The Washington times., 1902-01-07
LONG SESSION IS IN PROSPECT. .
CONTINUED from First Page.)

100000 is made available and placed at
the disposal cf the President FOR acquir-
ing the uccesslf' concessions from Me
aragua ard Costa Rica, giving the United
States absolute authority over the canal
and a strip OF territory on either side.
Many Members Wavering.
In view of the report that the Panama
Canal Company is willing to sell its
$40, 600 600, a number of members have
been wayering in their allegiance to the
Nicaragua Canal bill, but searching en-
quiry on the House side yesterday failed
to discover any member willing to take
the lead.
There was considerable discussion of
a proposition to await the submission OF
definite proposition from the Panama
Company. Failing in this, it was sug
gested that a substitute be offered plac-
ing upon the President the authority to
select the route. Neither proposition was
fattered by any member seen, although
the latter seemed to have more or less
support.
4 conference was held yesterday after
noon between Speaker Henderson, Repre-
sentative Dalzell, and Representative
Crosvenor, the majority members of the
Committee on Rules; Representative Hep
H.. =
sentative Payne, the Republican floor lead
er, and Representative Cannon, chairman
of the Committee on Appropriations.
Il had been expected the vote on the
bill would be taken Wednesday afternoon,
debs te under the five minute rule to COM
mence at o'clock. AS a result of the
conference, however, it was announced
that debate would be practically unlimited
in that no time would be fixed for closing
il.
A Substitute Proposition.
Should sentiment develop in favor
OF substituting the Panama route, it will
be possible to prepare for the passage of
a suitable substitute placing the choice
of routes In the hands of the President.
While Mr.. Hepburn is anxious his bill
should pass, he would vote for such a
substitute, he said yesterday. az adyauc-
ing the cause OF the nter-oceanic canal.
Unless something develops today or
early tomorrow afternoon, however, to
make II desirable that debate should con-
tinue Mr. Hepburn expects to close the
debate by moving the previous question
on tomorrow about o'clock. Both sides
desire to confinc the speech-making TO
the subject of an inter-oceanic canal and
those who have applied for time l. which
to ventiiate their views on the Schley
case, the Philippine question, and other
topics have received a cold welcome.
No sinnding Before the House.
The Panama Canal Company and its
new proposition has no standing before
the House or the Committee on Inter
state and Foreign Commerce. Mr..
Bocufye, Chancellor OF the French En-
bassy. has not communicated with Mr..
Hepburn. The only semi official infor-
nation which the latter has concerning
the offer is that IN conversation Secre-
tary of State Hay informed him that MIR.
Boeufye had shown him a cablegram in
which he was authorized to submit an
offer of the canal for $4O.000,000
Mr. Hepburn pointed out that the re-
port OF the Canal Commission says that
the Panama Canal Company is absolute
iy prohibited to cede or mort gage its
rights under any consideration whatever
TO any nation or foreign Government
under penalty OF forfeiture. The contract
with the railroad company contains like
prohibition. and declares further that the
pain OF forfeiture will be incurred by the
mere act of attempting to cede or trans
fer its privileges to 4 foreign Govern