Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-20
PASS SPOONER AMENDMENT
Panama Canal Proposition is Now Passed
Up to President Roosevelt,
MORGAN MAKES A VERY STRONG TALK
senate says that He Has Devoted
Best Portion of His Life 20 See
the Great Project a
Success.

canal. while not assured, is nearer to con-
struction than 1t has ever been. The senate
today by a majority Of eight votes adopted
the Spooner substitute for the Hepburn
Nicaragua canal bill, the vote on the sub
stitute being AZ to "a. After two amend
ments to the measure had been adopted,
one providing for a commission to super
wise the construction Of the canal and the
other providing for the issuance OF $780,
0oO, 900 of 2 per cent gold bonds to raise
money with which to construct the water
way, 1t was passed by a vote Of 81 to 6.
1t has been evident for several days that
the Spooner substitute, which In brief pro-
vides that the president shall select the
Panama route II he can obtain a clear title
10 the Panama Canal compsny's property,
but otherwise he shall adopt the Nicaragua
route, would command the votes of a ma
jority of the senate.
The Panama route was considered more
desirable by the senate than the Nicaragua
route. The only question left open is the
title to the property, and that the presi-
dent will determine II the house should
adopt the senate's amendment to its bill.
Mr.. Morgan Of Alabama presented the
following letter he had received from Sec
rotary Of State Hay, concerning the point
raised in the isthmian canal debate by Mr..
Kittridge Of South Dakota:
am requested by the minister of Costa
Rica to inform the committee on inter-
oceanic canals that he has been instructed
of the United States that the government
of Costa Rlca is prepared to take all
necessary steps TO negotiate with the gov
eminent of the United States a treaty for
appropriate concessions for an sthmian
canal on terms substantially as, proposed
by the government Of the United states.
NIM IT,
table.
The conference report on the bill to pre-
vent the false branding or labelling Of food
or dairy products was agreed to.
Consideration OF the isthmian canal ques-
ton was resumed and Mr.. Spooner offered
formally his amendment as a substitute
for the pending so-called Hepburn Mica
ragua canal bill.
Mr.. Clark OF Montana then addressed
the senate in support OF the Nicaragua
canal route. He thought that II one-half
the objections to both the Nicaragua and
the Panama routes were valid neither
route would be adopted. However, he was
satisfied the consensus Of conservative
opinion in this country was that a great
isthmlan waterway should be constructed.
The American people, he said, were not to
be deferred.
you may Qeldy Ine pTOJeCIj bdiu ue'
"but you cannot defeat It,"
D%ifHcuIties of Construction.
The difficulties of constructing the canal,
he believed, were exaggerated. He thought
that the Nicaragua. route was more to be
preferred, as it was, in his opinion, more
feasible and practicable than the Panama
route.
Mr.. Clark declared that the Panama canal
scheme was a hoodoo which ought to be
summed and avoided. He said the Panama
canal plan had left a heritage of ruin, dis
asteT and desolation.
Mr.. Allison explained why he should vote
for the Spooner substitute.
He believed there was a general desire
among the American people for an isthmian
canal. and the people desired, too. that the
United States government should construct
and control the canal.
He pointed out that the eyes of the
American people had been directed ~particu-
larly toward the Nicaragua route, because IL
was supposed a French company had the
concessions for the Panama route and the
United States was barred from that route
Mr.. Allison said 1t was now proposed &c
build a canal thirty-hve feet deep and wide
enough with a volume Of water sufficient tC
float the largest ship afoat. The minimum
expenditure for the construction of the
canal, he believed, would be more thar
5000, 900, 900. To meet this enormous expen'
diture he favored the borrowing of the
money, making proper provision for liqui.
dating the principal and interest Of thu
bonds.
Morgan Closes the bate
Mr.. Morgan, chairman Of the interoceani
canal committee, at the conclusion of Mr.
Allison's remarks began his speech CLOSING
the debate. He said the canal issue seemed
to have come down to a single point-tha
Of finance On that point he deferred t
Mr.. Allison. but he did not believe witt
him, that 1t would be necessary to issu
bonds to pay for the construction of
canal.
MI. Morgan particularly denounced tn
Panama canal route as a place wher
labor and death join hands" He said b
had been trying to protect the Unite
States from the shame OF intercourse wit
1t. Those who wanted 10 touch tina
thing might do so. II would not do 1t,
he declared, 'for both canals"
Mr.. Morgan urged congress to determin
the question Of route and not cowardly re
fer the matter to the president.
In conclusion. he said: Just one wor
: in parting with this question. This dut
' was assigned to me by the senate and wa
not sought by me.
IF we are to be beaten down here to
day, and America is to be disgraced,
/, shall, have had the honor, and the Anne
r lean people will give It to me. after l al
dead, OF having devoted honestly and sir
r cerely the best labors Of my life to II
success OF our project"
: Final Vote is Taken.
: At 2 p. m. debate upon the canal quei
d tion was concluded by previous agree
! ment. The spooner amendment, as PEI
fected, was read.
The first actual test on the isthmian can
= proposition was on an amendment offer,
by MIR. Mitchell of Oregon, giving Il
president the choice Of routes. even II
could secure title for the Panama rout
a II was laid on the table, AZ to 80.
y The hrst yea and nay vote was upon
amendment offered by Mr.. Bacon Of Georg
TO the spooner amendment providing (
q committee to have charge Of the pr
C liminary work OF constructing the cam
III II was in no way a test vote. 1t W
ID adopted. 80 to 22.
- The vote on the Spooner amendment "
AZ to 81 and It was adopted.
The detailed vote follows: