The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-17

dangers from volcanoes and earthquakes
are merely speculative. In either route
there is equal danger from earthquakes,
but by electing the Panama route we can
at least avoid the possible danger from
volcanoes. However If IL is found that
We cannot obtain a good title from the
Panama Company the government of
Colombia we Will go ahead with the con-
struction of the canal along the Nicaragua
route and take whatever risks there may
be from volcanoes. We are called upon
TO select between a route 1S3 miles long and
one fOrty-nine miles long, between "A route
costing $lS9,O00.O0O and one costing $14,0O0,
600: between a route which will annually
cost s.. coo TO operate and maintain and
one that will cost but 100000 to operate
and maintain; between a route that will
take but twelve hours to navigate and one
that will take thirty-three hours; between
a route that has been a highway of COM
merce for 400 years and one that has never
length of which there is in operation rail-
road worth several million dollars and a
route with no transportation facilities. For
all these reasons the Panama route should
be selected. / believe the Panama Canal
Company can convey a good title TO its
property TO the United States, but If on eX-
animation by the law officers OF the gov
eminent II is found that the title OF the
Panama Company is defective then the
Panama route viii be rejected and the
canal will be constructed by the Nicaragua
route"
Mr.. Kittredge contended that the action
of the isthmian canal commission in recon-
mending the Panama route was an unan-
swerable argument in support or that
route. That report, supplemented by tesu-
mony taken by the interoceanic canals COM
mittee. established the sufhciency or the
title to the Panama canal.
The attitude of the government of Colom-
bia. he continued. indicated that she would
consider any canal proposition in most
liberal spirit He had no doubt that the
diplomatic negotiations concerning the
Panama canal could be brought to success
full issue without difficulty. The canal by
f0qr IONA Ia
blocked by almost impossible barrier.
because of the position of Costa Rica, who
now could not enter into negotiations with
the United States on the subject and would
not be able TO until her constitution had
been amended. This, he said. was not a
matter of argument. but matter or eStaD-
lished fact; and if the Hepburn bill were
enacted IL would mean simply that there
would be canal. In answer to an in
quiry of Mr. Clay, Mr.. Kittredge said the
minority OF the canal committee had rec
commended the Nicaragua canal as an alter
native proposition, assuming. of course,
that firm and stable legal foundation Tor
the governments work could be OBJ
tanned. The South Dakota senator pointed
out that at Panama the United States, by
the acquisition of the Panama Canal Com
panys rights and property, would obtain
all the lands required for the canal, while
at Nicaragua this government would have
TO buy all lands except those held by the
Nicaraguan government. which. he de-
clared. would add millions of dollars to the
MIR. Kittredge said also the Maritime
Canal Company would have a claim against
the United States I'm the event of the adop
ton OF the Nicaragua route of $13, 900, 000
I'm addition TO the amount OF the company's
claim against Nicaragua which the United
States would have to assume.
Mr.. Proctor. of Vermont, called up the
army appropriation DILL and moved that
the Senate recede from its amendment pro-
viding for the erection. by direction Of the
secretary of war. of certain buildings at
military posts, and that conference be
agreed 10 on the two other amendments.
Mr.. Foraker inquired what had been ac-
complished by the special committee APP
pointed TO confer with the House as to
Its refusal to confer about certain amend
ments.
Mr. Spooner chairman of the special COM
mittee, said the committee had not con-
cluded it's labors. A report would be made
later. and he thought the Senate would
agree 10 it.
Mr.. Allison made a conciliatory speech
and urged that the honor os the Senate
was not directly involved, although the mo-
ton. in a sense did extend the olive branch
10 the House.
..Irstead of extending the olive branch. -
exclaimed Mr. Tillman lit is running up
the white flag. If the Senate was wrong
in appointing the special conference COM
mittee To insist on its rights, why not say
so? Why dodge the question in this way2'
Mr.. Tillman said the adoption Of the
amendment would remove the bone OF con-
tention. IF that" said he. lis not an
ignominous surrender l do not know what
AZ Is.
Referring to a suggestion of Mr.. Allison
that the thermometer was getting high
MIR. Foraker declared: THE thermometer
IS no higher at this end Of the Capitol than
at the other. and we can stay mere as long
statement by Mr.. Proctor that he
deemed IL wiser 10 recede from the amend
nent. inasmuch as IL was inadvisable any
how than TO hold up the entire measure,