The Washington times., 1902-06-06
Makes a BusineSs-Like
Speech on the Proposed
American Canal.
SHOWS PRACTICAL SIDE
Senator Mitchell Takes Opposite View
From Ohioan-Says Failure to Pass 4
House Measure Would Cause Indef-
mite Postponement.

ine nicaragua Cdudi OIL was taken
up in the Senate again yesterday. and
two speeches were delivered. one by Mr.
Hanna against the Nicaraguan route,
and one by Mr.. Mitchell in its favor.
Both Senators are members of the SEN
ate Canal Committee. and each has
made a careful study of the subject from
his point of view.
Senator Hanna delivered the first
speech. He traced the progress of in
vention in meeting the demands for eco
nomic transportation. and referred to
the construction of the suez Canal by
De Lesseps.
Once Favored Nicaragua.
The report of the minority of the COM
mittee, he went on to say. had placed
before the Senate all the questions in
volved in the matter; and il he were to
have his choice, he would prefer, as a
matter of argument, to read that report.
Two years ago." Mr.. Hanna contin-
ued. II was in favor OF the Nicaragua
canal. but / have been forced by stub
born facts and conditions to change my
mind. In common with many others I
believed in a sea level canal, and had. a
year aga. favored the Darien PROPOSE
tion. which proposed a tunnel five or
six miles long. but half a dozen of the
finest engineers in the country report
ed adversely and | abandoned that idea.
The practical proposition was. If
canal were to be built. where should 1t
be built 1t was only recently that the
opportunity had come TO Congress to
consider other routes than the Mica
raguan. For many years the Nicaraguan
route had been talked about and writ
ten about. until 1t had become q senti-
ment, and until Il seemed to be the
only route across the isthmus."
Senator Hanna spoke of the selection
OF the Panama route by De Lesseps.
and asked whether it was not fair to
suppose that that famous man had con-
sidered every question connected with
it, Its unfortunate failure was not the
result of an error OF judgment.
Open to the World.
Fer what. Mr.. Hanna asked. was the
canal to be constructed? 1t was for the
passage of vessels from ocean to ocean
in the shortest possible time. and on the
NEST economical lines. That meant sue
cess. -' s
Ii was not to be forgotten that the
canal was to be q worlds canal. TO be
used for the commerce OF the world; so
that it would be necessary. in consider
ing its economic administration. 10 take
into account the business that would
be attracted to it. not only from the
United States. but from every maritime
nation in the world.
The Panama canal property had now
been offered 20 the United States for
$40, 600 600, the estimate which the
American commission had placed on 1t.
II the French company had. at first.
made that offer. the American commits
sion would have advised its acceptance.
and no other route would have been
suggested: but the president of that
company insisted on the price o. sl09.-
eco. doe. and therefore the commission
had reported adversely to the Panama
canal.
To establish this point. Mr.. Hanna
quoted from the testimony of Admiral
Walker. president OF the commission.
and other members OF it.
Gives Way to Senator Mitchell.
Senator Hanna did not inish his
speech. but gave way to Senator Mitch
ell. a member of the Canal Committee.
who favors the Nicaraguan route.
Senator Mitchell opened his speech oy
dwelling upon the universal demand Tor
such a waterway. 1T is demanded" he
said. by national and international
commerce; by internal and foreign
trade; by the necessities of our military
and naval service; by the spirit and
progress OF the time in which we live;
by the material and physical develop
ment Of a century stupendous in results.
and marked By achievements ineompar-.
able in character, and unqualified oy
that Of any that has preceded IL.
Failure on the part. Of the Senate to
pass the House Nicaragua canal Dill
will cause indefinite postponement OF
the project, he asserted. Dicksring with
the Panama people would lead only to
complications with the French govern
ment.
The Nicaraguan route was perfectly
feasible. The republics o. Nicaragua
and Costa Rica we're empowered by their
laws to transfer to the United States
any lands within their boundaries for
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