The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-01-16
CONGRESS
Opinions on the Nicaragua Ca
nal Bill Presented.
General Debate, Closed and Discussion
of the amendments Begun-Other
Matters of Interest Presented.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9-The de-
bate on the Nlcaraguan canal bill
in the House developed senti-
ment in favor of giving consider
alton to the recent offer of the
Panama Company to sell its fran
chises and property for sac, 000,
600, this sentiment taking the
form of advocating the Morris
amendment to empower the pres
ident to select the latter route if
the canal commission on cOnsid
ering the company's offer recon-
mends it and the required con-
cessions can be obta ned from
Colombia. Of sixteen members
who spoke yesterday nine favor
ed the Morris amendment. 1t
was agreed that general debate
should close today at two o'clock,
after which the bill will be open
TO amendment under the five
minute rule. The vote probably
will be taken today The speak
ers yesterday were Messrs. Low
ering, of Massachusetts. Shack
leford, of Missouri, Parker, of
New Jersey, Morris, of Mime
sofa, Burton, of Ohio, Hill, of
Connecticut, Brom we'll, of Ohio,
Gillett. of Massachusetts,, and
Littlefield, of Maine, in favor of
the Morris amendment and
Messrs. Burgess. of Texas, Bell,
of Colorado, Cooney, of Missouri,
Cummings, of New York, Glib
son, of Tennessee, and Lacey, of
Iowa, for the bill In its present
form.
MIR Morris. who offered the
amendment Tuesday to give the
president the alternative author
ity TO select the Panama route if
1t were recommended by the com.
mission after consideration of the
Panama Company's new offer. fol-
lowed Mr.. Parker. He 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-the best as to location.
cost OF maintenance and opera
ton, durability, and freedom
from danger from destruction
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 re-
port and tell which route the
committee would have selected
had the cost and conditions been
equal. In embark,ng on an en-
terprise that was to cost 5000,
600, 900, perhaps more, he con-
sidered Il wise that the experts
should have an opportunity to
consider the new offer of the
Panama Company. If the bill
We're passed IN the form in which
it was reported, the President
could not entertain the offer of
the Panama Company, and under
it the president. by treaty,!might
hind the United States to con-
struct theNicaraguan canal, even
though he afterward became con-
WINGED that the other was the
better route.
Representative Holiday today
introduced a bill providing that
pensions be paid on the first of
each month, instead of every
quarter. He says he has intro
duced the bill at the request of
numerous soldiers. who claim
that inasmuch as great number
of them depend on their pensions
for a living it is a great inconve-
nience to be paid only once in
three months "Only a little |
more clerical work will be requir-
ed, and I see no reason why the
system should not be changed, +"
said Mr. Holiday.
The ways and means commit
tee fixed Jan. Is as the time for
beginning hearings on Cuban re-
ciprocity. and it was the prevail
ing view in the committee that |