The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-10
Have Gotten Into Good GraceS
 of Administration Ring
HEPBURN WILL MAKE FIGHT
Thinks He Can Control Enough Nica- raeua Republicans to Defeat Con- currence in Spooner Amend
 ment if 1t Is Adopted.
BYWATTERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington, June 9.-(Special) The senate will likely reach vote the latter part of the week on the isthmian canal. The advocates of the Spooner substitute on the Panama canal claim they will be in the majority. Backed by a power ful lobby, the Pana::lI Canal Company seems to have gotten into the good graces of the administration ring in the senate. which is doing It's best to infiu- ence Republican senators known to have a preference for the Nicaragua canal to vote for Panama.
 The house Nicaragua Republicans, led by Hepburn of Iowa, say they possess sufficient number of votes to prevent the house concurring in the Spooner substi- tute should 1t pass the senate.
 Proceedings In Senate.
 Washington, June 9-An interesting contribution to the discussion of the isth- milan canal project was made in the sem ate today by MT. Harris of Kansas, a member of the committee on inter oceanic canals, who is also an engineer of recognized ability. His discussion of technical details of canal construction was listened to with profound attention. He strongly advocated the selection of the Nicaragua canal. He maintained that 1t was entirely feasible and practicable from an engineering standpoint and said that some of the difficulties presented by the Panama route were insureparble- notably the construction of Bohio dam.
 During the early part of the session the naval appropriation bill was consid- cred. All of the committee amendments were disposed of, except that relating to two additional battle ships, two cruisers and two gunboats.
 MT. Harris went into minute details of the Panama proposition his point being to show that the valuation of the prop erty of the Panama Company, both as to the canal and railroad property, was not only excessive but that much of 1t being useless for our purposes, would have to be replaced.
 Legal Difficulties.
 He referred to the legal and diplomatic difficulties which surround the Panama Canal Company on all sides" and de- clared that they were absolutely insuper- able MT Tillman inquired how the lands necessary for the Nicaragua route were to be obtained, if they were owned by private individuals?
 Have Americans gone down there and fixed up things so that we will have to pay millions of dollars for the right of way?"
 "The treaty with Nicaragua" MT. Har- lis said provides for a condemnation of the lands where private rights are in volved''
 MT. Culberson of Texas inquired how much would have to be paid by the United States for private rights along the canal.
 Mr. Harris replied that, so far as he knew no data on that subject had been prepared
 MT. Morgan said that by an arrange ment with the Nicaraguan government all acquisition of land by the United States would date back to the conditions which prevailed in December, 1900. That would preclude speculation in land along the route Mir. Harris insisted that strictly commercial reasons would warrant the United States in building the Nicaraguan canal, even though the Panama route were presented to this country.
 Again sIr. Tillman interrupted to ex- press his apprehension that speculators had obtained or would obtain, title to lands that would be necessary to the Uni ted States if the Nicara guan route was selected,
 MT. Hprris replied that in view of the diplomatic arrangements between the United States and Nicaragua no such ap- prehension as that suggested was war ranted although it was impossible. per- haps, to guard absolutely against frauds of the kind suggested.
 The Bohio Dam.
 MT. Harris expressed great fear that the construction of the Bohio dam, on the Panama route, could not be accom- plished and that even if 1t were the dam could not be made of strength sufficient to withstand the tremendous head of water from the Chagre5 River. In sup pert of thls opinion he made an extended technical argument.
 Mr. Harris expressed the hope that when the canal was built, 1t would be made free to the coastwise trading ves- sels of the United States. He urged that if the Panama route were adopted. the canal would be useless for sailing ves- sells upon which, he said, the people of the United States had to rely for protec- tion agali st the shipping trusts.
 Mr. Morgan discussed briefly the diplo- matic negotiations between the United States and the governments Of Nicarauga and Costa Rica to show that neither Nicaragua nor Costa Rica could have claims against this government through the old Maritime Canal Company. He pointed out that 1t was through the wis., dom and foresight of William Mckinley that the United States acquired the ex- elusive right to construct a canal through Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and he de- clared that this was one of the most magnificent acts ever performed by President of the United States" It had cleared the way for the construction of the canal, and those two southern na- tions were bound by the agreement until this Congress should take action on the canal question.
 The Senate at 5:35 went into executive session and soon afterwards adjourned.
 James Hogan Refused License.
 New York; June 9.-At the meeting of