Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-01-14
Congress.
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Inc United States Senate met ATcnday
after recess Of more than two weeks.
but no business was transacted on ac-
count of the recent death of Senator.
William j. Sewell of New Jersey. In his
invocation. at he opening of the session
the chaplain, Rev. DIR. William Nilburn.
made touching reference to the death Of
Senator Sewell. He referred also to the
disability Of Senator Berry of Arkansas,
and prayed that he might be able to soon
return to his duty in the Senate, Mr.
kean of New Jersey formally an
nonnced to the Senate the death Of Mr.,
Sewell and offered the customary resolu-
tions expressive Of the sorrow of the Sen
ate and providing for an immediate adj
Jaurnment in respect to his memory. As
q mark OF respect to his memory the Sen
ate adjourned Immediately upon the adop-
ton Of the resolutions. When the House
met after the holiday recess there was Il
large attendance in the galleries, but
more than hair the seats on the floor were
unoccupied. The chaplain in his invoca-
ton referred feelingly 10 the death of
the late Senator Sewel OF New Jersey.
The oath was administered to Messrs.
Smith Of Iowa and Weeks of Michigan.
who had not heretofore appeared at this
session. No business was transacted. Mr..
l-oudenslager of New Jersey announced
the death Of Senator Sewel. In doing 80
ne paid warm and feeling tribute to the
citizen, soldier and statesman whose
death, he said, was die greatest loss the
State of New Jersey ever suffered" He
offered the customary resolutions. which
nd ~ 4.
respect the House adjourned. Rep
resentative Jenkins of Wisconsin. of
the Judiciary special committee which
IS framing an anti-anarehist bill. intro
duced a measure which. in addition to
providing the death penalty for assaults
on the President, requires alien immi-
grants to take an oath not to assault
those in government authority, and not
to publicly uphold the Subversion of the
government by violent means
Consideration of the Hepburn isthmian
canal bill began on Tuesday in the House
of Representatives. The debate was of
unusual interest and conferred largely on
the new phase of the question due 10 the
2ffer of the Panama company to sell its
property to the United States for S40.-
100000. Mr.. Cannon of Illinois and MIR.
Reeves of the same State, one chairman
of the committee ON appropriations and
the other n member of the committee on
rivers and harbors, asked Mr.. Hepburn a
number of leading questions. Mr.. Cannon
wanted to know why the choice of a route
should not be left 20 the President in
view of the changed aspects of the Pan
anna situation. Mr.. Hepburn replied that
the Panama route was wholly out of the
question so far as Congress was concern
ed in the selection of route for the canal
Mr.. Morris Of Minnesota gave notice
that at the proper time he would offer an
amendment to authorize the President, if
he could procure the property and rights
of the Panama company for $40,000,0OO.
if concessions could be procured from
Colombia and if the Walker commission
so recommended. TO purchase and proceed
to complete the Panama cilnal Among
the speeches that were made was one
by Mr.. Mann of Illinois, who made an
eloquent and impressive plea in behalf
of the Nicaraguan route,
On Wednesday the isthman canal bill
was before the House for debate All
the principal speakers recognized the adj
vantage of the Panama route and an
nounced themselves in favor Of IT, SO
strong had sentiment grown I'M favor of
the Panama route that the most adj
vanced advocates Of its selection we're
talking of forcing a square issue between
il and the Nicaragua route The more
conservative friends OF the Panama route
are urging i compromise-nOt that they
are uncertain of their own strength. but
TO escape playing directly into the hands
of the Panama company The debate
was rather tedious. Several members
who had been among the thirty who yot-
ed against the Hepburn bill when II was
last under consideration announced they
would give it their support provided an
amendment is attached giving the Presi-
dent power 10 make a selection. Mr.
Burton of Ohi9, chairman Of the commit
tee on rivers and harbors, who voted
against the bill, reviewed the objections
by the minority when ii was last before
the House, 10 show that practically all
had been removed Representative Hill
of Connecticut attracted attention by
reading letters from expert engineers in
favor of the Panama route. Representa-
tives Bromwell of Ohio Gillet of Massa-
chusetts Littlefield of Maine, Gibson of
Tennessee, Lacey Of Iowa and other
speakers advocated the Panama route
The only one to appear during the day |
in favor Of the Nicaragua route
was Representative Cummings Of New |
York. The Senate passed large mum.
Der Of bills of minor Importance.