New-York tribune., 1902-06-05
CANAL STRUGGLE BEGINS
BATTLE OF THE NICARAGUA
AND PANAMA FORCES.
CHOICE BETWEEN ROUTES LIKELY TO
BE LEFT TO PRESIDENT-HANNAT TO
ANSWER MORGAN TO-DAY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TR1BUNE.l


Washington June 4-The most interesting
sature of the debate begun in the Senate to-
dav on the Isthrnian Canal bill. is not what
firm that dispute will eventuate in at this
sion Of Congress- but as to how long the strug-
s1e begun by Senator NIorgans speech this af-
ternoon viii continue In well Informed circles
there no -Jnger is any doubt that the Hepburn
Nicaragua bill, for which Senator Morgan is
rIeading will be defeated in the important sense
that instead Of that measure, there will be
sdop1ed the Spooner resolution Gelegatins to the
President full discretion to determine the route
IN he chosen by investing him with the special
grant Of power to investigate the ability OF
the French Panama Canal Company to make
clear ti1le 10 that property TO the United States
fer S40Oo0000 the valuation placed on ii by
the Tinted States Isthmian Canal Commission
end the price fixed by the French owners The
Snooner resolution further provides that if the
Presidents investigation shows that a salts
4ac+o-v title cannot be made, then he is TO pro-
oaa5 under the terms Of the Hepburn bill to
oo-7e+-1,cr the canal along the Nicaragua route;
+,,+ r he is satisfied that the Frenchmen have
something Of real value TO sell to the United
States. he is 10 go with the work OF comPlet-
ing the great task begun by De Lesseps
HANNA TO SPEAK FOR PANAMA
Senator Hanna, the ranking Republican mem
her Of the Interoceanic Canal Committee will
rerfv 10 Senator Morgan's speech tomorrow,
end il is expected that the Ohio Senator Will
,,alze the greatest effort of his career in the
Senate MI. Hanna favors the Panama propo-
sition as the most practical compared with the
Nicaragua route and he will cover the entire
e-round of the opposition to the Hepburn bill
TJe will be followed on Friday or Saturday by
Senator Harris, of Kansas, an Uncompromising
supporter Of the Nicaragua enterprise and an
engineer of recognized ability and standing
Senator Harris spent many years IN Nicaragua
as A boy while his father was United States
Minister 10 that country. and since then ne mas
made himself thoroughly acquainted as civil
engineer with the problems involved in the
canal question His speech will deal NANNY
with the engineering phases Of the problem.
and II is expected that his experience as the
chief engineer Of the Union Pacific Railroad
will have considerable influence on the minds
Of doubling Senators. It is not yet known who
of the opposition TO the Hepburn bill viii fol-
low Mr. Harris though II is understood that the
Kansan's scientific plea for the Nicaragua propo-
sition viii be fully answered either by an ao-
voca1e of the Panama route or an outright op-
ponent Of the canal scheme How long the
debate viii run is not yet known, though it is
believed that it can be brought TO close within
two or three weeks when, before stated, II
will be ended by the adoption Of the Spooner
resolution.
ESTIMATES OF STRENGTH.
In spite of their determination TO fight it is
evident that the supporters Of the Hepburn bill
are not very hopeful OF that measure passing
the Senate. Their most sanguine estimate OF
strength does not exceed forty-one votes, and
conservative analysis Of their count shows that
they are four or five votes too confident How
ever, a poll of the Senate made by Democratic
member Of the Committee on Interoceanic Ca
nails and an enthusiastic supporter Of the Hep
burn bill gives that measure only forty-one