The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-07

! RT!FURLIc SPECIAL.
Washington. Jan. 6.-Presldent Roosevelt
IS expected Ia send to Congress 4 special
| message embodyins recently presented in
formation relating 10 the Panama Canal.
AS the consideration OF the Hepburn
Nicaragua Canal bill viii be begun Tuesday
In the House. it Is likely that the President
Will send his message without delay.
Mr.. Hepburn, the author Of the bill. is
not discouraged by the activity Of the
Panama Canal people.
The bill viii pass the. House. he said.
and l anticipate no trouble, although there
Is no telling what reserves there are amoGg
members OF the right to change opinions
previously expressed. I hope TO have q
vote taken "Wednesday afternoon. aiy
speech on the subject Will be very short.
AS to the Senate. 10 one can tel about
that The Senator IS peculiarly consti-
tuted Individual. YOU know
Will Resume SeEofintlOrs.
Mons. Il. Lampre. Secretary General OF
the Panama Canal Company, arrived in
Washington this evening to take charge of
the negotiations looking to the sale OF the
canal property to the United States.
NJ. Lampre will consult with Rear Ad-
n.iral Walker. chairman Of the Isth:n!an
siAi.ii ''IIiliIISSipU lO-IlplIO", dJOuI
the time of this meeting the House of
Representatives will begin the debate On
the Hepburn Nicaragua Canal bill. which
probably VIII he passed either on Wednes-
dav or Thursday.
There Is no ground yet for the statement
that the offer OF the French company will
make any great change In the canal situd-
tion IN Congress. Many members are in
% -. fl,ll
sldsraton. at the same time the feeling
in favor of the Nicaragua route is veiy
strong IN both houses Realizing this. the
frient.s OF Panama are now endeavor.nS to
bring about a change in programme. under
which a bill will be passed by both houses
providing for the construction of an 18th
mtan canal. mailing a preliminary appro-
prIation therefor, but leaving the selection
for q route to the President Of commits
sion to be named by him.
This programme certainly will not be ap-
proved by the President and his Cabinet.
Mr.. Roosevelt has considered the effect OF
the Panama offer. He feels 1t IS not his
duty to select the canal route. Congress
must make the decision and he will execute
its will
Nicaragua Project Holds It's Own.
That the Nicaragua project has not lost
headway. rs was expected, in view Of the
Panama offer. was revealed after a meet
ing OF The Senate Committee on Inter-
oceanic Canals to-day. Senator Morgan
called a meeting of his assistants for the
purpose Of taking action on his bill pro-
v.ding for the construction of the canal
There was IL small attendance and no ac-
ton was taken, but 1t developed that ma
tority of the committee can be safely
counted on by the friends of the Nicaragua
route All Of the Democratic members fa-
vor Nicaragua. These are Morgan Culher-
son. Harris and Turner. Senators Hawiey
and Platt of New York are also in favor OF
Nicaragua. This makes n majority OF the
committe and it IS presumed that Senators
Hanna, Mitchell. kcttTide, Nillard ana
Pritchard will be with the majority when
the issue comes.
This may be taken 10 mean that the Pan
anna proposition IS not likely to be seriously
considered by the Senate Committee ON Ca
nails It may also be taken to mean that
the movement contemplated last week to
refer the Morgan bill for acquiring the ter
ritory for the Nicaragua Canal back to the
commi:tc Will probably not succeed.
All IN all. the developments of the day
have not been such as to give NJ Lampre OF
the Panama Canal Company much encour-
nSement in his efforts TO sell the canal
property to the United States.