Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-18
MR. SPOONER HEARD
- "
Presents Substitute for the
Canal Bill.
M R. HANNA CLOSES
MIR. JONES ADVOCATES PANAMA
ROUTE.
Mr.. Carmack Discusses Dismissal Of
Miss Taylor-General Deficiency
Bill in the House.
MR.. HANNA CLOSES


resolution providing that the conference
committee the sundry civil appropriation
bill be authorized TO consider and recon-
mend the inclusion of necessary appropria-
tons To carry out the several objects au
thorized In the omnibus public buildings
bill. and it was agreed to.
"A bill 10 restore to the active list of the
navy Surgeon John Walton Ross as medi-
cal director was passed
Miss Taylor's Dismissal.
a resolution offered several days ago by
MI Carmack directing the civil service
committee u inquire into the discharge
from the War Department of Miss Rebecca
:. Taylor Gor the publication Of articles in
newspapers criticising the PresidenD was
called up and Mr.. Carmack addressed the
Senate in support of the resolution. He
maintained that the requirements OF the
civil service law had been flagrantly violat-
ed III This case, lnasmUch as, he said. Miss
Taylor had had no charges preferred
against her had she been afforded OPP
pvrtunity u make answer to any charges.
He maintained that letter :nquirIug
whether Miss Taylor was the author of a
certain newspaper article and her adnlS-
sion that she had written the article did not
constitute charge against her within the
meaning of the civil service law. He init
mated that she was discharged because
she took the wrong side of the Philippine
question from the administration point of
view"
Mr.. Jones for Panama Route.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Carmack's
marks the isthmian canal question was laid
before the Senate. Mr.. Jones (Ark) be-
IIeved it 70 be the duty of every senator to
vote for the canal at the best location. Per-
sonally. he said he would not vote for any
proposition that would impede the progress
of the canals construction. He was not
willing 70 brush aside the unanimous report
OF the lSthmian commission in favor of the
Panama route. unless it be for substantial
reasons. He favored the Panama route but
would not vote for 1t If there any
doubt Of the good faith of the offer.
He desired Mr.. Spooner. who was about
to address the Senate. to explain away the
Charge that the purpose of adopting the
Panama route was to have no canal at all.
Mr.. Spooner's Speech.
IN beginning his speech in support of his
own proposition. Mr.. Spooner said the con-
struction Of an isthmian canal was colos-
sal enterprise and one which, he believed,
the American people with notably little divi-
sion OF sentiment desired should be inaugu-
rated and carried forward
No higher or more solemn duty ever rest
ed upon men in public life than to deter
mine this question rightly.
MIR. Spooner eulOgtzed the isthmian canal
commission. declaring that nobody would
attempt 10 impeach its integrity ability "
engineering skill. The problem. he said.
was one Of infinite Engineering cornpIica-
tons. and all knew what the object of ap-
pointing the commission was To afford Con-
GresS the data and the expert opinion
which would enable II TO proceed conserva-
lively and wisely He declared that the
eyes of the American people had not been
focused simply upon the. Nicaragua route.
They took large view Of the subject.
FCou the time the commission was appoine-
" ed II had not been a question of a canal (as
a a
route.
In response to interruption by Mr.
Morgan. rejecting upon the action of the
isthmla1 canal commission in reporting in
favor of the Panama route, Mr.. Spooner
declared that the recommendations in both
reports of the commission were entirely
consistent"
While the Wisconsin senator was point
Ing out some OF the advantages of the
Panama route. as indicated by the commits
sion. MIR. Morgan interjected the remark
that he was prepared to cOntrovert them
i have no doubt. retorted Mr.. Spooner
that the senator Is prepared to controvert
anything that may be said in favor of the
Panama route"
Referring to the action of the commission
In recommending the Panama route Mr.
Spooner declared that the commission dealt
with the subject the second time tn view
of the fundamental change of conditions
the lowering Of the price of the Panama
property from s109.OOo,OOO to s4OOOOOOO
gested Mr. Morgan.
Yes, IT was the only change" replied
Mr Spooner The Panama property was
still the same property and the Panama
route>was still the same route The advan-
tases of the one over the other still remain
the same.
Compliment to Mr.. Morgan.
Personally. Mr.. Spooner said he could
not disregard the report of the commission
and follow the Judgment of senator CMr
Morgan He paid a cordial tribute to the
energy. ability and earnestness with which
Mr.. Morgan had advocated an isthmian
canal and added that Mr.. Morgan's name
would stand in history as the father of the
canal
Mr.. Morgan said he bowed his acknowl-
edgments for the beautiful compliment b1It
he was not depending upon his own judg-
ment In the matter.
Mr.. Spooner suggested that a matter of
Infinite consequence TO his mind was the
diference In the length of the two routes
lone 10 miles and the other 1S3 miles long
The shorter canal-the Panama-he Thought
was the better He commended that the
Panama canal could be operated much
more cheaply than the Nicaragua canal
and that In it's operation. sailing ships
not only would not be barred. as had been
suggested. but could pass through the canal
with tug in one day.
Mr.. Spooner's Substitute.
In presenting his substitute Mr. Spooner
said it was his purpose to place before
the Senate a bill based upon the commits
sion's report: First. that the Panama canal
was practicable: second, that the Nicaragua
canal was feasible and practicable. and.
third. that the Panama route was the bet
ter for the United States
Mr. Aldrich GRID inquired whether Mr..
spooner construed his amendment to pro-
vide that the President could expend no
money for the canal until a treaty with
the Colombian government had been nego-
tlated and ratified by the Senate
II do replied Mr. Spooner IT do not
understand that treaty can be ANYTHING
more than mere proposition until fl Is
submitted to and ratified by the Senate"
AT some length the Wisconsin senator dis
cussed the legal status of the Panama ca
hai property He engaged in a spirited COL
ioquy with Mr.. Mitchell (Ore) over some
phases OF the subject. the latter finally de-
caring; IL VIII be ten years before a good
tanned" w
The senator frightens me-" said Mr..
SpoOner- U4aughter)
Continuing. he said: ''Of course the title