The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-09
The Republic Bureau.
81 and pauDSlly.Di. Az,

| w dsHl.9trn. Jan S.-lilfDeGlate!F atter
! the reading of the journal this morning the
House took up again the consideration of
the isthmian canal bill in Committee of
the Whole.
! Representative shackleford Of Missouri
took the floor in support of the measure
He said he had voted against the Nicara-
qua Canal bill at the last session and eN
! planned his action on the ground that it did
not provide for an American canal. He
| objected to any alliance with Great Brit
ain in building the waterway and was in
| favor Of strictly enforcing the Monroe Doc
trine. The Hay-Pauncefote compact, he
said, was an acknowledgment that We dare
not proceed without first consulting Great
Britain.
our Anglo Saxon cousins are formidable
| rivals and everlasting foes he declared
The treaty had been changed and the bill
lad been somewhat changed and. while it
was not all that could be desired. he would
| support 1t. He thought that not enough
attention had been given to the selection
OF route and gave notice that he would.
at the proper time. offer an amendment
| making the selection of the route alterna-
tive. He did not think such action would
cause delay.
Judge Shackeford did not believe any
canal could be built within the estimates.
| He thought sea-level canal was possible
| and that such a waterway should be dug.
A number OF questions Were hurled at Mr..
Shackleford. which he answered readily
Continuing. he said that at the last ses-
sion, the Nicaragua Canal bill was passed
| TO the tune OF God Save the Queen He
wanted it passed now TO the tune of the
American Hail Columbia" The selection
,I,1
the President. He argued that the report
Of the lsthmian Canal Commission was
mere favorable to the Panama route than
to the Nicaraguan and that the chief rea-
son why it was not recommended was on
account OF the cost
Judge Shackleford's speech was well re-
ceived and he was applauded frequently.
SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF
PANAMA ROUTE DEVELOPS.
The debate on the bill to-day developed
sentiment in favor of giving consideration
to the recent offer Of the Panama company
to sell its franchises and property for forty
million dollars, this sentiment taking the
form Of advocating the Morris amendment
to empower the President to select the lat
ter route II the Canal Commission, upon
considering the company's offer. recon-
mends it, and the required concessions can
not be obtained from Colombia.
OF sixteen members who spoke to-day.
nine favored the Morris amendment. 1t was
egreed that general debate should close to-
morrow 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 to-day.
in addition to Mr.. shackleford Of Missouri.
were Messrs. Parker of New Jersey. Lover
Ing of Massachusetts,, Morris Of Minnesota,
Burton of Ohio. Hill Of Connecticut. Brom-
well of Ohio. Gillett of Massachusetts and
Iittlefield Of Maine, In favor of the Nor
ris amendment, and Messrs. Burgess of
Texas. Bell of Colorado, Cooney OF Mis-
souri,, Cummings Of New York. Gibson of
in its present form.
APPEAL AGAINST COMMITTING
GOVERNMENT TO ONE ROUTE.
Mr.. Lowering of Massachusetts. also q
member of the committee that reported the
BILL who followed Mr.. Shackleford. said
that in the past he had favored the Mica
raguan route because the engineers had re-
ported in its favor, and because. until re-
Gently. he had believed that the transcoi
tinental railroads were using the Panama
route to obstruct action. But he had re-
Gently satisfied himself that the railroads
were not behind the Panama Canal The
recent offer Of the Panama Canal Company,
he believed, was made in good faith. The
French stockholders were trying to realize
something out of the wreck CT their for
tunes.
He believed that. in view Of the Panama
company's offer. it was business to pause.
take advantage of the present situation and
vcr Of the Nicaraguan route. an opportunity
to revise its conclusions. He said he would
vote for the Morris amendment, and. in
conclusion, appealed to members not to
make the fatal error Of committing the
Government to the Nicaraguan route. Mr..
Coverings remarks were literally ap-
plauded.
the question of routes should be determined
by the executive. He made comparison
Of the two routes. using the data COM
piled by the commission contending that
the Panama route had many advantages
over the Nicaraguan route. He appealed to
the House not to fetter the President by
tying him to single line of action.
IMPOSSIBLE TO DECIDE
WHICH IS BETTER ROUTE.
Mr.. Morris of Minnesota, who offered the
amendment yesterday to give the President
new route If it were recommended by the
commission after the consideration 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
Before the Isthmian Commission made
its 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 as to which was the /
better route.
Moreover, he did not believe that any |
gentleman could read the report and tell |
which route the commission would have |
selected had the cost and conditions been |
equal.
In embarking upon an enterprise that was |
10 cost 500. .o0o. coo. perhaps more. he con-
sidered 1t wise that the experts should have
an opportunity TO consider the new offer OF |
the Panama Company
If the bill were passed in the form in |
which it was reported. the President could |
not entertain the offer of the Panama Com
pany and under it the President by treaty |
might bind the United States to construct |
the Nicarasuan Canal. even though we af- |
terwards became convinced that the other |
was the better route.
PENSIONS ARE TO BE SCALED Down.
Senator Cockrell Holds the Doctor |
La1aare Case Has No Status.
Washington, Jan. s.-During consideration |
by the Senate to-day Of private pension |