Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-06-20
THEW ORR CONGRESS-
-
Isthmian Canal Still Subject OF De.
bate Ia the Senate.
SPOONER GIVES HIS VIEWS.
Declare. That II ~ Not Question
Of Having II Canal, hut Merely
Question of the
Better Route.

ark believed it to be the duty Of ev-
cry senator to vote for the canal at the
best location. Personally, he said, he
would not vote for the proposition that
would impede the progress Of the ca
nals construction. He was not will
ing to brush aside the unanimous re-
port Of the isthmian commission in IA
vOr of the Panama route unless it be
for substantial reasons. He favored
the Panama route. but would not vote
for it if there were any doubt Of the
good faith Of the offer.
He desired Mr.. Spooner, who was
about to address the senate, to explain
away the charge that the purpose of
adopting the Panama route was to
have no canal at all.
In beginning his speech in support
of his own proposition Mr., Spooner
said the construction of an sthmian
canal was colossal enterprise and
one which, he believed. the American
people with notably little division of
sentiment desired should be inaugural
ed and carried forward. No higher or
more solemn duty, he declared. ever
rested upon men in public life than to
determine this question rightly.
Mr.. Spoonrr eulogized the isthmian
canal commission, declaring that no.
body would attempt to impeach its in
tecrity, ability or engineering skill.
The problem. he said, was one of in
finite engineering complications, and
all knew that the object of appointing
the commission was to afford congress
the data and the expert opinion which
would enable it to proceed cOnserva-
lively and widely He declared that
the eyes of the American people had
not been focused simply upon the ri
caragua route. They took large view
Of the subject. From the time the
commission was appointed 1t had not
been question of IA canai-as all ia
vored that-but merely a question Of
route.
SpOOner UphOlds COmmissiOn.
In response to an interruption by
Mr.. Morgan rejecting upon the action
Of the isthmian canal commission in
reporting in favor of the Panama route
Mr.. Spooner declared that the recon-
mendations in both reports of the com
mission were entirely consistent"
While the Wisconsin senator was
pointing out some of the advantages
Of the Panama route. as indicated by
the commission, Mr.. Morgan interject-
ed the remark that he was prepared to
cOntrovert them.
Il have no doubt" retorted Mr.
Spooner. that the senator is prepared
to controvert anything that may be
said in favor of the Panama route"
Referring to the action Of the com
mission in recommending the Panama
route, Mr.. Spooner declared that the
commission dealt with the subject the
second time in view Of the funda men
tai change Of conditions--the lowering
of the price Of the Panama property
from 500. 900 600 to $40. 100000
Personally, Mr. Spooner said, he
could not disregard the report of the
commission and follow the Judgment
Of a senator Mr.. Morganl. He paid
cordial tribute to the energy, ability
and earnestneSs with which Mr.. Nor
gan had advocated an isthmian canal
and added that Mr.. Morgan's name
would stand IN history as the father
Of the canal.
The Day In the House.
At the opening Of the session of the
house, Mr.. Underwood (Ala.) at the re-
quest of Mr.. Stephens CTex), entered
a motion to reconsider the vote by
which the bill to open 100000 acres in
the kiowa, COmanche and Apache
reservations in oklahoma was defeat.
ed. He said he would not press the
motion at this time.
The house then went into committee
Of the whole and entered upon the con
sideration of the general deficiency
appropriation bill, While Mr.. Cannon
who was in charge Of the bill, was
trying to arrange for the division of
time. he announced that il he could
have his way congress would adjourn
sine die before July 4. The announce
ment was greeted with applause on
both sides of the house.
Mr.. Loud Ual.), under the latitude al
lowed in general debate, submitted
some remarks upon the question Of
salaries for postal employees. He said
he believed that the government should
pay liberal salaries--as high as private
corporations-bu no higher. Employ.
ment in the government service he
maintained. had advantages over pri-
vate employment. a government EN-
ployee had liberal leaves of absence.
His employment was continuous
whether times were good or bad. While
there was, he said, Il steady agitation
for the increase of the pay of postal
clerks, railway mail clerks and letter
carriers. the particular agitation was
Cor TN" increase Of pay of the latter
,.A,, from an average of $9lS to ST, POO
a year. He declared that, all the cir
cumstances considered, the pay of the
letter carriers was the highest for the