The Washington times., 1902-06-29
Says Lobbyists Are Thick
Enough at Capitol to
Stir With a Stick.
CALLED TO ACCOUNT BY Mr.. HANNA
Declares Alabaman Intimated Senators
Had Been Bribed Into Voting for the
Panama Route-Resolution Ordering
Investigation Talked to Death.

Another outbreak of the bitterness Of
feeling existing between Senators Nor
gan and Hanna, the champions of the
Two rival isthmian canal routes, oc-
Cured in the Senate yesterday.
Mr.. Morgan accused the people con-
nected with the new Panama Canal
Company of corruption. and said that
their lobbyists have been hanging
around the Capitol $50 thick that you
could almost stir them with a stick"
Mr. Hanna Resents Statements.
Mr.. Hanna resented Mr. Morgan's
statements, and said that he was prac
tically intimating that members of the
Senate had been corrupted into voting
for the Panama route. He asked the
venerable Senator from Alabama TO
specify" and have an investigation. and
in conclusion asserted that he did not
believe any such influence had been ex-
erted.
The difficulty arose when Mr.. Nor
gans resolution, coming over from Fri
day. was laid before the Senate. 1t
asked that the Committee on Inter
oceanic Canals be instructed to inves-
tigate and report whether any claims
exist in favor of citizens of the United
States who are bondholders, etc, of the
new Panama Canal Company; to pub
lish a request that such creditors should
Iile their claims with the committee,
and to investigate and report whether
any unlawful or corrupt efforts or
practices exist to obtain any part OF
the sum of money to be paid to the
new Panama Canal Company or TO
Costa Rica or Nicaragua.
MI. Morgan Explains.
Mr.. Morgan said his object in offering
the resolution was to facilitate the
building of the canal by clearing up the
questions involved and the rumors of
scandal that had been so persistently
circulated.
Mr.. spooner thought It was not the
business of the United States to help
the French courts to wind up the af-
fairs Of the Panama Canal Company or
to see that the money TO be paid to the
company was distributed. He looked upon
the resolution as an advertisement for
the filing of objections TO carrying out
the provisions Of the canal bill.
Mr. Morgan replied 70 Mr.. Spooner's
argument He wanted TO know, and
would know he said, whether the lobby
which had been hanging around Con-
gress so thick that it might almost be
stirred with a stick had been receiving,
or was to receive, a part of the forty
millions. Things of that kind. he said.
had occurred in diplomacy since the
first treaty was made. Largesse etipends
and bribes were paid today TO men who
conducted great negotiations, and he
wanted 10 know that the United States
had not been scandaliZed in any respect.
Mr.. Spooner said that II the President
chose to take action in the premises he
might do SO; but he (Mr. spoonerJ was
not prepared to assent TO the Senate
assuming that American creditors Of the
Panama Company could attack the de-
cree Of the French court in this coun-
try. so that ground might be found for
an indefinite obstruction of the will of
Congress in regard to an isthmian canal.
Mr.. Mitchell Still Hopes.
Mr. Mitchell said that he had always
been an earnest advocate of the Mica
raguan route, and he still hoped and be-
lieyed Notwithstanding the action of
Congress In favor Of the Panama route)
that the result In the end would be the
construction Of the canal on the Mica
raguan route.
He could not believe that the new
Panama Canal Company would make II
clear TO the President of the United
States that IL could give such title, as
the President. under the language of
Law. would be disposed to accept. Bat
as the resolution would necessarily
cause delay. he could not see his way