The age-herald., 1902-04-08
Washington Day by Day

tering tale hope so loves to tell revives for the moment the possibility that the present Congress will pass a law provid- ing for the long-talfed-of Nicaragua canal.
 This engaging prospect is merely appa- rent; 1t Is not evident. As told in this place months ago, that proposed canal became for the time being an ''irridescent dream" With but two votes against It, the Hepburn bill for constructing the canal was adopted by the House of Rep resentatives, and so was sent to the Seh- ate That occurred nearly three months ago.
 The Senate has a special committee to deal with this trans oceanic canal ques- tion, and Senator Morgan, of Alabama, IS the chairman of that committee, in spite of his proffered resignation of that honor thirteen months ago. Being the creator of the present movement for canal across the isthmus of Nicaragua, the senior Senator for Alabama very natural ly and very properly had Senate canal bill. of his own, embo6ying and carrying cut the conclusions at which he had ar rived after some twenty years of the hardest work and most persistent study. But at his suggestion his own bill was laid aside and his committee accepted and adopted the Hepburn bill as it passed the House with but two dissenting votes
 This House bill Is now on the Senate calendar under favorable report, pre- sented by Senator Morgan himself, he having been unwilling to take any chances by asking his committee to adopt his bill as a substitute for the bill of the House. of which MT. Hepburn is the author.
 "We accept the Hepburn bill," Senator Morgan says to the Senate Pass that bill without amendment, and we shall be content"
 Now the Republican steering com mittee of the Senate comes forward and virtually assures a vote on the general proposition to construct a canal between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Such vote seems to be as nearly certain as any
 thing can be in national legislation; and
 it seems really assured that some kind
 of canal bill will pass the Senate. But can
 the Hepburn bill be passed? That is the
 question.
 Senator Morgan himself has formally
 stamped the Hepburn bill with his ap- | proval, and therefore there need not be
 any question that the bill is eminently
 proper. In the personal sense, Senator
 Morgan has more at stake in this meas l ure than all the other Senators combined l The NiceI agua canal proposition now is his personal and official proposition. For mere than half a generation he has given to 1t the best efforts of his long and H.
 lustrious life, and if Congress provide for the great work it might well call the link
 between the two oceans the Morgan Canal, for with the gigantic enterprise.
 whether 1t remain academic or become a noble reality of unsurpassable world consequence in the practical business seDse. the name of John Tyler Morgan must remain forever indissolubly connect ed. Senator Morgan has in this particular made great history-history that cannot pass to forgetfulncss.
 But in view of the virtually certain fact that vote will be reached in the Senate, the question of great moment is, can Senator Morgans side show enough votes to defeat amendments and pass the Hep burn bill? The answer cannot be given with any degree of certainty. Happily or unhappily as any one may individually take 1t. Senator Morgan has aroused in the mind of Senator Hanna kind of re- sentiment, or at any rate what appears to be resentment Senator Hanna has been and is still opposed to the Nicaragua route. Many weeks ago Senator Morgan charged him with being really opposed to any canal on any route Senator Hanna's reply to that is not printable in this place; but 1t was a very emphatic de- nial. Much was printed about the differ ences between the two Senators.> but hardly as much as might have been writ ten.
 Senator Hanna Is very powerful man. WhetheP'he be powerful enough to defeat the Nicarauga proposition remains to be seen. He Is understood to favor giving the President the power to select the
 Panama route and buy the possessions Of the French Panama Company, about
 which we have heard so much
 But fortunately the proposed canal Is not a party issue. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have in their na- tional conventions advocated the canal Therefore the fight in the Senate would appear to be fight between Senator Morgan and Senator Hanna. AS to which may win. every citizen may guess for himself. Meantime no man will be wise
 to bet on either side; but all of us may take comfort from the prospect of vote
 on the proposition within the next few
 weeks.
 Senator Hanna's tactics in regard to this proposed canal legislation are quite ,mpossible to understand. He may chose
 to throw some light on the subject, but until he does so, there must be confusion | in the public mind. His ship-subsidy bill | is now being considered by House com | mittee it having passed the Senate by a substantial majority weeks ago. Its fate | in the House is extremely uncertain | though there seems to be every probabil- | ity that the bill will not be brought to a | vote in that end of the capitol before | next winter. While the Hepburn canal | bill passed the House with practical un- | animity, 1t is very generally understood | that great many Republicans, especially | those representing districts in the mid dle west and the near northwest do not wish it to become law until after the
 November elections. Likewise these same