The Washington times., 1902-01-09
CHOICE OF CANAL ROLJTE MAY
Be LEFT TO HE PRESIDENT.

a-, roniectured. Mr. Shacklcford. who
.rrmar'y oppo sed the bill because the
uncefGte treaty did not provide
.s construction Of an all lAmerican
declared that he would support
... ading measure although it was
that could be desired He favor
"a ing the selection of the route TO
tine President and giving consideration
TO the offer OF the Panama company.
The President 10 Choose.
! Representative Parker tRep., n. j.
made strong plea for striking out all
reference to Nicaragua and Costa Rica in
| the bill and allowing the President the
power TO acquire any available territory
= for the digging OF the waterway.
The passage of the bill was advocated
| by Mr. Bell Dem, Coli. Mr.. Cooney
| dem. MOI. who voted against the bill IN
| 1900 said he would vote for ii, but with
| feeling that the Panama route was the
| better one. Mr.. Bromwell tRep.. Ohio)
announced his intention, in view of the
reported OFFER of the Panama Canal Com
| pany 10 vote for the Norris amendment,
| hv which the Panama route could be con-
sidered He believed it to be the better
| one.
\ Good Bargain Wanted.
Mr. Lowering (Rep., MassJ said he was
in favor of giving the Panama Canal rep
rcsentativcs chance if they can offer us
an advantageous bargain. He favored an
amendment giving the President the
alternative choice.
Representative Morris (Rep., Mimi
addressed himself to the amendment he
suggested yesterday. His proposition. he
said, was but plain common sense, bust
ness sense, and craftsmanship. He asked
only that the House hold itself open to
select the best possible route for the ca
nal. That work was not to be for dec
ade or century, but was to stand as
monument for thousand years to the
glory and powerof the United States. ana
the name of the gentleman from Iowa
(Hepburnl would be inseparably con-
nected with it in the hearts of the people.
A Former Antagonist.
Nfr. Burton CRep.. 0hio), Chairman of
the Committee on Rivers and Harbors,
who has been in the past one of the lead
ing antagonists of the canal, was the next
sneaker. and he was listened to with much
interest. The bill failed in the Fifty sixth
Congress, he said, and be was glad OF 1t.
He would be glad to see the bill pass
now. The developments of the past twenty
| months had fully vindicated the action OF
A.; those members who had voted against
| the bill in Nav, 1900 The canal had no
reason FOR existence as sentimental or
selfish matter; if it did not stand upon the
| needs of the commercial expansion of the
age and equal advantages to the shipping
| of all nations were not granted. he had 20
| ground to stand on. He favored, however
the adoption of the Norris amendment. or
something similar, so that the best route
should be chosen.
-~l Lot
! ter from Frnf. Edmund T. Ward, OF his
State, the last American engineer employed
on the Panama Canal. in which he assert
cd that the advantages of the Panama
route were vastly superior to those of the
Nicaragua route. This testimony, Mr.
Hill said would lead him to submit one OF
the amendments suggested.
Bill without Amendment.
Mr.. Burgess Dem, Tex favored the
passage of the bill as reported with no
amendment respecting the route. The
declaration of the national convention OF
| the party to which he belonged, and whose
| commission he held, in favor of the Mic
| aragua Canal. bound him on that matter.
He would like an amendment directing
the Secretary OF War to fortify the canal
and thus do away with any doubt as to
| the right and power of the United States
\ 10 10 lndl. IL tHiS were uOHe HOW. IL
| would be hereafter. Mr.. Burgess said, by
order of the American people.
Mr.. Burton (Rep-, Ohio) spoke in favor
of passing a canal bill that should give
the President free hand In the matter of
routes. The canal if built at ALL must be
for the use of all nations on an equality.
BY being impartial in our dealings with
other nations we will best serve our
own commercial interests.
Representative Gibson tRep.. Tenn and
Representative Corliss (Rep., Mich.) also
spoke for the bill.
Mr.. Lacey's View.
Mr. Lacey (Rep., Iowa. said that it
ought 20 be recognized that in the con-
struction of any canal the cost would be
largely in excess of any estimate. so that
the PEOPLE will not be surprised or dis
turbed when they shall come TO know what
the total is. Mistakes would be made.
and there would be dishonesty in manage
ment. Notwithstanding all this he was
ready to vote for tine bill. because ii was
| intended 10 meet q general demand from
I, all parts of the country. He wanted to go
| on record to show that he believed the sum
! of $500 600. 600 would be in no wise ade-
! quate TO complete this stupendous work.
Mr.. Morrell tRep., Pa.) suggested a
! substitute for the pending bill. so as to au
! thorize The President to negotiate with the
| United States OF Colombia. as well as with
/ Nicaragua ana Costa Rica.
NEW LAWS FOR APPRAISERS.