes of members Of
both parties ratified the treaty which
made the islands American territory.
The most telling portion of his
speech was the parallel he drew be-
tween the present attitude of the OPP
position and the attitude of the op-
position during and Immediately sue
ceeding the civil war.
Mr.. Jones. of Virginia, the ranking
member OF the minority of the COM
mittee, made an able presentation Of
the democratic position, but he yield
ed the floor after speaking about an
hour and will resume to-day. Those
were the only speeches made yester-
day. The order under which the
house is operating provides for night
sessions until Wednesday for debate
only, but as no one was prepared
to speak last night the order for the
session yesterday evening was va.