Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-06
57TH CONGRESS-.
Two More Speeches on the
lsthmian Canal Route.
Hanna Favors Spooner Amendment
and Mitchell the Hepburn Bill.
Anti Anarchy Debate Will Close, To.
day, in the House.

| Washington, June 5.-In further con
sideration of the isthmian canal pro
ject the Senate heard, today, two
speeches, neither of which was com.
| pleted. Hanna, Ohio, spoke in favor
| of the Spooner amendment, conferrins
| on the President authority to purchase
| the rights of the Panama Canal Co, il
| valid title could be obtained, other
wise he shall decide upon the Mica
ragua route.
Mitchell supported the Hepburn bill
for the construction of the canal by the
Nicaragua route. Seldom has a sena-
tor been accorded more attentive
hearing than that given Hanna. The
Panama route he considered much to
be preferred to the Nicaragua route. as
it provided an inter-oceanic waterway
much shorter and one that could be
traversed at less expense than the
Nicaragua route.
He maintained that the United States
was to build the canal to accommodate
the commerce of the world and said that
fact must be taken into account.
Mitchell urged that unless the Nica-
ragua route was determined upon def
nitely by Congress it would mean the in
definite postponement and perhaps the
ultimate defeat of any canal legislation.
He insisted that the Nicaragua route was
Panama route involved difficulties which
were scarcely to be surmounted.
The Senate passed the Military Acad-
envy appropriation bill providing for ex.
tensive improvements at West Point.
Whene the Senate convened to re-
sumo at 2 o'clock, the consideration of
the isthmian canal bill. five large maps
depicting various phases of the canal
question We're displayed about the
walls of the chamber. Presumably
these were to enable Hanna. Ohio, who
was to speak upon the measure to il
lustrate his remarks. 1t was noticeable
that OH one of the maps, all the vol
canoes were marked, the active vol
canoes being indicated in red and the
extinct in black.
At the conclusion of routine business
several bills were passed, including one
TO redivide the district of Alaska into
three recording and judicial divisions,
and the military appropriation bill
without amendment.
Consideration was then resumed of
the Military Academy appropriation
bill and Bate, Tenn, continued his OBJ
lection to the large amount provided
by the measure for improvement at
West Point. He considered such a
as extravagant. He moved
to amend by striking from the bill all
relating to the proposed
an expenditure ultimately of $500, 900.
Warren, Wyo., in charge of the bill,
explained that the Improvements were
absolutely necessary, many of the
having been in use since 1916.
They were unsanitary, uncomfortable
and inconvenient. They were unworthy
of the United States and untitled for
the purpose for which they We're used. |
The contemplated improvements were
necessary.
Harris, Kas., opposed Bates amend
ment and expressed the wish that there
were 5000 cadets at West Point Those
not needed in the army he said should
return to civil life. They would form
a fine reserve force to be on call for
the defense of the nation. Bates
was rejected and the bill
was passed.
A bill to ratify an agreement with
the Chocktaw and Chickasaw Indians
was passed. Also an act providing
for free homesteads in the Ute Indian
in Colorado.
At 2 o'clock, the isthmian canal bill
was taken up. Hanna, a member of
the inter-oceanic canals committee adj
dressing the Senate in support of the
Spooner amendment providing that the
President shall have authority to de-
termine upon the Panama route pro-
vided he can get a clear title to the
Panama Canal Cos. concession and
property; otherwise he shall decide
upon the Nicaragua route.
The Ohio Senator said the American
people having been accustomed to
the rapid transit of the railroads now /
demanded quicker transportation on
the seas. The experimental stage had
been passed and the question now pre-
scented was that of the best route by
which the canal was to be constructed.
Hanna said he had shared at first in
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