Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-05
57TH CONGRESS.
Senator Morgan Opens Debate
on the lsthmian Canal.
Makes Strong Appeal for Passage Of
the Nicaragua Bill.
House Continues Discussion of the An
ti.Anarctx Bill.

Washington, June 4.-DlScusSlOn VI
the project Of constructing an lsthmian
canal was begun by the Senate. today,
Morgan. Ala. chairman of the COM
mittee on inter-oceanic canals, opening
the debate. speaking nearly three hours.
A considerable portion of his speech
was devoted to an examination OF the
recently suggested danger to the Mic
araguan canal route Of seismic dis
turbances This danger he concluded,
after a careful review of many authori-
ties. existed only in the imagination of
those who desired to defeat any canal
project.
His study of the situation had con-
WINGED him that really there was great
er danger from volcanic and earth
quake disturbances to the Panama
route than to the Nicaragua route; but
he was satisfied that little danger to
either was to be anticipated.
Morgan review at length the political
conditions in Colombia, finding in them
grave menace to the United States III
the construction of canal by the Pa
mama route. He also presented the
present phases of the diplomatic nego-
tiations looking TO the building Of n
canal by both the Nicaragua route and
DN lllt
He closed with a strong appeal for
the passage of the Nicaragua bill
Soon after the Senate convened, a bill
providing for the promotion of the cir
culation of reading matter among the
blind by transporting such matter
through the mails free of charge was
reported by Elkns from the committee
on post offices and post roads. Con-
sideration of the bill was objected to
by Hale.
A bill providing for the transfer of
Lieut.. Jerome f. Morse of the navy
from the half pay list to the three
quarters pay list was passed.
Quay called up the bill authorizing
the retirement of the present major
general (senior) of the army, Maj. Gen.
John X. Brooke. and 1t was passed.
Platt. Conn, suggested that the COM
mittee on military affairs report to the
Senate a bill providing for a perma-
nent grade for the retirement of off,
GERS and Warren. Wyo., n member Of
the military committee, thought that
all officers who had served in the Civil
War ought to be permitted to retire
that one grade higher than they held
in the army.
bill providing that the postmaster
general may extend free delivery to
cities of 5000 inha bitants or $4,000 gross
income instead Of 10000 inhabitants,
az at present. was passed.
Money, Miss, questioned the accu
raey OF a statement made recently by
Hoar in his speech on the Philippine
bill on the origin of the Monroe doc
trine. Hoar stated that John Quincy
Adams was the father Of the doctrine.
Money contended that the doctrine was
the result Of consultations between
Canning. the British prime minister.
and Mr.. Rush. the American minister
to Great Britain.
AT the conclusion of routine business
consideration was begun of the Mill
tarv Academy appropriation bill. The
measure carries appropriations of 81
627 1924.
Bate. Tenn, member of the mill
tary affairs committee. protested
against the vast extent of the improve
ments proposed at West Point. aggre-
eating. he said. 81, 100000, the increase
provided by the Senate being about ST.
600 900. Without concluding the Mill
tary Academy bill the Senate. at
O'Clock. began consideration of the 18TH
milan canal bill.
Morgan. Ala, chairman Of the inter
oceanic canal committee opened the de-
bate in support of the Nicaragua route.
He referred to the latest argument
against the construction of the Near
aqua canal, the danger from earth
Guakes and volcanoes and said that the
canal bill had bee: covered by volcanic
SCOT and ashes as by funeral pail A
part of the report Of the minority on
the committee, he said, was so sombre
that he was surprised that the report
recommended the construction of any
canal at all.
Morgan said his committee did not
regard the danger from volcanoes or
earthquakes as either probable or Sc
Iious. either as to the Nicaraguan or
Panama route. After the volcanic ana
seismic disturbances Of recent months.
he was satisfied the danger to an 18th
mian canal had been lessened mater
tally.
Morgan declared that Nicaragua had
been free from seismic disturbances
during the recen. general disturbances,
but the region at South Panama canal
had been disturbed seriously by earth
uuakes He quoted Minister Merry as
saying that only enemies of any canal
used the volcano or earthquake argu-
ment against any canal route.
Morgan again referring TO the dis
turbances reported from Nicaragua
quoted Il letter from the minister oil
Nicaragua to this country calling at
tention to the fact that the reports
printed were untrue and that The AS
ISOLATED Press had reported nothing OF
the kind, but would have done so ha'
the stories been well founded. H.
maintained that all projects other thar
that of the Nicaragua route were beins
put forward in order to defeat any
canal legislation.
Morgan said the failure of the United
states to build the isthmian cana
would be an exhibition of moral weak
ness influenced either by powerful pri
vate interestes or by some convulsiol
of nature which appealed strongly Il
the Imagination.
Two minor measures were passed an'
after a brief executive session the Sen