The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-10

not inefectiNely in the next campaign
in favor of decreasing the revenues.
He himself, if he could have the
power, would take off every cent of the
war taxes. Democratic applause
This prospect of decreased revenue
must be looked in the face in permit
ting the government to such a gigantic
expenditure. Mr.. Cannon said he
would vote for the Morris amendment,
and if it failed he would move to re-
commit the bills with amendments he
had suggested.
sound sense by DeArmond.
Mr.. DeArmond, of Missouri. followed
Mr.. Cannon. He said the question be-
fore the American people was not as
TO whether Congress would pass a
bill for the Isthmian canal but wheth-
er the bin would be matured and prop
er when passed. If confidence existed
in the President why should he not be
given the opportunity to negotiate with
Colombia or Nicaragua according to
the information in his possession. The
bill. he urged needed maturing. 1t
was silent on many points. Were the
army engineers to build the canal or
was there to be one gigantic syndi-
cate whose influence, baleful perhaps,
but certainly mighty, would extend
over many years. Were the principles
of the Civil Service to obtain or were
political considerations to govern?
MIR. Vandiver. of Missouri, and Mr..
Hepburn, Mississippi, advocated the
passage of the unamended Hepburn
bill.
At O'clock Mr.. Hepburn took the
floor and answered the criticisms ad-
duoed against the bill during the de-
bate. During the progress of the de-
bate he had imputed bad motives to no
one. But he believed that forces were
working for delay.
Hepburn Reviews Cannon.
Mr.. Hepburn then proceeded to re-
view Mr.. Cannons record on canal
legislation to show that his declara-
tions of friendship did not harmonic
with his constant course of hostile de-
lay With regard to the alleged claims
of the Maritime Canal Company. which
the gentleman from Illinois discovered
in the pale moonlight" the commits
sion reported that they had already
been extinguished. Addressing the
Democratic side he reviewed the plank
in the Kansas City platform, pledgng
the party to the Nicaraguan canal.
THAT" said he. amid laughter rs
in my opinion the most respectable
declaration in the platform" At the
conclusion of Mr.. Hepburn's remarks,
the bill was read for amendment un-
der the five minute rule.
Mr. Shackleford of Missouri, imme-
diateiv offered the amendment to au
thorize the President to determine the
choice of routes as between Nicaragua
and Panama if the property and fran
chises of the Panama Company could
be procured for $40.000000. He ex-
planned that the amendment offered by
him had been agreed upon after con-
sultation between, himself and Mr..
Morris and Mr.. Parker (New Jersey.
who had given notice that they would
offer similar amendments.
Mr.. Underwood, Alabama, opposed
the amendment saying the Democratic
platform had declared for the Nicara-
qua canal. Mr. Morris. Minnesota,
supported it, stating that the amend
ment had been drawn by him.
There was a lively running fight for
some time over the amendment, par
ticipsted in by Mr.. Cooper. Wisconsin;
Williams, Mississippi; Sims. Tennessee;
Mann. Illinois; Morrell, Pennsylvania,
and Fleming, Georgia.
The Amendment Defeated.
The vote was then taken upon the
Shackelford amendment. 1t was de-
feated upon a rising vote. 102 to 170 Mr..
Parker of New Jersey, Mr.. DeArmond
and Mr.. Burgess offered various
| amendments which were voted down.
The committee then rose and report
ed the bill to the House whereupon Mr..
Cannon moved to re-commit bill with
instructions to report back within 30
days a substitute to enable the Presi-
dent to acquire the necessary rights for
a canal from Nicaragua or Colombia,
! and to authorize him to select the route
| within sixty days. Mr.. Cannon tried to
secure record vote upon his motion, but
| unavailingly. The amendment was de-
feated without division and the vote
was then taken upon the passage of
| the bill by ayes and noes. The vote
stood: Ayes, 30S: noes, 2. The an
nouncement was greeted with applause
Al 3. 20 the House ad iourned.