New-York tribune., 1902-04-18
MORGAN'S CANAL VIEWS.
THE ALABAMA SENATOR SPEAKS IN
ADVOCACY OF THE NICARAGUA
ROUTE
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.1

Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE.I
washington April 17.-Athough seventy-eisht
years old Senator Morgan of Alabama stood on
his feet nearly Eve hours this afternoon without
tnterruption rest of any kind while delivering
the longest speech he has made the 18th
rnian canal question. In doing so he consumed
virtually the entire session of the Senate to-day
for what specific purpose is not yet apparent vi
course he spoke in advocacy OF the Nicaragua
route though what extent he advanced the par
uamentary situation Of the Canal bill nobody
seems TO know The bills place on the calendar
has not yet been reached, and therefore II Is not
subject to debate. but, apropos OF nothing IN par
ticular the veteran Alabama Senator gave notice
two or three days ago after the transaction or
morning business on this date he would submit a
few remarks to the Senate on the Nicaragua Canai
BILL His few remarks consisted of about thirty
thousand words, a great deal OF which Is testimony
given before the Interoceanic Canal Committee or
which ne is chairman, by civil engineers and mem
bers of the Isthmian Canal Commission. His few
remarks" will double the size of THE Congress
sionaI Record tomorrow. and 1t is thought 10 De
his intention to order many hundreds OF thousands
of extra copies of THE Record containing MS
sneech and scatter them broadcast over the coun-
try as a campaign document for the Nicaragua
route. Ambassador Cambon. of France, and NJ
IIampre, secretary general of the Panama Canal
Company, occupied seats in the diplomatic gallery
during the delivery of the greater part OF the
speech and listened with marked attention AT
times there were not more than four Senators IN
their seats and Mr.. Frye called Senator Hettfeld.
of Idaho to the chair soon after Mr.. Morgan began
to speak and kept him there until nearly the close
of the speech. The whole Senate is wondering
what Senator Morgan's object IN devoting so
much time and effort to to-day's performance
Mr. Morgan assumed. in beginning his speech.
that the Senate convinced of the indispensable
character of canal-that it a national neces-
sity-and that it only choice of methods and
a comparison Of national advantages which was
left decide, "all questions Of financial ability or
private interests, of political bias. having been
reegated to the by command of a free. honest
and powerful people 1t is 10 reach the logical
results that should follow the actual merits of the
claim either canal in deciding the prefer
that will try to present an outline of the
questions that now require discussion He con-
tinued:
The subject presents itself to my mind with
conclusive force in the form stated in the six
propositions will now state:
First-We have reached the point where inves-
tigation is complete by observation experience.
scientific research and forecast and these means
of knowledge are as conclusive of the facts as we
could hope to make them in another half century
second-The question to be decided is the
choice of either of two routes for canal: whether
ley of the San Juan River. in Nicaragua ana costa
Third-The controlling factor in making this Sc
is the assurance of success in constructing
canal that will be permanently useful for com,
merce and for the needs of the government and
its policies. and for the benefit OF the people Oh
FourIh~A sum of money necessary for expendi,
the work of constructing SuCn a CdIldI "
accomplish such ends cannot be reasonably com
pared with the real value Of the results 20 tne
and the choice of either route, with safe, intei-
gent and sincere regard to its permanent nsdiu M
affected by difference in the present cost OF co
struction, 1 will say, within limit OF even S"
Fifth-The assured certainty of success in the
construction of permanent canal Is Of necessity
the basic found alton fact upon which Congress
must act in the selection OF the eaa y e0eeriDg
there is no doubt-not even a shadow on dou2l
s ssip 10 cana from rom GreytoWn to Brto in and along
the San Juan River and across Lake Nicarasqa la
cost is nearly within the limits of exact esti-
undertaken 1t is upon this ascertained and settled
basis of certainty that | rest my Judgment
route should fail for cause, the only hope OF Of
cana! across that sthmus W9uq f pfTSh s ac The
failure of a dam at Conchuda or Boca San carlos
ST Site 't on the San Juan RiveT would only the
loss Of that structure to be TepaSsq on
These chances are at least ten to one. and II the
@ Is S 86b it %od %9y az eP the bodest gambler
in futures from risking the possible loss OF more
could not exceed $600O0oo But the loss of dam
Bohio could not ssfas be Less IS caab 5hsB 70 s nothing
of the lives wasted in the work. the insalcula6ie
loss to our commerce and the national shame anu
despair that our people would suller
Discussing the proposed routes of the canal and
the decision of the Walker commission, Mr. Nor
gan said;
No member of either of the three commissions nus IONS
expressed a doubt apprehension as 70 the ceI ~,
tainty of the successful completion OF canat on on
he Sica rarIla route either OF nve pIanS Inee
have been adopted surveyed and located 9g ne
preatest engineers in America The leaSlollLs'
6racticability usefulness. permanence and SOM SOM
TnarcfaI value of the Panama Canal 10 the Ciii'eu
states are all cIouded with many DOUBTS
0Da dut1. that the government owes 70 huHldtIlE
rhich rises above all other personal consldere<
tIorsNin the choice of these routes Is the care oI
tba health and lives of men whose labor Is the
real nower that must open this great waterway.
II fs n nolitical situation of great moment, anu
it is a cause of sincere qualification TO the three
ran,1bics concerned in this canal that their m
terests are unified and not discordant. as the IN
terests Of the State of Panama are toward those
of Colombia
Referring to the position taken by the advocates
or the Panama route Mr.. Morgan said:
No more reckless attitude was ever taken
With reference TO an economic question. or Win
Isss benevolence reason justice TO support IT,
Mr. Morgan maintained that the lsthman Canai
Commission had no authority to accept an orer
of The Panama Canal Company. and thae the so.e
S,,t,t Of the President to determine the route
~ ToJ,Id recommend Congress. 1t rested entlre
ne ne ,,;tb CONGRESS he said whether not 1t shod
accent the .'gIittering temptation In the way OF
bargain offered by the Panama company