Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-12

Senator Morgan of Alabama, chair
man Of the committee on interoceanic
canals, opened the debate. A consid-
cradle portion of his speech was de-
voted 20 an examination of the sug-
gested danger to the Nicaragua canal
route Of seismic disturbances. This
danger, he concluded, after careful
review of many authorities, existed
only in the Imagination of those who
desired to defeat any canal project.
His study of the situation convinced
him that really there was greater dan
ger from volcanic and earthquake dis
turbances to the Panama route than to
the Nicaragua route; but was satisfied
that little danger to either was to be
anticipated He reviewed at length
the political conditions in Colombia,
finding in them a grave menace to
the United States in the construction
of the canal by the Panama route. The
bill authorizing the promoting and
retirement of the present senior major
general Of the army, John R. Brooke,
was passed. A bill providing that
free delivery to cities OF 5000 in-
habitants or of $4,000 gross income,
instead of 10000 inhabitants, as at
present was also passed.
The debate on the anti-anarchy bill
continued all day in the house. Mr..
jenkins of Wisconsin and Mr.. Parker
of New Jersey contende1 that the bill
l.;
ing of the president should be made
punishable by death without any limi-
tatiOn whatever. Messrs Powers of
Massachusetts and Nevin of Ohio also
supported the measure. eff the presi-
dent should go to the wicked city of
Chicago incOgnito and while intoxi-
Gated become involved in a quarrel
and be killed." interrupted Mr.. Ray
of New York, should his slayer nee
essarily suffer the death penalty?"
mo president of the United States
ever degraded himself to such an ex-
tent replied Mr.. Jenkins, angrily,
"and 1 decline to answer question
which disgraces the high Office of
chief magistrate"
Washington, June 5.-Senator Han
| ma Of Ohio spoke in favor of the
SpoOner amendment, comforting on the
president authority to purchase the
rights of the Panama, Canal company
| if valid title could be obtained,
otherwise he shall decide upon the
Nicaragua route Senator Mitchell
supported the Hepburn bill for the
construction Of canal by the Nicara-
qua route. Senator Hanna declared
the question now was which route
was prefrable. BY stubborn facts
and by findings of the best en-
gineers he was compelled to change
his views, which originally favored
the Nicaraguan route. He referred to
the seismic disturbances and sug-
gested dangers seriously. There are
more volcanoes in the neighborhood
of the Nicaragua route than in the
Panama. He maintained the cost of
the Nicaragu route was immensely
greater in point of construction and
operation and he was prepared to
i demonstrate that the Nicaragua could
not be operated at night. He be-
lieved that the canal would be a
power for the peace Of the world
Senator Mitchell urged that unless
the Nicaragua route was determined
upon definitely by congress it would
mean the indefinite postponement and
! perhaps ultimate defeat of any canal
legislation.
The general debate on the anti
anarchy bill was nearly ended in the
house. The debate was devoted to le-
gal arguments, the speakers being
Messrs. Sibley Pa), De Almond
(Mo), Williams (Miss.) Wooten
(Texas), McDermott On. j., Loud
(Cal), Crumpacker Qnd), Maddox
(Ga), Ball (Texas) and Clark (Mo).