Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-25
CONFEREES ARE AGREED
Conference On the Isthmian
Canal.
FOR THE SENATE BILL
RESULT OF THE TWO DISCUSSIONS
TODAY
Senator Morgan Advised Acceptance of
the Spooner Substitute - Taken
as Indicating Final Result.

The conference on the isthmian canal bill
was resumed at 1890 o'clock this morning
| with indications of a much Speedier deter
minatiOn than had been expected The pre-
| vious discussion disclosed that the Senate
| conferees were not only insisting on the
| Spooner amendment, but were insisting on
| its literal acceptance word for word as 1t
| passed the Senate, holding that the points
| as to phraseology raised by House confer
| ees were purely technical and likely to
| complicate the situation. So the House
| conferees went into today's conference feel
! ing that the issue had about resolved itself
! into an acceptance of the Senate Panama
| amendment as it stood. if it was to be ac-
| cepted at all.
Outside of the conferees the understand
| ing among the House leaders was that the
| issue was so well advanced that it might
| come before the House soon as the Phil
| ippine bill was disposed of, and Speaker
Henderson was considering the length of
! time that should be given on a motion to
| concur with the Senate. There had been
| some talk of allowing a day for debate. but
| the prospects were that much less time
would suffice.
Effect of the Conference.
After a session of an hour and half
the cOnltTGeS duJOuTIGu uilll = u NlONh iIc
| meeting was again devoted to exchange
OF views with each side contending strong
ly for the maintenance of its own bill. Rep
resentative Hepburn of the House conferees
spoke especially for the Nicaragua bill and
Senator's Hanna and Kittridge for the
SDoOner amendment.
The morning conference was practically
conclusive in establishing that the Send.e
Panama amendment would be agreed to just
as framed, and the House cOnferees went
back to the House and reported to Their as
sGciates that such an agreement would be
i made, probably this afternoon Representa-
tive Hepburn made strong effort to secure
amendment to the Senate provision.
One of his propositions was to give the
President larger discretionary power. al
lowing him to pass upon merits as well as
upon titles of route Another was to limit
the time within which the title of the Pan
ANA route was to be perfected. These ef-
forts were not successful, however, and
the issue was brought down to accepting
! the Senate amendment just it is. The
Erecess then was taken, the House confer
ees expecting to return and favor an agree
ment.
Senator Morgan for Senate Bill.
1t was stated in the House about noon
that Senator Morgan had sent word to the
Alabama delegation in Congress that it
was advisable to accept the Senate Panama
substitute just as it stands. On inquiry this
proved to be correct and the fact that the
| foremost supporter of the Nicaragua route
advised agreeing to the senate amendment
was considered as conclusively Indicating
the final results Mr.. Morgan's views were
| communicated to one of the Alabama men,
| bers, and, by request, were made known
to all the members of the delegation.
Believes Nicaragua Will Finally Be
Chosen.
Several members of the House hastened
! over to inquire personally of Senator Nor
gan as to his position and were advised by
| him that he favored an acceptance of the
Panama amendment.
| 1t was stated in explanation of the sena-
| tors change of position that he considered
the Senate amendment as insuring the
prospect or canal of some kind; moreover
he believes that the negotiations for the
title to the Panama route will fail, so that
ultimately the Nicaragua route will have
to be selected under the act.
Agreement of Conferees.
| When the conferees were about TO meet
| this afternoon Chairman Hepburn of the
House committee said he expected an
agreement in very short time
The conference closed at 2:35 O'clock The
House conferees decided to accept the SEN
ate bill in favor Of the Panama route.
The House conferees had desired some
" the SpOOHST substitute fOr
the Hepburn bill, but it was urged that any
amendments would throw the entire matter
open to debate and jeopardize legislation at
this session of Congress. This was the all
important argument which prevented any
change being made, and which influenced
the conferees to agree upon the passage of
the Senate bill
1t is confidently expected that the Senate
bill will be passed by the House of Repre-
sentativeS without great delay and that this
will prevent the matter from again being
discussed in the Senate. Every one was
anxious to secure canal and the adoption
of the Senate bill 1t was believed, would ac-
complish this purpose.
Before the decision was reached Mr.. Hep
burn, on behalf of the House conferees en-
deavered to secure modification of the
Senate amendment limiting the President
to six months time within which the title
to the Panama route is to be perfected
When this failed Mr.. Hepburn made no
further opposition and the Senate amend
ment was concurred in exactly in the form
that 1t passed the Senate. 1t was arranged
that brief statement should be prepared
for presentation to the Senate and House
and the conferees separated, Mr.. Hepburn
! intending to submit the results to the
House this afternoon, in order that the
conference agreement might be ratified,
thus bringing to a final termination the leg
islation on this important project
GENERAL DEFICIENCY BILL.
The Senate Conm iftee Paoor,