The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-08
Says Proposition to Sell The
Panama Route is an Ex-
cuse 70. Delay
PROVES A TARGET FOR
vOLLEY OF QUESTIONS
Thinks Objection by other Nations
Would Soon Be Brushed Away.
Gives Many Reasons for Pre-
ferring Nicaraguan Right.

Washington, January THE debate on
the Nicaraguan canal bill in the House
was opened in lively fashion today by Mr..
Hepburn, chairman of the interstate and
foreign commerce commission, which re-
ported the bill. For two hours he held
the floor, replying to a volley of ques-
tlons concerning the recent offer of the
Panama Canal Company to sell its prop
erty and franchises to the United States
for $4O.O0O,0oO.
The interest in the debate centers al
most entirely in this new phase of the
subject Mr.. Hepburn maintained that the
alleged new offer of the Pan-American
Company was part Of the plan of delay.
His utterances along that line were lib
orally applauded. He pointed out what he
claimed was the suspicious circumstances
that the Panama Company held out for
B10s, 600 until it was decided before the
holiday recess to consider the Nicaragua
BILL and then suddenly dropped the price
to 100000 900.
Mr.. Norris 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,-
100000; If concessions could be procured
from Colombia, and If the Walker COM
mission so recommended, to purchase and
proceed to complete the Panama canal.
The other speakers today were Messrs.
Davis, Florida; Richardson, Alabama;
Mann, Illinois, and Adams, Pennsylvania
Galleries Crowded.
There was fairly large attendance in
the galleries in anticipation of the open
Ing of the debate upon the Nicaraguan
canal bill, which had been made a special
order BY the terms of the order the bill
will continue before the House until dis
posed of.
The House went into committee of the
whole, with Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio in
the chair, for the consideration of the
canal bill, and Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa, the
chairman of the committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce, which re-
ported the bill, took the floor to open the
debate. He said waterway across the
isthmus connecting the Atlantic and Pa
cific oceans had been in the minds of the
people of the world for more than 400
years.
In the United States thirty-seven states
had instructed their Congressional delega-
tions to support bill for an inter-
oceanic waterway; all political parties
had aligned themselves in favor of it;
the subject had been discussed in Con-
gress scientific societies. the newspapers
and on the hustings.
Mr.. Hepburn said the bill submitted by
his committee proposed to concentrate
all authority In the hands of the Presi-
dent. 1t opened no opportunity for defunt
statesmen or the pensioning of persons
who had been passed in the race of life.
1t gave the United States the authority
to protect, defend and operate the canal.
Mr.. Hepburn said there could now be no
question of the feasibility and possibility
of an inter-oceanic canal
Efforts of Panama Company.
He summed up the efforts of the Pan
anna Canal Company to build a canal as
folows
The company realized s256, ooo 900 by the
sale of $426, 100000 of bonds, and after
eight years the managers of the compa-
ny found themselves with the work less
than one-fourth completed. bankrupt in
money and character.
This he said proved conolusively that
the work should be undertaken by gov
ernmenta1 agency.
If the pending bill became a law the
work could begin at once and should
be completed in eight years.
Mr.. Hepburn said that as a CONNER
cial venture the commissions figures of
100000 tons could be safely taken. At
the latter figure the total revenue at the
Suez rate would be $4,000, 900, enough to
meet the cost of maintenance $16,000000
and leave over s1O.0Oo,000 to meet inter-
est charges, II there were such.
Mr. Hepburn pointed out the advantages
of the Nicaragua route for sailing vessels
on account of the better winds prevailing
there, contending in this connection that
it was a mistake to suppose that the
sailing ship was destined to disappear
from the ocean. Where the Panama route
was located sailing ships some time lay
for five months In the doldrums. When
Mr.. Hepburn said he had proposed that
the proposed water way would be free OF
charge to American ships there was an
outburst of applause on the Republican
side. If that might be done, he said
1t would give a great impetus to Ameri-
can shipping. In concluding Mr.. Hep
burn said there might be some interests
in the United States which he believed
they would be harmed by the rivalry of
this canal and there were gentlemen of
honest purpose who thought the time was
not. ripe for the building Of the canal or
that an enterprise of such magnitude
should not be undertaken. They were
perhaps terrified by the spectre of scan
dd. "But," he concluded, 81 insist that
the American people have made their de-
Gee that the canal shall be built and
that now is the time to build it, Gap
phuse).
Besieged With Questions.
After Mr.. Hepburn had concluded his
speech he was besieged with ques-
ms.
,Ir. Shafroth of Colorado: / should like
know what is the gentlemans con-
struction upon this bill and upon the
late treaty that has been ratified as to
the power of the United States to fortify
the canal.
Mr.. Hepburn: I have no doubt of the
right of the United States to defend that
CANAL and to do 1t in the way that seems
/.