Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-19
INDICATED STRENGTH OF THE
SPooNER PLAN.
Philippine Civil Government Bill
Taken Up in the House-Expla-
nation by Mr.. Cooper.

Mr.. Morgan CA,a) presented the follow
ing letter he had received from Secretary of
State Hay concerning the point raised in
the isthmian canal debate by Mr. Kittredge
IS d.: Il am requested by the minister OF
Costa Rica to inform the committee on in
teroceanic canals that he has been instruct
ed by his government to make known to
that Of the United States that the govern
ment of Costa Rica are prepared to take all
necessary steps to put themselves In a po-
sltion to negotiate with the government OF
the United States treaty for appropriate
concessions for an isthmian canal on terms
substantially as proposed by the govern
ment of the United States"
The communication was laid on the table.
Ihe conference report on the bill to pre-
Vent the false branding or labelling of food
or dairy products was agreed to.
Mr.. Spooner's Substitute.
Consideration of the isthmian canal ques-
ton was resumed and Mir. Spooner offered
formally his amendment as a substitute for
the pending so-called Hepburn Nicaragua
canal bill.
Mr.. Clark (MontD then addressed the
Senate in support of the Nicaragua route.
He thought if one-half the objections TO
both the Nicaragua and the Panama routes
were valid neither route would be adopted.
However, he was satisfied the consensus of
conservative opinion in this country was
that a great lSthmian waterway should be
constructed. The American people, he said
were not to be deferred.
You may delay the project" said he,
but you cannot defeat it,
The difficulties of constructing the canal
ne believed. were exaggerated. He thought
that the Nicaragua route was more to be
preferred, as it was, in his opinion. more
feasible and practicable than the Panama
route.
Mr. Clark declared that the Panama canal
sSnenle was hoodoo which ought TO be
summed and avoided. He said the Pan
anna canal plan had left heritage Of ruin,
disaster and desolation.
Mr.. Allison explained why he should vote
Tor the Spooner substitute. He believed
there was a general desire among the
American people for an isthmian canal,
and the people desired, too. that the Tinted
states government should construct and
control the canal
He pointed ont that the eyes of the Amer
lean people had been directed particularly
toward the Nicaragua route because il was
supposed that as French company had
me concessions for the Panama route the
nlted States was barred from that route
MT. Allison said it was proposed now to
pulld canal thirty-five feet deep and wide
enough and with a volume of water suf1i-
cient to float the largest ship afioat The
minimum expenditure for the construction
OF the canal, he believed. would be more
than S2o.eS."0. To meet this enormous
expenditure he favored the borrowing Of
the money, making proper provision for
nquidating the principal and interest of the
bonds.
Mr.. Morgan Closes Debate.
Mr. Morgan. chairman Of the interoceanic
canal committee, at the CONCLUSION of Mr.
Aillson's remarks, began his speech cl sing
the debate. He said the canal issue seemed
to have come down to a single po.nt-that
of finance. On that point he deferred to
Mr.. Allison, but he did not believe with him
that it would be necessary to issue bonds
TO for the frnrfiOO of
In conclusion he said: Just one word I'm
parting with this question. This duty was
assigned to me by the Senate and was not
sought by me.
If We are to be beaten down here TODAY
and America is to be disgraced. l shall
have had the honor, and the American peo-
pie will give 1T to me after / am dead, of
having devoted honestly and sincerely, the
best labors of my life to the success of our
project"
At pm. debate upon the canal question
was concluded by previous agreement.
Spooner Amendment Read.
The first amendment reported was that
offered by Senator Spooner providing for
the purchase of the Panama canal property
If a satisfactory title to il could be secured,
and, in the event that such title cannot be
secured, providing for the construction of
the Nicaragua canal
The Spooner Amendment.
The Spooner amendment carries a propo-
sition authorizing the President Of the
United States to purchase the property OF
the Panama Canal Company if a satisfac-
tory title to it can be secured for $4,000
000, to acquire certain additional rights
from the republic Of Colombia and to begin
the construction of canal at Panama. In
the event that a satisfactory title cannot be
secured to the Panama property then the
President is authorized to secure treaties
from Nicaragua and Costa Rica and TO pro-
ceed toward the construction of a canal
over that route. The sum of $1,000, 600 is
appropriated to begin construction which
ever route is secured. The Spooner amend
ment provides in full as follows:
That the President of the United States
is hereby authorized to acquire, for and on
behalf of the United States, at cost not
exceeding S4O0ooooo. all Of the rights,
privileges, franchises, concessions, grants
OF land. right of way, unfinished work,
plants and other property, real, personal
and mixed, of every name and nature,
owned by the New Panama Canal Com
pany of France, on the 1sthmus of Pana-
ma, and all its maps, plans, drawings rec
ords on the Isthmus of Panama ard in
Paris, including all the capital stock. not
less. however than Gs, ,s63 shares Of the
Panama Railroad Company, owned by or
held for the use of said canal company.
provided a satisfactory title to all of said
property can be obtained.
Sec. =. That the President is hereby au-
thorized to acquire from the republic of
Colombia, for and on behalf of the United
States, upon such terms he may deem
reasonable. exclusive and perrstRal con-
troll of strip Of land, the territory of the
republic Of Colombia, not less than six
miles in width, extending from the Carb-
bean sea to tthe Pacific ocean, and the right
to use and dispose OF the waters thereon,
and to excavate, construct and per-
petually maintain, operate and protect
thereon a canal, of such depth and capacity
as Will afford convenient passage of ships
Of the greatest tonnage and draft now in
use, from the Caribbean sea to the Pacific
ocean, which control shall include the right