The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-09
MORE FAVORABLE
To PANAMA OFFER
Several Congressman Want
1T Considered.
THE MORRIS AMENDMENT
THE MORRIS AMEN DMENT
This Empowers President Roosevelt to
Select the Route.
SPEECHES ARE MADE IN ITS FAVOR
General Debate Will Close at Two O'clock
Today and Final Vote on the Canal
= Bill May be Taken this
Afternoon.
CBy the Associated Press.)


Washington, Jan. S.-The debate upon
the Nicaraguan Canal Bill in the House
today developed sentiment in favor of
giving consideration to the recent offer
of the Panama Company to sell it's fran
chise and property for forty million dol
lars. and this sentiment took the form
of advocating the Morris amendment to
empower the President to select the lat
, ter route if the Canal Commission, upon
considering the companys offer recon-
mends it and the required concessions
can be obtained from Colombia. OF six
| teen members who spoke today nine
| favored the Morris amendment. 1t was
agreed that general debate should close
tomorrow at o'clock after which the
bill will be open to amendment under
the five minute rule. The final vote
probably will be taken tomorrow.
| The speakers today were Messrs.
Shackelford MOI; Parker, IN. JD; Low
ering, (Miss.); Morris, (Minn); Burton.
| (Ohio); Hill, Conn.,; Bromwell, (Ohio);
tGillett, (Mass); Littlefield, Me.), in fa-
| vor OF the Morris amendment and Messrs.
Burgess, CTex) Bell, (Colo.); Cooney,
| MOI; Cummings, IN. W; Gibson,
| (Tenn) and Lacey, (La.) for the bill in
it's present form.
Mr.. Shackelford, (MoD, believed that
the Eads Tehuantepec route was prefera-
| bic to any which had been proposed but
he did not think the present a time for
| cayil. He did not like the Panama route
/ but if the new proposition of the Panama
| Company offered advantages over the
| Nicaraguan route. he thought the Pres-
dent should have alternative authority
| to accept it,
III you favor this bill" interposed Mr..
| Bartholdt (Mo), why is it that you and
Your Democratic colleagues from Mis-
souri, at the last session voted against
similar bill?"
Because replied Mr.. Shackleford
1.-The bill at the last session was passed
through this House to the tune of God
Save the Queen l want it passed to
the sweet strains of Hail Columbia
| Democratic applause).
But the Hay Pauncefote treaty was
rot ratified at the last session." OBJ
| served Mr.. Bartholdt.
True it was not replied Mr.. Shack
| leford But our English Secretary of State
wanted it ratified and because we be-
lieved the wishes of Her Majesty's repre-
| sentative in the Cabinet would prevail
We opposed the bill"
Mr.. lowering (Mass) also a member
of the committee that reported the bill,
| said that in the past he had favored
the Nicaraguan route because the engin-
eers had reported in it's favor and be-
! cause until recently he had believed that
the trans continental railroads were
using the Panama route to obstruct ac-
| ton. But ne had recently satisfied him
| self that the railroads were not behind
| the Panama Canal The recent offer
| of the Panama Company he believed, was
III good faith.
| Mr.. Morris, (Minn.). who offered the
amendment yesterday to give the Pres
ident the alternative authority to select
! the Panama Route if it was recommend
ed by the Commission after the consid-
| Grafton of the Panama Company's new
offer explained the purpose of his
amendment, which he said, was not to
impede the construction of the canal,
| but to insure the selection of the best
| canal-thc best as to the location, cost
of maintenance and operation, durability
and freedom from danger from destruc-
tion
Before the ISthmian Commission made
it's report he did not believe the Panama
route feasible. He thought it had been
used solely for the purpose of delay. But
since reading the report he was unable
to reach a conclusion to which was
the better route. In embarl<ing upon an
enterprise that was to cost $200, 0,0000oV.
perhaps more, he considered it wise that
the experts should have an opportunity
to consider the new offer of the Panama
Company.
If the bill was passed. in the form in
! which it was reported the President
could not entertain the offer of the Pan
anna Company and under it the President
might by treaty bind the United States
to construct the Nicaraguan Canal even
though We afterWard became convinced
that the other was the better route
Mr.. Burton (Ohio) who led the oppo-
siton to a similar bill in the last Con-
grcss, said he would not be glad TO see
the pending bill pass. The events of the
last twenty months he declared had vim
dicated the course of the minority. In
speaking of the advantages of the Pana-
ma route, he said, member of the ocm-
mission had told him few days ago
that the examination of the Panama
route had been much more thorough