New-York tribune., 1902-06-12
TO VOTE ON CANAL BILL
THE SENATE AGREES TO ACT ON
THURSDAY. JUNE 19-NfR. FAIRBANKS
FOR PANAMA ROUTE.
IEY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

Washington, June u.-Just before ad)ourh"eI'
to-day the Senate agreed to vote on the Nicaragua
Canal bill and all pending amendments on liN-S
day June l9 at 2 p m. Mr.. Fairbanks. of Indiana
continued the debate with an elaborate speech III
favor of the Panama route. The Indiana senator
argued broadly that the engineering commission
judgment should be followed by Congress. and ne
also discussed IN much detail the validity Oh tie
French companys proposed transfer OF utIe'
Mr.. Fairbanks said that his predictions anu
opinions founded on fragmentary and unsausiac'
tory information, had been entirely IN favor VI ''
Nicaragua route. But if weight was to oe el'ei.
to the opinion of impartial commissioners, men oi
experience and capacity the Nicaragua route must
he discarded and the Panama route chosen he
spoke of the greatness of the undertaklng-ohe
which, when completed, would vitalIy aHecl lie
commerce of the United States and OF the world
4 new highway was TO be established through
which a mighty commerce would pass IN me
centuries TO come. The United States ne sali'
does not underrate the magnitude OF the WORK
Her resources are entirely adequate she ASKS i'o
aid OF any power. and is ready 10 carry the e"1ei
prise to its consummation. and hold it perpetuaIly
for The commerce of the world ana on terms -
absolute equality.
He then discussed the steps leading up TO the
formation OF the Walker commission and its TWO
reports. the first favorable 10 Nicaragua ana le
second favoring Panama. after the Panama Cahal
Company had offered to sell its rights and properly
for SaoolGe The commission, he declared, mad
acted with entire consistency. and the reasons
which led to reconsider and change its recon-
rlendatons were absolutely sound and controlling.
If he said we had only 10 consider the relative
cost Of construction Of the canals there would
be a saving by the Panama route Of substantially
s. 500 coo The commission had disclosed singular
and important fact which should ne distinctly
81 500 od less a vet1r to ope-7te the Panama than
the Nicaragua route. This sum capitalized on the
basis OF the interest the national bonds eqiliNd-
lent TO per cent amounted to $G5G0O,O0. Add 10
this the amount saved In constrnction ana tnelF F
rnfal n he credit
S7G5O01oO. He declared that the all lIl!oI ~ ~!
question select the proper route. ana Ills IIs
must not be determined on considerations OF HIele
sentiment or faVoritSm- .,.,,.
senator Fairbanks discussed at considerable
length the question of title TO the property OF te
Panama Canal Company. He did not think thS
contention that il was impossible for the LhlIeu
states 10 secure an absolute title to the properly
wei founded but believed that the United states
could take the property free and clear OF al de
r7snds of stockholders and creditors and that II
IoI3Id not rest under ary legal equitable moral
obligation TO pay one dollar peLo ond the SfoHVc.VI
asked ny the canal COMPANY ne vle"s W oi tLe tile
poWer Of the company convey 4 good title 10 ile
United States perfectly sound ana conS'sttnt
with the practice Of the trench ana American
Discussing question of paying for the pro- pro-
posed canal senator falrnailh. S'It n s,r,;
rather the work paid for out OF the IreIisLi 3
as IL proceeds and without issuing solitary bono
but there were so many urgent ana IIoPsS' ~. 20 -
on the Treasury that he feared II coulq hot p
done without imposing an undue burden 1he
building of the canal should not he allowed 10
poetpone the many improvements necessary 10 ac
roraITodate the public business and TO impose a
burden which would make necessary ana lInpera-.
So considerable annual increase in current
+axee For these reasons the cost of the work
should be distributed over reasonable nunper pI
years bv the issue OF bonds, Sc that it might De
In closing Mr. Fairbanks combated the sugges,
tion that ihose who opposed the constructlon OF
te beIieving that its consideration will operate
ct least further to delay the enterprise