Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-06-06

to discuss the measure. After the
passage Of the Philippine bill the Mic.
aragua canal bill was made the un.
finished business and It's considera.
ton will begin tomorrow.
House-The house today adopted
the conference report upon the river
and harbor bill. The bill goes now
to the president. The house then be.
gan consideration OF the anti-anarchy
bill. The hourse committee reported
substitute for the senate measure.
Ray, of New York, chairman of the
judiciary committee, who is in charge
of the bill, explained the difference
between the senate bill and the house
substitute. The purpose of the house
bill was to protect the president. vice
president and those Ia the line Of the
presidential succession, and also to
prevent the entry into the United
States or the naturalization Of persons
who preach anarchy or forcible de-
struction Of governments. The i'm.
perative reason for the passage of the
bill was the non-uniformity of state
laws for the punishment of homicide.
The senate bill. Ray commended, was
unconstitutional because it provided
the death penalty for killing th> presi-
dent. the vice-president and the cabi-
net officers in line Of succession, with
out regard to whether at the time
they were engaged in the performance
Of their official duties.
Washington. June 4.-Senate.-Dis-
cussion of the project of constructing
an isthmian canal was begun by the
senate today. Morgan. of Alabama.
chairman of the committee on inter
oceanic canals, opened the debate,
speaking nearly three hours. A con.
siderable portion of his speech was
devoted to an examination of recent
ly reported danger to the NicaragUan
canal route by seismic disturbances.
This danger. he concluded, after a
careful review of many authorities.
existed only in the imagination of
those who desired to defeat any canal
project. His study of the situation
had convinced him that really there
was no greater damage from volcano
and earthquake disturbances to the
Panama route than to the Nicaragua
route, but he was satisfied that little
danger to either was to be anticipat-
ed. Morgan also reviewed at length
the political conditions in Columbia.
finding in them a grave of menace TO
the United States in the construction
of canal by the Panama route. He
presented. also, the present phases OF
the diplomatic negotiations looking to
the building of canal by both the
Nicaragua route and by the Panama
route. He closed with strong appeal
for the passage OF the Nicaragua bill.
The bill authorizing the promotion and
retirement of the present senior ma
jor of the army. Major General John
r. Brooke. was passed. A bill was
also passed providing that the post
master general may extend free deliv-
cry to cities of 5000 inhabitants or
30 900 gross income. instead of 10000
inhabitants as at present.
House-The debate on the anti
anarchy bill continued all day in the
house 1t was without sensational
features. being confined almost entire
ly to the legal and constitutional
phases of the question.
Washington, June 5.-In further
consideration of the isthmian canal
project. the senate heard today two
speeches. neither of which was COM
pleted Mr.. Hanna of Ohio, spoke in
favor of the Spooner amendment, con-
ferring on the president authority to
purchase the rights of the Panama
Canal company, if valid title could
be obtained, otherwise he shall decide
upon the Nicaragua route. Mitchell
supported the Hepburn bill for the
consideration of the canal by the Mic
aragua route. Seldom has senator
been accorded more attentive hear
ing than that given Hanna. The
Panama route he considered much to
be preferred to the Nicaragua route,
as it provided an interoceanic water
way much shorter and one that could
be traversed at less expense than the
Nicaragua route. He maintained that
the United States was to build the
canal to accommodate the commerce
of the world, and said that fact must
be taken into account.
Mitchell urged that unless the Mic
aragua route was determined upon
definitely by congress, it would mean
the indefinite postponement and per-
haps the ultimate defeat of any canal
legislation. He insisted that the Mic
aragua route was entirely feasible
and practicable. while the Panama
route involved difficulties which were
scarcely to be surmounted.
House-The general debate on the
anti-anarchy bill was ended today eX.
capt for two speeches. which will be
made tomorrow. Mr.. Littlefield. CT
Maine, will make the closing argu-
ment in support of the measure. The
debate today, like that OF yesterday.
was devoted to legal arguments. the
speakers today being Sibley of Penn
sylvania. DeArmond of Missouri. Will
liams of Mississippi. Wooten of Texas,
McDermott of New Jersey. Loud of
California. Crumpacker of Indiana.
Maddox of Georgia. Ball of Texas,