New-York tribune., 1902-01-08
CANAL FIGHT BEGINS.
Continued from First PaEe.1

Mons q s;-es ~ TIE ImporranT works 49, ro
senE- about the authority Of the United States 10
~ n and that II would exercise that authority.
,fr Fowler. Of New-Jersey. asked if it was pos
s5ls 10 allow American ships 10 pass through the
canal without charge
NJ Hepburn replied: 7 have no doubt that
me United states can use that canal in a manner
ADVANTAGEOUS 10 its own people above the advan-
.gs thar il would be TO other people; at all events
government ships viii go through free and al all
svs-rs there IS that trend in the air on the part
~ other nations toward yielding the desires of
he Uzited States thai makes me hopeful thai if
-bere was q barrier Of that kind we would
hush il out OF the way pretty soon" CApplauseD
NJ. Cummings, Of New-York-I should like to ask
whether Y your opinion, Il your bill should be
passed under ne lTealy Jhat mas been ratned by
ieges The canal over other nations?
N Eepburn-I think not.
NJ McDerTnott, of New-Jersey. called attention
N ne statement IN the report of the Walker COM
,-isslon giving The cost OF the Panama Canal prop
srry as E9s r,9G5l and the newspaper reports that
ne company now offered 10 sell the property for
taga6D Il the latter report were true, the Pan
ana Canal would cost less than the Nicaragua. and
Ne asked Il A1r. Hepburn did not believe that with
aousl cost The commission would have reported in
favor OF Panama.
Nj. Hepburn replied that the commission had
stated the respective advantages OF both routes
rnder conditions then existing. He could not tell
vhat the commission would have reported under
,-ber circumstances. Any gentleman who absorbs
me commissions report and weighs Il must be-
eye that other things being equal. the canal that
is four hundred miles nearer our territory, that
makes NeH-Oreans 40 miles nearer San Fran
cisco and New-York so miles nearer than the
otber Is the better canal for US (Applause)
SAYS PANAMA SCHEME Has FAILED
NJ Hepburn declared that the whole Panama
scheme had utterly failed The French stockhold-
ers had been robbed. The company was discredited
IN France-n fact. II seemed 10 have no credit ex-
eept in the United States.
II build me Nicaragua Canal. asked NJ
SINS Of Tennessee is il not likely that the French
government will complete the Panama Cana-|
There is The same probability OF two canals.
answered Ar. Hepburn, that there is OF The Suez
Canal being paraIIeled by another
ASKED as 10 the advisability OF giving the Presi-
deut authority &c build either route. Mr.. Hep
burn again raised an outburst Of applause by de-
claring that ne looked upon any attempt TO en-
tange the United States II the Panama enterprise
as an effort 10 defeat any canal
NJ Reeves, OF Illinois. asked whether it would
not be better 10 wait few days or weeks until
The Secretary Of State could inform Congress just
what could be obtained in the way Of concessions
from Nicaragua
IN an enterprise OF this magnitude" replied Nj
Hepburn. there never has been and never VIII be
Z DAY when some gentleman will Tot De able 10
urge some reason for postponement CApplause)
We have been suffering from that for years I
am assured by those who know that the prolocoi
certain TO get what We want (Applausej
Referring 10 the reported offer Of the Panama
Company 10 sell, Afr. Hepburn said that OF mere
ruror Il was proposed 10 delay action
But # the rumor turns out 10 be true?" asked
Mr. Reeves.
If il is true said Mr. Hepburn, that the Pan
ana Company has made the proposition, then We
should deal with Colombia. which owns the canal
You mean The company forfeited its rights II It
made al offer 10 seIl?"
Il 90"
DO you think the company would risk for
feirure?'
IT recognizes that the Jig IS up"
M- Hepburn asked AIr. Reeves IN turn whether
he Knew Of any concession given by the Colombian
Government 10 the Panama Company TO sell the
canal.
Mr.. Reeyes-I DO not, and doubt II such exists.
bur nevertheless do not believe The Panama Com
pany forfeited is rights, any stipulation OF the
ut t7e21-Etl-I1e commission says mat an oIter
~ 80 @o-A5 a -JT-e-l-Ie 0L 9L11y OF fP- ne CON
The Panama proposition % sell for SO oo3o5 coming
long previous insistence on Slo9 CO., is suspicious
10 say the least
LIVELY COLLOQCY WITH MR.. CANNON.
Replying TO inquiries from Mr.. Cannon as TO the
s 90 90 were about ne figlIres allowed Nicaragua
why IS tais protocol not laid before CongressT'
Because the Secretary Of State has disapproved
some OF the changes made in the Original draft OF
the protocol" answered Mr.. Hepburn, and pend
ing final determination il is not desirable TO submit
M Cannon insisted that nothing would be lost
by waiting for, say, sixty days, until the facts as
could deal with the subject in orderly raanner.
Nr. Hepburn declared that this would have the
effect u further delaying the project but he ac-
quilted Mr. Cannon OF any Intentional purpose OF
NJ. Cannon closed the rather spirited coIoquy
WITH Mr.. Hepburn By saying that while he had
EeciPitate passage Of this bill would sacrifice ad,
nc meant heavy increase IN cost, which would
have 10 come out Of the Treasury.
OTHER ADVOCATES OF NICARAGUA
Mr. Davis. OF Florida, a member OF the COM
nltee which reported the BILL followed M Hep
burn with an earnest plea for its passage He ad-
Tooated the Nicaragua rather than the Panama
route. and insisted that The time had now arrived
slen tax should cease and work begin we need
- - cana, SAID Ny DAVIS, tor the convenlenSe
10 me expansion OF our commerce; We need II Tor
ne p-oer handling o. our navy for bringing near
protection Of island POSSESSIONS and for easy
access 10 them The American farmer needs il,
producls Of his toll; the merchant and manufact-
Sg'er thai they may compete with rivals in other
,.NNr Richardson. of Alabama. also supported, the
many ways 70 the Panama route.
COST OF THE TWO ROUTES.
Mr. Mann. OF Illinois. declared that the experts
sho had examined the routes had differed widely.
NO tTo commissions ever haG agreed either upon
the cost or route. and II therefore with some
hessncy that he accepted unreservedly the re-
po1 Of the latest commission. He recalled the
&C hai The distinguished body of engineers as
9Slslsc with De Lesseps expressed the opinion
- sea level canal could be built from Colon TO
mana for 500 01J0JJ II had cost untold millions
Loye tAat sea level canal was utterly i'm
,sssStelea bic. and il was not until 1888 that the
Ss5,esical commission OF the Panama company re-
sss.sec II favor OF a Jock canal The isthmian
,-sl--AssioD disagreed with the technical n
ssss.on as 70 methods OF construction He had no
- -9s ttat later commissions would disagree with
- walker commission. Mr.. Mann declared that
: as opinion no such dam the Panama Com