Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-06-05
THE Canal PROJECT
Senator Morgan Speaks IN Favor
Of the Nicaragua Route.
BILL TO EXTEND FREE DELIVERY.
Argument About the Origin Of the Mon
roc Doctrlne-The Anti. Anarchy Bill
Debated In the House--Ths Question
Of Congressman Ray.

the project of constructing an 18TH
milan canal was begun by the senate
yesterday Senator Morgan, of Ala
bama, chairman of the committee on
interoceanic canals, opened the de-
bate, speaking nearly three hours.
A considerable portion of his speech
was devoted to an examination OF
the recently suggested danger to the
Nicaragua canal route Of seismic dis
turbances. This danger, he con-
cluded, after q careful review of
many authorities, existed only in the
imagination Of those who desired to
defeat any canal project. His study
of the situation had convinced him
that really there was no greater dan
ger from volcanic and earthquake
disturbances to the Panama route
than to the Nicaragua route, but he
was satisfied that little danger to
either was to be anticipated. Sen
ator Morgan reviewed at length the
political conditions in Colombia, find
ing in them a grave menace to the
United States in the construction of
canal by the Panama route. He
presented also the present phases OF
the diplomatic negotiations looking
to the building of canal by both
the Nicaragua route and by the Pan
anna route. He closed with strong
appeal for the passage Of the Nicara-
qua bill.
A bill providing that the postmas-
ter general may extend free delivery
to cities of 5000 inhabitants or $4,000
gross income instead Of 10000 in
habitants, as at present, was passed.
Senator Money, of Mississippi,
questioned the accuracy Of state
ment made recently by Senator Hoar
in his speech on the Philippine bill
on the origin Of the Monroe doc
trine. Senator Hoar stated that John
Quincy Adams was the author Of the
doctrine. Senator Money commended
that the doctrine was the result Of
consultations between Mr.. Canning,
the British prime minister, and Mr..
Rush, the American minister to Great
Britain.
At the conclusion Of the routine
business consideration was begun Of
the military academy appropriation
bill. The measure carries appropria-
tons aggregating $2,627,324
Senator Bate, of Tennessee, a
member of the military affairs COM
mittee, protested against the vast
extent of the improvements proposed
at West Point, aggregating, he said,
$,5OoOOo, the increase provided by
the senate being about $1,00O,00O.
Senator Cockrell's bill for the relief
of the Catholic church at Macon
City, Mo-, was reported adversely and
postponed indefinitely. The bill was
for the payment of damages for the
use of the church by troops during
the war.
The debate on the anti-anarchy bill
continued all day in the house. It
was without sensational features, be-
ing confined almost entirely to the
legal and constitutional phases Of
the question. Mr.. jenkins, of Wis
consin, and Mr.. Parker, of New Jer-
sey, contended that the bill did not
go far enough; that the killing Of
the president should be made pun
ishable by death without any limita-
ton whatever. Mr.. Powers, of Massa-
chusetts, and Mr.. Nevin, Of Ohio, the
other two speakers, supported the
measure as it came from the COM
mittee.
While Mr.. Jenkins was speaking
Mr.. Ray, Of New York, asked: IF
a president should 20 to the wicked
city of Chicago incognito and, while
intoxicated, become involved in q
quarrel and be killed, should his
slayer necessarily suffer the death
penalty%
"No president Of the United States
has ever lowered himself to such an
extent" replied Mr.. jenkins, angrily,
"and | decline to answer a question
which disgraces the high Office Of