New-York tribune., 1902-01-13
NO HASTE FOR CANAL.
MORGAN',S EFFORTS LIKELY
TO BE FRUlTLESS.
SENATE NOT TO BE FORCED INTO LEG
ISLATION WHICH MIGHT BE
DISASTROUS.
DISASTROU
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TEE TRIBUNE. !

TBY TELEGRAPH TIE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. Jan. 12.-Following the line of
policy that characterized his course at the meet
ing yesterday of the Committee on Interoceanic
Canals, Senator Morgan will make desperate
efforts this week to force the Senate TO an i'm
mediate consideration Of the canal question. It
is not believed, however, that he will be able to
stampede the Senate as easily as his chief lieu-
tenant Mr.. Hepburn. of Iowa, stampeded the
House last week. 1t is said to be Senator Nor
gan's intention 70 move the substitution of the
Hepburn Nicaraguan bill as soon as that meas
ure is reported to the Senate for the Morgan
hill which occupies the first place on the Senate
calendar He alleges that he has enough votes
promised 10 carry his motion, and thus precipi-
tate the canal question upon the Senate at
much earlier date than the leaders of that body
are prepared to give TO it their consideration.
MORGAN'S HASTE UNwARRANTED.
It is regarded as not at all probable, though,
that Senator Morgan can in this way rush the
senateCtb his liking. On the contrary, there is
excellent reason to believe that If he does try
TO pursue this unusual the Senate will
fatty refuse that recognition to the Hepburn
bill which the Alabamian so imperiously de-
mands. It is rare, indeed, that measure OF
such far reaching Importance does not take the
regular course in the upper house of Congress-,
the first step Of which is it's reference to an ap-
propr1ate committee. This means that the Hep
burn bill will have to go to the Committee on
Interoceanic Canals whenever ii is reported
from the House. 1t may be reported to-mor-
row, and certainly it will not reach the Senate
later than "Wednesday. Then the real troubles
of the impatient advocates of the Nicaragua
route will begin.
SENATE NOT TO BE HURRIED.
1t grows more evident with each development
that the programme of caution and deliberation
heretofore outlined in these dispatches will be
followed. While it is not assured fact that
the interoceanic canal committee is more ia
vorable to the Panama route than to the Mica
ragua route, still it can be depended upon that
the French proposition will receive much more
earnest and courteous consideration than was
given to it by Senator Morgan yesterday. 1t is
known, for example. that majority Of the COM
mittee is open minded the French PROPOSE
ton. and determined TO open the whole canal
question for the further enlightenment Of the
Senate before taking final action.
All the Republican members Of the committee
except Senator Hawlev. Of Connecticut, and Sen
ator Platt of New-York. recently have expressed
themselves in this way. Senator Hawley is a
firm supporter OF Senator Morgan. while Senator
Platts attitude is not yet known. OF the other
Pritchard, Kittredge and Millard are known to
favor the greatest possible deliberation. Among
the minority members Of the committee Messrs.
: Turner and Cuiberson also are known to be
opposed TO the preciptate haste with which Sem
ator Morgan would treat the subject. This
statement does not imply that any one Of these
Senators is personally opposed to the Nicaragua
route, although two or three Of them have ex-
pressed preference for other routes, Senator
Hanna going so far as to declare himself
more favorable to the Isthmus of Darien route
than any otheE.
VIEWS OF SENATE LEADER.
With this obvious division in the committee,
however, it is plain that in spite or the insist
ence Of Senator Morgan the Senate will take
its own time and pursue its own methods in
disposing of the canal question. A Senate leader
said tonight this subject:
Much as I respect Morgan, he must be made
to understand that he cannot frighten or bull
doze the Senate Hepburn did the House.
why, even so determined and hard headed a
man as Aldrich does not try to run over every
BODY in the Finance Committee as Morgan does
IN his committee. But if by some chance Nor
gan should force favorable report on the Hep
Durn bill at an early date he will find that the
senate is not to be stampeded, and that will
take all the time this tremendous subject re-
quires for debate before we pass it.
Senator Morgan's treatment Yesterday Of the
french representatives of the Panama Canal
company, whom he had before his committee
Is rather severely criticised by members of the
senate They declare that If all reports are
true ne was discourteous alike to NJ Edouard
-annpre' secretary Of the company who came
mere duly empowered to negotiate the sale of
the Panama property and franchises and TO
NJ Bosufve. Chancellor Of the French Embassy
VINO IS assisting Nj. Lampre in the negotiations
oy special permission of Ambassador Cambon
- IS also asserted that Senator Morgan's con-
'ehtioh mat the French corporation cannot
make clear title to its interest in the Panama
enterprise is wrong. The ground taken bv
senator Morgan on this point is that under
the French laws the officers of a cornorat,o,
cannot dispose of the corporations rights and
property.
THE OFFER FROM PANAMA.
II is stated by persons acquainted with the
corporation laws Of France that they differ In
no manner from the corporation laws of the
United States in the matter of transferring COR
pOration property. That is to say ii is as
sUmed that the 100000 French shareholders of
ine Panama Canal Company have voted in the
regular way upon the proposition to sell out to
ne United States, and have in due form author
I1eo their officers agents to act for them
i'iis is the method pursued under the corpora
uoh laws Of the various States of this country
"hen any important action is to be taken bv q
corporation at interest
senator Morgan asserts out Of hand that the
french shareholders have not been properly
consulted on the proposition, and that therefore
y y The United States should agree to buy the
n1hsna company endless claims and lawsuits
~uuia follow the transaction which might
sshtually lead TO serious trouble between this
ssevuhtfy and France. He is not supported in
LIE radical view Of the case by any member of
.ie senate who has given to the subject careful
In earnest ~ ue