New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-21
LOOKSLIKEPANAMA ROUTE
TAKING STEPS TOW
ARD CANAL CONSTRUCTION-BlL
SENT TO CONFERENCE.
IRr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l

Washington June 2O-Confidence was eX-
pressed at the Cabinet meeting to-day as TO the
success of isthmian canal legislation secretary
Hay had a long conference before the meeting
with Mr.. Morgan and other Senator'S ana dii
the advice that came TO the White House went
to assure the President that some canal Iegls-
lation at the present session of Congress Is
certainty The evidence that legislation would
be in favor of the Panama route was almost as
strong The administration is so we'll assuIeu
of the outcome that the steps to be taken 10
carry out the purposes of the act have alreduS
been discussed. It is understood that the state
Dtpartrnent will deal with the diplomatic fei't-
ures of the canal project, involving, OF course
the negotiation of a treaty with COLOMBIA
while the Attorney General will pass on the
question of sufficiency of title to the Panama
Canal.
on motion of MI Hepburn, of Iowa, the CHAIR
man of the Committee Interstate ana fof-
eign Commerce the House of Representatives
to-day agreed to the Senate's request for con-
ference on the Isthmian Canal bill, and speaker
Henderson appointed as conferrees MI HeP-
burn Mr.. Fletcher. of Minnesota, and Mr. Da-
vay. of Louisiana. 1t was thought thdt an
effort might be made to get vote Immediately
on the question of concurrence or nOn-concur-
renee in the Senate substitute But 1t was
decided to follow the regular course, so iohs dS
the Senate had asked for conference ana 'hS
vote to concur or non-concur will be pos'poneu
until after the conferrees' report The weight
of opinton in the House incnes to an accept
ance of the Spooner substitute. To perhaps a
ma iorItv of the members OF the lower brahch
the route chosen for the canal, whether Mica
ra s,1a or Panama is of little consequence POS
tive LEGISLATION of some sort was all that the
sentiment of the House demanded ana the
belief that IL was a positive step ahead IN the
struggle to launch trans-lsthmlan ENTERPRISE
AT the time the House voted the advantages Of
the Panama route were by no means so clearly
understood as they to-day. Yet on a mo-
ton 10 substitute the Panama line for the MICA
ragua one 1U2 votes were mustered against iio'
Changed conditions and the prevailing desire to
pass a canal biz IF some sort are likely TO re-
verse the judgment of the House against ran
last December.
Soon after the House had sent the bill 10 con-
ference reports were in circulation that there
not likely to be a protracted struggle anu
that the Senate amendment would be the pds!S
of agreement. Mr. Fletcher frankly SAID 10 ms
associates that he thought an agreement would
be reached on the Panama amendment MI
Hepburn not prepared. however; 10 con
cede that the fight was over. lie sald tnat tie
vote IN the House had been practically unanl-
nous in favor o. the Nicaragua bill, only Two
adverse votes being cast on its passage. Inc
Democratic conferree, Judge Davey. was also
considered strongly favorable TO the Nocarasua
route At the same time. the leteness OF the
session and the prevailing desire to avoid 1ur-
Their complications in the Senate leo TO a rather
general feeling among the members OF Ihe
House that the Senate amendment had al du-
vantage in the conference.
After the bill had been sent 10 conference MT
Hepburn went to the Senate TO arrange TOT
ator Morgan's birthday. no arrangement was
made.