Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-31
MINORITY REPORT
On the Question Of an Inter-
oceanic Canal.
PANAMA ROUTE BEST
ADVISE ADOPTION OF THE
SPOONER AMENDMENT.
Way Not Clear for United States to
Obtain Right of Way Through
Nicaragua.

SENATOR hillTtUSe tOudS SuUIilltltu " aliO
Senate minority report of the commit
tee on interoceanic canals on the subject
of the construction of an interoceanic canal
across the isthmus of Panama. The re-
port deals at length with each feature Of
the canal question. On almost every point
the members of the minority base their
findings upon the official report and testi-
m6hy Of the members of the isthman canal
commission.
The minority recommends to the Senate
that the Spooner amendment be adopted as
a substitute for House bill No. BIO. 1t
finds that the Panama route is superior in
all respects for an interoceanic canal than
the Nicaragua route. 1t recommends that
the report of the isthmian canal commits
sion be followed on all technical questions.
it is the opinion of the highest compe-
tent experts. and states that in all the
testimony had before the committee moth
ing appears against it. The minority also
finds that the isthmian canal commission
earlier reports in favor of the Nicaragua
route were based wholly on the impossi-
bility, at that time, of acquiring the prop
erty and concessions of the Panama Canal
Company at reasonable price.
The Spooner Amendment.
In presenting it's report the minority
states that they present an amendment (the
Spooner amendment) substitute to the
House bill which we believe will most
surely, wisely and speedily accomplish the
national desire for an isthmian canal, and
for the best canal The substitute which
we advise insures an iSthmian canal, and
in our judgment most surely, SatiSfa ctorlly
and speedily than by any other plan.
We consider that the Panama route is the
best route for an isthmfan canal, to be
owned, constructed controlled and protect
ed by the United States.
The minority declares that in the matter
of the important engineering features OF
both the Panama and Cicaragua routes, the
testimony of the engineers of the isthmian
commission is greatly in favor of the con-
struction of a canal by the former route
On the point of possibility OF destruction or
damage to the locks or dams of the canal
from volcanic eruptionS or from earth
quakes the minority assert that the Nicar-
aqua route is directly in line with numerous
volcanoes more or less active which in the
past have wrought great destruction to the
surrounding country; that the entire coun-
try through which the Nicaragua canal
route runs has been frequently disrupted
by violent earthquakes, while the Panama
route has no volcanoes. extinct or otherwise,
nearer than 200 miles, and that the official
record of seismic disturbances in the last
two years is about one-tenth in number of
those reported in the vicinNy of the Nicar-
aqua route and practically nothing in point
of intensity Of those felt at the latter place.
Panama Route Superior.
The minority also claims, after
very complete research Of the Off
cial reports and testimony of the
members of the isthmian commits
sion, as we'll as other sources, that for
the purposes of pra ctical use and naviga-
ton the Panama canal route is in every
way superior to the Nicaragua route. They
claim this particularly in respect of the
time of passage of the two canals. The mi
nr;t, y,ni,, out hot ha na1
by reason of its short length, permits of the
passage of a vessel entirely during twelve
hours of daylight, while the Nicaragua
route. by reason of its great length, would
necessitate a vessel using up fifty seven
hours, or two days and a half, in passing
through it. While the report Of the 18TH
man commission states that thirty-three
hours will be required to pass through the
Nicaragua canal the minority shows that
the thirty-three hours means continuous
steaming aud that the commission in its
plans has made no provision whatever for
vessels to proceed by night via the N!carau-
qua route; therefore, the actual time re-
qured for the passage of the Nicaragua
canal must be based on vessel proceeding
for twelve hours Of daylight tieing up at
night, then twelve hours the next day,
again tieing up at night, and making the
rest Of the passage in nine hours the
third day. making a total OF fifty seven
hours.
They point out, therefore. that in actual
shortest, safest and cheapest route between
Atlantic and Pacific ports.
Right of Way in Nicaragua.
Another statement made by the minority
is that the way is by no means clear for
the United States to obtain a right of way
through Nicaragua. They claim that from
testimony had before the committee on in
teroceanic canals that several companies
lay claim, by reason of concessions from
Nicaragua, direct purchases of land for
cash and by other conveyances, to the right
of way for an interoceanic canal, and that
the officers and stockholders of the several
companies have stated under oath to the
committee that they expect to be paid in
full for all their rights by the United States.
Also that a similar condition of affairs ex-
lists in Costa Rica, and that by reason OF
these claims tedious and expensive litiga-
ti9n ts bound 10 resmlt before the United
States can become possessed of clear title
to the right of way for a canal with a
probability sof having to satisfy at leas:
some Of these claims to the extent Of mil
lions of dollars.
In respect of the legal questions and titles
concerning the Panama canal, the minority
expresses itself as being fully satisfied that
United States a perfect title to all of it's
property without delay or litigation of any
kind, and that it has the full necessary con-
sent from Colombia as to the transfer of
its concessions, and that the government Of
Colombia Is faithfully and heartily CO.
operating with the Panama Canal Com
pany in it's proposition to sell it's rights ard