The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-18
THE CANAL
BAT TIE
'ItOpens All Along
Congressional
Line.
HANNA Is FOR
DARIEN ROUTE
Mr.. Hepburn Makes Strong Plea
for Nicaragua-The Panama
Offer RidicuIed.

aqua canal was discussed today by Mr..
Hepburn, chairman of Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Committee, which
| reported the bill. For two hours he
held the floor, replying to a volley Of
questions concerning the recent offer
of the Panama Canal Company to sell
its property and franchises to the Unit
ed States for 100000 900. The interest in
the debate centered almost entirely in
this new phase of the subject.
| Hepburn maintained that the alleged
new offer of the Panama company was
| part of the plan of delay. All his ut
| terances along that line were literally
applauded. He pointed out what he
| claimed was the suspicious circum-
| stance that the Panama company held
out for 109,000,000 until it was decided
| before the holiday recess to consider
the Nicaragua bill, and then suddenly
dropped the price to s4O.0O0,00O.
Morris of Minnesota gave notice that
at the proper time he would offer an
amendment to authorize the President,
If he could procure the property and
rights of the Panama Canal Company
for $40, 900, 900 if concessions could be
procured from Colombia, and if the
Walker Commissions so recommended,
to purchase and proceed to complete
the Panama canal. The other speakers
today were Messrs. David of Florida,
Richardson of Alabama, Mann of Illi-
nois and Adams of Pennsylvania.
HANNA FOR DARIEN.
ton to the Nicaragua canal, which has
been so quiescent as to delude many
people into believing that it did not ex-
list. made itself apparent today with a
vengeance. 1t is plain from the talk
of such Senators as Hanna, Scott and
Platt of Connecticut that the Senate
Will hold up the Hepburn bill and give
the Panama people all the opportunity
they want to bring in propositions.
Some Senator'S are outspoken in saying
that there viii be no Nicaragua canal
legislation at this session. Other are
coming out in favor Of Panama. Canal
matters are rapidly reaching a point
where Nicaragua must carry all oppo-
sitiOn before it or be defeated.
While Hepburn was making his
speech in the House today, Senator
Hanna, surrounded by a number of
Senators and newspapermen, talked at
length in the Senate chamber, the Sen
ate having adjourned. His remarks
were evidently intended to reach the
public, and may therefore be taken as
an Indication of the policy to be pur
sued by some anti-Nicaraguan Sena- /
tors. Hanna talked for an hour, drew |
and revealed astonishing ia |
with canal matters. Incident !
ally he used severe language against |
Senator Morgan, declaring him to be so I
bound up in Nicaragua as to be unfit /
to be chairman of the Canal Commit |
tee. He also scored the Canal Commits
sion and declared that its estimates |
we're guesswork. His own inclinations, |
he said, were toward the little known
Darien route.
Hanna said: Mr.. Morgan says he
would not consider an offer by the Pan
anna people to give their work to this
for nothing. Now say that is
The best of evidence that Morgan is not
to be chairman of that COM
nittee. This canal scheme is a bust
ness proposition. Tt ought to be looked
1t IN a business way. am in favor of
al plans and all offers.
II have been looking into this canal /
proposition pretty carefully. [ spent
my time when I had the grip reading
he report Of the Walker Commission
have talked with Admiral Walker
and Engineer Ernest. and they tell me
hat the Nicaragua scheme is largely
guess work. These estimates are hard
y more than guesses. In that great
norass up at Greytown they do NOT
snow what they win find. And then
here is the tremendous cost of MAIN
enance, which. according to the Com
MISSIONS report. viii amount to the
interest on $+0,000,009. All these things
should be carefully considered.
Il should like 10 see the Darien route
oolled into and a report made on it
2ut it isn't safe, even to mention any
UGH thing now. It would not be safe
or any of you newspaper men to 50
md print 4 story about the Dariea
cute. They would say the railroads
lad got you, or that the Panama lobby
lad got You, or that Hanna had been
liked BY the railroad interests. So i
souIdn't say q word
However, I do believe the question
II q route ought to be left 70 the Eresf-
lent, acting with the advice OF 4 COM
mission Of competent engineers 1 be-
ieve all routes and all propositions I!
hould be considered. The question /,
hould be determined for the best in
erests of the whole country I suspect
Brother Morgan likes the Nicaraeual !
QUITE best because it IS $50 miles snort
: from New York via Mobile, but in
ommerce from New York 20 the ports {