Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-19

When the Senate convened. today.
Allison called up the House resolution
providing that the conference commit
tee on the sundry civil appropriation
bill be authorized to consider and
recommend the inclusion Of necessary
appropriations to carry out the several
objects authorized in the omnibus pub
lie buildings bill, and it was agreed to-
The isthmian canal question was then
laid before the Senate. Jones. Ark,
believed it to be the duty of every SEN
ator to vote for the canal at the best
location. Personally, he said. he would
not vote for a proposition that would
impede the progress of the canal. He
was not willing to brush aside the
unanimous report of the isthmian COM
mission in favor of the Panama route,
unless for substantial reasons.
In beginning his speech in support of
his own proposition, Spooner said the
construction of an isthmian canal was
Il colossal enterprise and one which
he believed the American people, with
notably little division of sentiment, de-
sired should be inaugurated and car
ried forward. No higher or more SOL
cmn duty ever rested upon men in pub
lie life than to determine this question
rightly. Spooner eulogized the 18TH
milan canal commission and said that
personally he could not disregard the
report of the commission and follow
the judgment of a senator (Morgan).
IIe paid a cordial tribute to the ener-
gy, ability and earnestness with which
Morgan had advocated an isthman
hnt NJ r,,o
would stand in history as the father of
the canal.
A matter of infinite consequence to
his mind, Spooner suggested, was the
difference in the length of the two
routes-one 40 miles and the other 1873
miles long. The shorter canal-the Pa
nama-he thought was the better. He
contended that the Panama canal could
he operated much more cheaply than
the Nicaragua canal and that in its
operation sailing ships not only would
not be barred, as had been suggested,
but could pass through the canal with
a tug in one day.
In presenting his substitute. Spooner
said it was his purpose to place before
the Senate a bill based on the COM
rnissionerS' reports:
First that the Panama canal was
practicable; second, that the Nicara-
qua canal was feasible and practicable:
and. third, that the Panama route was
the better for the United States.
In response to a suggestion of Nor
gan that the opening of negotiations
with Colombia would render void the
rights of the United States with Mica
ragua and Costa Rica, Spooner pointed
out the constitutional inability of
Costa RIGA to negotiate on the subject
with the United States.
Morgan offered note he had just re-
ceived from the minister of Costa RIGA.
saying that he was authorized by his
government to sign treaty for canal
substantially built.
Spooner replied that private notes did
not make treaties, and he held that
Costa Rica could not make such
treaty with this country.
Teller said he would vote for the
Spooner amendment
Hanna then began his closing argu-
ment in favor of the Panama route.
Teller, Col, maintained that prac-
tically there was no authority for the
building of a canal by either the
Nicaragua or the Panama route. He
believed the Panama route was the
.(Continued on page 50