New-York tribune., 1902-05-15
CHANCE FOR CANAL BILL
PROSPECTS OF ACTION AT THIS SEES
SION MORE PROMISING.
NOT TO IMPERII, THE SUCCESS OF THE
CUBAN RECIPROCITY MEASURE.
IBY rELrGnArH TO THE TRIBUNE

TO THE TRIBUNE
Washington, May 1+.-Prospects of some ac-
ton at this session on the isthnian canal propo-
sition are growing more promising. Until to-day
it seemed likely that the subject would not be
considered by the Senate before the next meet
ing of Congress-, but the Republican leaders have
about decided that it will be both wise and ex-
pedent give attention to it at this session. 1t
is not improbable. therefore, that soon as the
Lodge bill for the establishment of civil gov
ernment in the Philippines is out of the way
the Senate will give consideration to the canal
question. This does not mean that definite or
final action will be taken at this session, or even
that the Hepburn Nicaragua bill. which passed
the House mere than three months ago. will be
considered in detail If that measure should be
taken up for passage there is no doubt that 1t
would precipitate a debate that would prolong
the session well into the summer. and might
defeat the Cuban Reciprocity bill, at least
defer action on that highly important subject to
the next session. In spite of the haste and
hurrah which characterized the passage of the
Hepburn bill in the House there has never been
much strong sentiment among Republican lead
ers Of the Senate for that measure.
FOR PRESIDENT TO CHOOSE A ROUTE.
While it is generally agreed that the time is
fast approaching when the national dream of
ship waterway across the isthmus will become
national necessity, at the same time many of
the most influential and farsghted Republican
Senators refuse 10 commit themselves at this
juncture 10 the route to be chosen. preferring
to give that vital phase Of the subject
careful attention than has yet been bestowed
on 1t. For this reason it is more than likely
that the Hepburn bill will not he seriously
sidered now, but when the Senate reaches the
canal question that measure will be replaced
with either the Hoar or Spooner amendment. at
least so far action at this session is con-
cerned. The SpOoner amendment provides that
the President shall investigate the ability of the
French Panama Canal Company to make clear
title TO its property and rights and if satisfied
that the transfer can safely be made then he is
to purchase the property and franchise from
their French owners for $40 600 000 the vaua-
ton placed on the incompleted Panama Canal
by the United States Isthmian Canal Commits
sion and the price which the French company
has agreed to sell to this country. If the inves-
legations should show that a good title cannot
be made then, under the terms of the Spooner
amendment, the President is to proceed to con-
struct canal along the Nicaragua route.
The Hoar amendment is broader than Senator
Spooners. in that il seeks to leave wholly to the
President the responsibility of selecting the
route, which might mean that neither the Mica
ragua nor the Panama route would be chosen
but that the Darien route would be.
As Senator Morgan. of Alabama; Senator Har-
ris. of Kansas. and one or two other Democrats
III tne SENATE are dpoui the only fnernDers or
that body who would insist putting in a plea
for the Nicaragua route il is thought that either
the Spooner the Hoar proposition can be
adopted at this session with the least possible
discussion, and thus open the way for early
consideration of the Cuban reciprocity subject
which occupies place the Senate calendar
next to the Canal bill Should the supporters
of the Nicaragua scheme enter into an extended
debate, it is settled that in order not leopard
ize the success of Cuban reciprocity legislation
al this session. the Canal bill will be displaced
long enough to give reciprocity the right of way.
This. at any rate, is the programme tentatively
agreed upon by the Republican leaders.