The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-09
Mr.. MORRIS
TO THE FORE
CONGRESSMAN FROM DUULTH Of
FERS AMENDMENT TO THE
CANAL BILL
IT FAvORs THE PANAMA ROUTE
Member From Sixth Minnesota Dis
trict Finds Strong Support foe
His Proposition Among
Leaders.
DEBATE ENDS AT 2 P. M. TODAY


WASHINGTON Jan. S-The debate on
the Nicaraguan canal in the house to-
day developed sentiment in favor of Civ
ing consideration to the recent offer or
the Panama company to sell it's fran
chises and property for $4O,O0O0OO, this
sentiment taking the form of advocating
the Morris amendment to empower TIE
president to select the latter route if
the canal commission, upon considering
the company's offer, recommends it and
the required concessions can be obtained
from Colombia.
OF sixteen members who spoke today
nine favored the Morris amendment. 1t
was agreed that general debate should
close tomorrow at 2 o'clock, after which
the bill win be open to amendment un-
der the fiVe-mnute rule. The final vote
probably will be taken tomorrow.
Mr. Morris (Minn), who offered the
amendment yesterday to give the presl-
dent the alternative authority to select
the Panama route if it were recon-
mended by the commission, after the con-
sideratiOn of the Panama company's new
offer, explained the purpose of his amend
ment which, he said, was not to impede
the construction of the canal, but to
insure the selection of the best canal
the best as to location, cost of mantle
nance and operation, durability and free
dom from danger from obstruction.
Doubtful, Very Doubtful
Before the isthmian commission made
its report he did not believe the Panama
route feasible. He thought it had been
used solely for the purpose of delay.
But since reading the report he was una
BILE to reach a conclusion as to which
was the better route. Moreover, he did
not believe tnat any gentleman could
read the report and tell which route the
commission would have selected had the
cost and conditions been equal. In en-
barking upon an enterprise that was to
cost 5000, 600, perhaps more, he consid-
cred it wise that the experts should have
an opportunity to consider the new offer
of the Panama company.
If the bill were passed in the form in
which it was reported the president could
not entertain the offer of the Panama
company, and under it the president by
treaty might bind the United States to
construct the Nicaraguan canal, even
though we afterward became convinced
that the other was the better route.
Pleas for Panama Route.
Mr.. Burton (Ohio), who led the opposi-
ton to a similar bill in the last con-
gress. said he would now be glad to see
the pending bill pass. The pending bill
conformed to treaty obligations and in
sUred the neutrality of the proposed ca
nal. AS between the two routes which
the commission reported to be feasible
he was inclined to favor Panama He
could not rid himself of the conviction
that the ShOrtneSS of the Panama route
in time would tell powerfully in it's IA
vor. He believed that the Morris amend
ment should be adopted. In speaking of
the advantages of the Panama route he
said a member Of the commission had
told him a few days ago that the eX-
animation of the Panama route had been
much more thorough than the other, and
there was far less danger of diSaGreeable
surprises as the work progressed. Mr..
Burton received a round of applause as
he concluded.
Mr.. Hill (Conn) read a letter frorl
Frof Ward, of Bridgeport, Conn, who
was employed as an engineer on the
Panama canal for six and a half years,
cCntending that the Panama route was
the better on the following grounds:
First-It has two excellent ports with
Il well equipped railroad.
Scccnd-An established line of steam =
erS tc New York.
Third-Competent equ pment Of cars and
ms ChineTy.
Fourth-Accommodat for 10 OOO labor
erS.
Fifth-ActuaI definite plans for the COM
pletion of the canal, with all the expert
mental work done, and
Sixth-The serious danger of volcanic
disturbances at Nicaragua.
Must Have the Best
Prof Ward in his letter said he was
not actuated in writing the letter by the
French company, but because he desir-
ed to have his country have the best
Mr.. Hill said he would vote for the al
tentative proposition.
Mr. burgess, Texas, who represents
the Galveston district, supported the
bill in an earnest speech. The only
amendment he favored was one declar
ing in unequivocal language that the
canal should be fortified.
Messrs. Bell, Colorado, and Cooney
Missouri, spoke in advocacy of the pend.
ing bill.
Mr.. Bromwell, Ohio said he would sup
port the Morris amendment and wa!
moved to do so by the facts set fortl
in the report of the isthmian canal com
mission.
Mr. Cummings, New York opposed fur
ther consideration of the Panama com
pany's offer. The company wanted $4O
O00,00O for the work already DONE which
covered about one-fourth of the canal
The completed one-fourth had cost tn,
French stockholders $240OOO,O0O. At thu
same rate-it would cost the United States
$720OO0,O00 to complete the canal
Mr. Gillett, Massachusetts,, believed
the new offer of the Panama compan!
should receive due consideration. HaC
that offer not been made he did no
believe there would be a word or vot,
against the Hepburn bill.
Mr.. Littleield, Maine announced tha
he would support the amendment. If i
failed he would vote for the bill.
After some further remarks in favo
of the bill by Mr.. Corliss, Michigan
and Mr.. Gibson, Tennessee, Mr.. Lacey
Iowa, closed the debate for the day H
favored the canal but said that the pub
lie should not be deluded with the ide;
a that the canal could be built for TIL
amount estimated by the engineers
with whose figures he took issue. A
the request of Mr.. Hepburn it was agree
that general debate on the bill close to
morrow at 2 o'clock
Mr.. Hopkins, Illinois, secured unani
nous consent that the bill to establis
a permanent census bureau be made
continuing order until disposed of aft
-er the Nicaraguan bill is acted upon.