The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-07
A FIRM FRIEND OF
TIE PANAMA ROUTE
Senator Hanna Continues His
Argument.
HE FEARS VOLCANOES
Points Jut Other Objections to the
Nicaragua Route.
RICHARDSON CONDEMNS ROOSEVELT
For Delivering Political Speech at Arlington
on Federal Memorial Day. General
Debate on Anti-Anarchy Bill
Closed.
a. the Associated Press.)

Washington, June 6-After transacting
some routine business today the Senate
resumed consideration of the Isthmian
Canal Pill, Mr.. Hanna, ocf Ohio, con-
tinuing his argument in support of the
Panama canal. The Ohio Senator de-
clared that no political considerations
were involved in the canal problem and
that every Senator was laboring for
what ne considered the best interests of
the country. He discussed some Of the
technical difficulties involved in tho
consideration of the Panama route, no
tably the Bohio Dam, and declared his
confidence in the engineering skill of
Americans to solve any problem of that
kind
He presented the opinions OF eighty
three ship masters and pilots as to the
desirability of the Panama and Mica
rac1la routes. Unanimously they were
in favor of the Panama route for many
reasons which they cited. Mr.. Hanna
reinforced this information with the ar
glment that the views of men who had
devoted their lives to the sea and who
were expected 10 use the canal by what
ever route it might be constructed ought
TO be given consideration. He urged
that the construction of the Nicaragua
canal was beset with unknown difficult
ties while the construction of the Para
ma canal was IAN open book" He laid
@Aartiedlar stress upon the danger to the
Nicaragua route from volcanoes AMI
urged that it was not good business poll
cy to ignore those dangers in project
Involving an expenditure of 5000, 900
In conclusion, Mr. Hanna appealed to
the Senate to consider the matter as a
business proposition, ard, with some
feeling. he repJdiated the suggestion
that those who favored the Panama
route were not in favor of the constcuc-
tion Of caral. lie hoped the work cf
construction woul be begun before the
close of the present year
Mr. Hanna criticised the Testimony of
Cept. Merry. minister of the United
States in Nicaragua, who supported the
Nicaragua route. He said Capt. Merry
was a stcehholder in the Maritime
Canal Ccmp@ny which, of course. wanted
thc Mica. sIa route adopted. The Ohio
Senator sIg~ested that Capt Merry
would bette attend to his official duties
and not interest himself in questions
OF this kind.
Mr.. Hanna devoted some attention to
the action OF the House in passing the
Hepburn bill for the construction of the
canal by the Nicaragua route and de-
clarcd that scores of members of that
~2cdy had not even read the report upon
thT~hill, brief as il was Members
h',d voted for it because they were
anxious TO bring to a satisfactory CON
cusion the istbmiain canal question.
As to the possibilities of danger from
seismic disturbances, he thought it was
practically an even thing between tho
two routes. There was aonugh DANCE.
,~along either route to deter the United
States from building the canal either
i'm Nicaragua or Panama. He laid par
ticular stress upon the danger to the
Nicaragua route from volcanoes. He
quoted Prof Heilprin, the volcano ex-
pert. IS saying that the region of Para
ma was not in danger from volcanic dis
tUrbance.
Mr. TGanna said that in the construc-
tior of this canal the United States was
invading tine territory of the volcano.
that in Lake Nicaragua itself there were
two volcanoes. one Of which had been
aC tive recently
Mr.. Hanna presented a synopsis of the
statement of eighty-three captains of
ocean going steamers and other vessels;
bearing on the use of an isthmian canal.
H. said the ships and their cargoes
must pay the operating expenses of the
canal and in the natural order of things
the wishes of the owners and masters of
shrs as to the route of the canal ought
to be considered. Up to this time it had
not been deemed necessary to obtain the
views of owners, masters and pilots as
tc the route of the canal. 1t seemed to
him a sound business proposition to
build the canal along the route preferred
by seafaring men,
Mr.. Hanna said that all of the mas
terS questioned had had experience in
navigating the SueZ, Manchester and
I<iel canals. They were unanimous in
favor of the Panama route for steamers
400 feet long and % draft, provided both
canals were in operation and weather
and expense conditions were equal From
the answers to the question proDourded
Il WAS evident that the masters qIIes-
TONED much preferred the Panama
rouie TO the Nicaragua route, declaring