Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-06
Urges the Panama Route for
Isthmian Canal.
SUPPORTS COMMISSION
CRITICISES THE STATEMENT OF
MINISTER MERRY.
House Tables Resolution Regarding
Increase in Gen. Woods Salary
Secretary Roet's Communication.

Soon after the Senate convened today a
bill was passed granting the right of way
to the Alfalfa. Manatee and Gulf Railroad
Company through the United States light
house and military reservations on Gaspa-
Iilla Island. Fla.
Mr.. Morgan, chairman of the committee
on interoceanic canals, presented letter
from Secretary of State Hay, inclosing
copies of letters received by the State De-
partment regarding earthquakes and riots
in the department of Panama. The letters
inciosed newspaper clippings describing the
earthquakes. The Secretary of State said
that the report of the riots would cover
1000 typewriter pages and the department
could not furnish 1t within a month. The
newspaper clippings. which were read. de-
scribed in detail the destruction done by the
earthquakes of 1852.
The documents were referred to the COM
mittee on interoceanic canals 'in order that
the committee may determine" said Mr..
Morgan whether 1t is necessary for the
Secretary of State to have the month
work done on the report of riots"
A joint resolution was passed authorizing
the Secretary of War to investigate the
feasibility of operating an ocean dredge at
the mouth of the Columbia river, Oregon.
Miscellaneous Bills Passed.
Bills were passed as follows:
To ratify a supplemental agreement with
the Creek Indians.
Ratifying the act of the territorial legis-
lature of Arizona providing a fund for the
erection of additional buildings for the Uni
versity of Arizona
To relieve George T. Winston and w. S.
Primrose from responsibility for ordnance
stores issued to the North Carolina Col
lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. de-
strOyed by fire.
Authorizing the trustees of Navajo coun-
ty. Ariz.. to refund $4,000 of it's bonded
Indebtedness at per cent.
To pay 81 .042 to Frank c. Darling of Min
nesota for damages done by the Sioux In
dams.
A large number of private pension bills
Mr.. Hanna Resumes His Speech.
At 2 o'clock consideration of the Near
aqua canal bill was resumed and, after g.
call of the Senate. at which forty-fve sena-
tors responded. Mr.. Hanna continued his
speech begun yesterday. He referred to
some comments made yesterday by Mr.
Mitchell (Ore), in which the Oregon sena-
tor mad spoken of the advantages of the
Nicaragua route. while the Hanna COM
mission had reported once in favor of the
Nicaragua route.
MIR. Hanna said he took exception to the
ittStlAueiIIoil lIdt luIS was hanna 5 commas
sion
Il consider" said he that am here to
do my duty to my country, and when
am placed on an important committee with
which is charged an important duty l am
determined TO discharge that duty faith
fully and conscientiously."
He presented an earnest and vigorous
defense of the isthmian canal commission
appointed by Mckinley, and said that he
sought 10 discuss the pending question
upon higher plane than mere PERSONAL
tiles He declared that there was no poli-
tics in the problem presented and he was
certain there were no personalities in it,
MIR. Hanna discussed the canal situation
as presented by the engineers and said the
Boh1o dam had been the bugbear of the
opposition to the Panama route. Engi-
neers who could be credited said it was
feasible. In fact. said the senator, scarcely
anythlnk is impossible in this day from an
engineering point of view if 1t is necessary
The senator took up the statement of
capt Merry. now United States minister to
Nicaragua, which was in favor of the Mica
ragua route Mr. Hanna said being on the
ground ne ought to know, but it was found
that Capt. Merry was a stakeholder In the
Maritime Canal Company which would
present claims against the United States IL
the Nicaragua route was chosen Merry
he said, was not a disinterested witness
Il think he had better attend to his other
duties. said Mr.. Hanna
He also referred to the testimony of En-
gineer Menocal for the Nicaragua route
who, he said also was a stakeholder In
the Maritime Company.