The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-08
THE HOUSE.

Washingtor, Jan. 1.-The debate on the Nlcaragaa canal bill in the House was ohsned in lively fashien- today by MT, Hepbtiris. chairman of the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. which reported the biiL. For two AouTs be held the floor. replying to voiiey of questions concerning recent offer of the Panama Canal Company to sell it's prop erty and franchises to the United States for 5000 0O0 The interest in the debate centered almost entirely in this new phase of the subject MT. Hepburn main tained that the alleged new offer of the Panama Company was part of the plan of delay. All his utterances along that line were liberally applauded. He point ed out what he claimed was the suspi- cious circumstance that the Panama Company held out for s109.000,00O until it was decided before the holiday recess to consider the Nicaragua bill and then suddenly dropped the price to $io0OO, 900.
 MT. Morris (Minn.) 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 $4O.- OO0 OOO 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. DaVlS (F1a.D. N<Atd .Js Ulls.), and Adams CPenn.)
 In his speech, MT. Hepburn pointed out the advantages of the Nicaragua route for sailing vessels on account of the bet ter winds prevailing there. contending in this connection that it was a mistake to suppose that the sailing ship was des- tined to disappear from the ocean Where the Panama route was located, sailing ships some times lay for five months in HG- T he had proposed that the waterway 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. it would give great impetus to American shipping. In concluding, MT. Hepburn said there might be some in- terests in the United States which be- lieved they would be harmed by the rivalry of this canal. and there were gen. tlemen of honest purpose who thought the time was not rife for the building of the canal. nor that an enterprise of such magnitude should be undertaken. They were perhaps terrified by the spectre of scandal. But" he concluded, 'I insist that the American people have made their decree that the canal shall be built and that now is the time to build it." Applause).
 After MT Hepburn had concluded his set speech, ne was pesieEtu Wlth ques- tions.
 MT. shafroth Colo)-I would like to know what is the gentleman's construc- ton upon this bill and upon the late treaty that has been ratified as to the power of the United States to fortity the canal.
 MT. Hepburn--I have not any doubt that the right of the United States to de- fend that canal and to do it in the way that seems wise to the United States. If that involves the erection of Notifications at the termini of the canal. or of stock ades at the sites of the complee works, l have no doubt about the authority of the United States to do it, and that 1t would exercise that authority.
 MT Fowler (N. J0 asked if 1t was pos sible to allow American ships to pass through the canal without charge.
 Mir. Hepburn-I have no doubt that the United States can use that canal in a manner more advantageous to its own people that it would be to other people; at all events, Government ships will go through free and there is more trend in the air on the part of other nations to- ward yielding to the desires of the United States that makes me hopeful that if there was a barrier of that kind now. We would brush it out of the way pretty soon.
 MT Cummings (N N.,)-I should like to ask whether. in your opinion if your bill should be passed. under the treaty ratified, England would have any spe- cial privileges in the canal over other nations?
 Mir Hepburn-I think not
 Mir. McDermott (N. J) called attention to the statement in the report of the Walker Commission giving the cost of the Panama Canal property as Slo9.O0O,OoO,