The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-01-16
CONGRESS.

washington, Jan. 7.-Senate-The
first notes of the contest between the
Nicaragua and Panama routes for the
tsthmian canal were heard in the sen
ate today. Morgan offered and Sc
cured the adoption of resolution
which indicates his purpose to have
the committee on interoceanic canals
inquire into the relations alleged to
exist between the transcontinental
railroad companies of the United
States and Canada and the Panama
Canal company. In explanation of the
resolution Morgan declared that the
alleged relations were a wicked mon
opoly' which already had cost the
people of the Pacific coast millions
of dollars. The relations involve the
control by the Panama Canal COM
pany of the Panama Railroad company
and the agreement existing between
certain railroads of the United States
and the Pacific Mail Steamship com
pany.
House.-The debate on the Nicara-
qua canal bill in the house was opened
in lively fashion today by Hepburn,
chairman of the interstate and for
eign commerce commission, which re-
ported the bill. For two hours he held
the floor, replying to volley of ques-
lions concerning the recent offer of
the Panama Canal company to sell it's
property and franchises to the United
States for $40,000,000 The interest
In the debate centered most entirely
in the new phase of the subject.
Hepburn maintained that the alleged
new offer of the Panama company
was part of the plan of delay. All
his utterances along that line were
literally applauded. He pointed out
what he claimed was the suspicious
circumstances that the Panama COM
pany held out for s1O9OOO,OOO until it
was decided before the holiday recess
to consider the Nicaragua bill, and
then suddenly dropped the price to
$4O,000,000. Morris Of Minnesota gave
notice that at the proper time he would
offer an amendment to authorize the
president, if he could secure the prop
erty and rights of the Panama COM
pany for S40OO0,OOO, if concessions
could be procured from Colombia, and
ii the Walker commission so recon-
mended, to purchase and proceed to
complete the Panama canal. The
other speakers today were Davis of
Florida, Richardson of Alabama, Mann
of Illinois and Adams of Pennsylvania.
Washington, Jan. S.-Senate.-Dur-
Ing consideration by the senate today
OF private pension legislation some
important statements were made by
Gallinger, chairman of the committee
on pensions, in respect to regulations
adopted by the committee to govern
1T in consideration of private pension
bills. He announced that none but
absolutely meritorious cases would be
presented to the senate for it's consid-
Grafton, and that the closest scrutiny
would be given by the committee to
every bill introduced. He said that
no pension exceeding $50 month
would be recommended by the COM
mittee for the widow of a general
officer and that pensions for the wild
ows of other officers would be scaled
down proportionately
House.-The debate on the Nicara-
guam canal bill in the house today
developed sentiment in favor of Civ
ing consideration to the recent offer
Oh the Panama company to sell it's
franchise and property for 100000
O00 this sentiment taking the form of
advocating the Morris amendment to
empower the president to select the
latter route if the canal commission
upon considering the company's offer
recommends it, and the required con.
cesslons can be obtained from Colon
bia. OF sixteen members who spoke
today nine favored the Morris amend
ment. 1t was agreed that general de-
bate should close tomorrow at 2
o'clock, after which the bill will be
open to amendment under the five
minute rule. The final vote probably
will be taken tomorrow. The speak
ers today were Shackleford of Mis-
souri,, Parker of New Jersey, Lover
ing of Massachusetts, Morris of Min
nesota, Burton OF Ohio, Hill of Con-
necticut, Bromwell of Ohio, Gillett of
Massachusetts, and Littlefield of
Maine, in favor of the Morris amend
ment; and Messrs. Burgess of Texas,
Bell of Colorado Cooney of Missouri,
Cummings of New York, Wilson of
Tennessee and Lacey of Iowa, for the
bill in it's present form.
Washington, Jan. -Senate-The
open session Of the senate was de-
voted to routine business. After an
executive session the senate, at $780,
adjourned until Monday. The senate
III executive session cOnnfmed the
nomination of Leslie M. Shaw, to be
secretary of the treasury and of Hon.
g. Payne, to be postmaster general.
House.-The Hepburn Nicaragua
canal bill passed the house by prac-
tically an unanimous vote Only two
members out of 80 voted against it,
Messrs Fletcher (rep.) OF Minnesota
and Lassiter (dem.) of Virginia were
the two voting in the negative. The
opposition to committing the govern
ment to the Nicaragua route attempted
to secure amendments to lodge with
the president the discretionary power
to purchase and complete the Panama
canal, if it could be purchased for
$4O,0OO,000. The test came on the
first vote, when the advocates of Sn
alternative route polled 1O2 votes
against ITO. At each succeeding vote
their strength dwindled until Mr.. Can
non Of Illinois, under whose leadership
the fight was made. was unable to get
the ayes and noes on motion to re-
commit. All other amendments failed
and the bill passed exactly as it came
from the committee. None of the
votes except that on the final passage