The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-10
THE lSTHMIAN CANAL
The CONGRESS TAXES H0L0 OF THE
QUESTION IN EARNEST.
CONSIDERED BY BOTH HOUSES
The Senate and the House at Work
tion-Senator Morean's Resolution
of Inquiry Into Combination
of Railways to Prevent Cousu ma -
ton of the Scheme-The Hepburn
Bill I'm the House-Mr. Hepburn
Ready foam Opponents.

Ready fo Opponents.
49,
Washington, January THE first
notes of the contest between the Mic
aragua and Panama routes for the
isthmian canal was heard in the senate
today. After an hour had been spent
in purely routine business. Senator
Morgan offered and secured the adop-
+ ~tion OF a resolution which indicated his
purpose to have the committee on in
ter-Oceanic canals inquire into the re-
lations alleged to exist between the
trans-continental railroad companies
of the United States and Canada and
the Panama Canal Company. The res
olution reads.
THAT the committee Oh inter-oceanic
canals has leave to sit during the ses-
sions of the senate to execute the reso-
luton of the senate passed on the 21st
of May. 1900. which is hereby contin-
ued in force and that said committee
is further empowered TO make inquiry
and report with reference to any agree
ments or concert OF action between any
railroad companies in the United States
or in Canada or Panama or of any
American line of ships, to control
transportation or the rates thereof
for cargoes or passengers passing
across the isthmus of Panama, and in
regard To any matter referred to said
committee by order of the senate"
In answer to inquiries as to the scope
OF the resolution Senator Morgan ex-
planned that he understood certain con-
tracts between railroads of this coun-
ha W
nal Company existed looking to the di-
Yersioa of freight.
lit is the most wicked monopoly that
ever existed" declared Senator Nor
gan, land already has cost the people
of the Pacific coast millions of dollars .
The senate adjourned until tomor-
row.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The debate on the Nicaragua canal
bill i'll the house was opened in lively
fashion today by Mr.. Hepburn, chair
man of the Interstate and foreign COM
merce committee, which reported the
bill. For two hours he held the floor
replying to Il yOlley of questions con-
corning the recent offer of the Panama
Canal Company to sell it's property and
franchises to the United States for $40
100000 The interest in the debate CEN
tered almost entirely in this new phase
of the subject. Mr.. Hepburn maintain
ed that the alleged new offer of the
Panama Company was part of the plan
of delay and all his utterances along
that line were literally applauded. He
pointed out what he claimed was the
suspicious circumstance that the Pan
anna Company held out for s109 1000 00G
until it was decided before the holiday
recess to consider the Nicaragua bill
and then suddenly dropped the price
to SAC, 600, 900.
Mr .Nf IN ~ i,.
that at the proper time he would Offer
an amendment to authorize the presi
dent if he could procure the property
and rights of the Panama Company
for $4,000, coo to purchase and proceed
to complete the Panama canal.
Mr.. Hepburn in his remarks said the
report of the Walker commission gave
careful consiaera ton to every feature
of the work. The bill submitted by hi:
committee proposed to concentrate al
authority in the hands of the president
It opened no opportunity for defunc
statesmen or the pensiOning of persons
who had been passed in the race Of life
1t gave the United States the authority
to protect. defend and operate the ca
nal In view of all the reports submit
ed. Mr.. Hempburn said. there coulC
now be no question in the mind of an,
welt Informed person of the feasibility
and praCticability OF an inter-oceanit
canal. There was not an atom of worl
in general engineering, said he, yet t.
he done. In favor of the feasibility anC
practicabiity no enterprise that hat
ever received the attention of man hat
been so conclusiveIy proved. If tn,
proceeding bill became a law the worl
could begin at once and should be com
pleted in eight years.
Mr.. Hepburn said that as a CONNER
cial venture the commissions figure
of 10000 tons could be safely takes
lot he
at the Suez rate would he $14. .000. .0nn-
enough to meet the cost Oh maintenance
($3. 800. .000) and leave over S10.00O000 t.
meet interest charges If there wer
such.
Mr.. Hepburn pointed out the advant
ages of the Nicaragua route for sai1in,
vessels on account of the better wind
prevailing there. contending in thi
connection that it was mistake t
suppose that the sailing ship was des
tined to disappear from the ocean
Where the Panama route was locate
sa'''~~ ehipe sometimes lay for fiv
months in the doidrums. When MI
he,.-..rn said he had hoped that tn
proposed waterway would be fra: &
charge to American ships there was NJ
outburst of applause on the repuhiical
side. If that might be done. he said. l
would give a great impetus to America
shipping.
In concluding Mr.. Hepburn said ther
might be sne interests in the Unite
States which believed they would
harmed by the rivalry OF this cana
and there were gentlemen or homes
purpose who thought the time was no
ripe for the building OF the canal .
that an enterprise of such magnftud
! should not be undertaken. They wer
perhaps terrified by the spectre OF scan
dal. But" he concluded, ST insist tina
the American people have made thei
decree that the canal shall be built an
tbat now is the time to build it' CAD
plause.l
Mr.. McDermott, Of New Jersey. caIl
ed attention to the statement in tn
repert Of the walker commission Civ