The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-07
Resents Statements About the
 "Hanna Commission
CONTINUES HIS SPEECH
Says Dangers From Volcanic Erupt'ons Along Nicaragua Route Are to Be Seriously Considered In
 s2oo, o,ooo 900 Enterprise.

Washington, June 6-After transacting some routine business today, the Sem ate resumed consideration of the isthmian canal MT Hanna of Ohio continuing his argument in support of the Panama caral The Ohio Senator declared that no political considerations were involved In the canal problem. He presented the opin- ions of eighty-three ship masters ana pilots in favor of the Panama route as against the Nicaragua route, for many reasons which they cited.
 He urged that the construction of the Nicarag1lsn canal was beset with un- known difficulties, while the construction of the Panama canal was Tan open book. He laid particular stress on the danger to the Nicaragua route from volcanoes and urged that it was not good business policy to ignore those dangers in pro- ject involving an expenditure Of s2oO,OOO'- COG.
 The Debate.
 At ? o'clock consideration of the Nica- rasua canal bill was resumed. and after a call of the Senate to have 45 Senators responding, MT. Hanna continued his speech begun yesterday. He referred to some comments made sterday by MT Mitchell of Oregon. in which the Oregon Senator had spoken of the advantages of the Nicaragua route, while the Hanna commission had reported once in favor of the Nicaragua route.
 MT. Hanna said he took exception to the insinuation that this was "Hanna's. com mission
 '.I consider" said he. that am here to do my duty to my country, and when l am placed on an important committee with which I am charged an important duty, I am determined to discharge that duty faithfully and conscieutiously."
 He presented an earnest and vigorous defense of the Isthmian canal commits zion appointed by Mckinley, and said that he sought to discuss the pending question upon a higher plane than mere personal ties. He declared that there was no politics in the bill presented, and he was certain there were no personali- ties in it.
 Engineering Difficulties.
 Mir Hanna discussed at length the en- gineering difficulties presented in the construction of the Bohio dam on the Panama route. maintaining that 1t was feaSlDle project III the ndnuS ol uoueru skilled engineers.
 MT. Hanna criticised the testimony of Captain Merry United States minister to Nicaragua, who supported the Nicaragua route He said Captain Merry was stockholder in the Maritime Canal Com pany, which, of course, wanted the Me- aragua route adopted.
 As to the possibility of danger from seismic disturbances, he thought it was practically an even thing between the two routes There was not enough doing along either route to deter the United States from building the canal either in Nicaragua or Panama. He laid particular stress on the danger to the Nicaragua route from volcanoes and quoted Prof. Heilprin, the volcano expert. as saying that the region of Panama was not in danger of volcanic disturbances.
 MT. Hanna said that in the construction of this canal the United States was in- vading the territory of the volcano; that in Lake Nicaragua itself there were two volcanoes, one of which had been active recently.
 "Is it." he inquired. reasonable or safe to put aside lightly suchconditions.? We are not going backward in history to find illustrations but we are considering the ngers from volcanoes that may arise at any time. If there were no other reason, would not these reasons cause any party or any corporation to hesitate in the expenditure of s2oo,OO0 o00?"
 Volcanic Dangers.
 Mfr. Hanna declared that if one of the volcanoes Ill Lake Nicaragua should play the same part" as Mont Pelee had played, enough lava and mud and rock would be elected to fill Lake Nicaragua.
 May l suggest" said Mir Harris of Kansas that the whole island of Mar unique would not fill one-half of the Lake Of Nicaragua"
 MT Hanna presented a synopsis from data collected by him from the statements of eighty-three captains of ocean-going steamers and other vessels bearing on the use of an isthmian canal and said 1t seemed to him a sound business prop osition to build the canal along the route preferred by seafaring men, All of the masters had had experience in navigat- ing the Suez Manchester and Kiel ca- nals. They were unanimous in favor of the Panama route for steamers 400 feet long and 25 feet draft provided both ca- nals were in operation and weather and expense conditions were equal.
 Mir Hanna repudiated absolutely any insnuations against the motives of those who favored the Panama canal. He said the work already done on the Panama canal was along the line of the best en- Rineering skill. The proposition to sell 10 this country the Panama Canal Com pany's rights was made because it was known that this country had determined to finish this great work. He suggested that if the United States should decide to construct the canal along the Nicara- qua route 1t would have no assurance that some other nation would not decide to complete the Panama canal