The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-01-21
THE CANAL
BAT TIE
kOpens All Along
Congressional
Line.

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 $4O,0oO,oO0. 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 We're literally
applauded. He pointed out what he
claimed was the suspicious circum-
stance that the Panama company held
out for $109, 900, 900 until 1t was decided
before the holiday recess to consider
the Nicaragua bill. and then suddenly
dropped the price to s40,00O,000.
Morris of Minnesota gave notice that
at the proper time he would offer an
amendment to authorize the President,
II he could procure the property and
rights of the Panama Canal Company
for 100000 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 Hi
nois and Adams of Pennsylvania.
HANNA FOR DARIEN.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE opposi-
ton to the Nicaragua canal, which has
been so quiescent as to delude many
people into believing that IL did not eN-
list, made itself apparent today with a
vengeance. 1t is plain from the talk
of such Senators as Hanna, Scott and
PIatt 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 Senators are outspoken in saying
that there will be no Nicaragua canal
legislation at this session. Other are
coming out in favor of Panama. Canal
matters are rapidly reaching point
where Nicaragua must carry all oppo-
siticn before it or he defeated.
While Hepburn was making his
speech in the House today, Senator
Hanna. surrounded by number OF
Senators and ewspapermen, 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
diagrams. and revealed astonishing Ia
miliarity with canal matters. Incident
ally he used severe language against
Senator Morgan, declaring him to be so
TO be chairman of the Canal Commit
tee. He also scored the Canal Commits
sion and declared that its estimates
were guesswork. His own inclinations.
ne said, were toward the little known
Darien route.
Hanna said, "Mr. Morgan says he
would rot consider an offer by the Pan
anna people to give their work to this
country for nothing. Now say that Is
the best of evidence that Morgan Is not
competent to be chairman of that COM
mittee. This canal scheme is bust
ness proposition. 1t ought to be looked
at in business way. I am in favor of
considering all plans and all offers.
II have been looking into this canal
proposition pretty carefully. I spent
my time when I had the grip reading
the report of the Walker Commission.
I have talked with Admiral Walker
and Engineer. Ernest. and they tell me
that the Nicaragua scheme is largely
guess work. These estimates are hard
" more than guesses. In that great
morass up at Greytown they do not
know what they will find. And then
there is the tremendous cost of main
tenance, which. according to the Com
missions report, will amount to the
interest on s4O.00000O. All these things
should be carefully considered.
81 should like to see the Darien route
looked into and a report made on 1t
after a moreS thorough investigation.
But II isn't safe even to mention any
such thing now. 1t would not be safe
fer any of You newspaper men to go
and print story about the Darien
route. They would say the railroads
had got you. or that the Panama lobby
had got you, or that Hanna had been
fixed by the railroad interests. So
wouldn't say Il word.
However, ! do believe the question
Of a route ought to be left to the Presi-
dent acting with the advice Of a COM
mission of competent engineers. / be-
lieve all routes and all propositions
should be considered. The question
should be determined for the best in
terests of the whole country. I suspect
Brother Morgan likes the Nicaraguan
route best because II is $50 miles short
er from New York via Mobile. but in
commerce from New York to the ports
of South America the Panama canal Is
shorter, and that commerce must have
it's consideration. l do not intend to
act precipitately. and there are a good
many other Senator's who feel the same
way. The question Of route must be
determined after full consideration,
and 1t will be much better to leave its
determination to the President"
Senator Scott of West Virginia list
ened to Hanna's talk and gave his cor
dial and frequent assent. Senator Plat
Of Connecticut said he was willing to
follow the lead of Hanna. Senator
Spooner listened and seemed to APP
prove, but refrained from committing
imself. Senator Teller of Colorado
heard much of the argument and
seemed impressed.
SECOND DAYS DEBATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. s.-The second
day of the debate in the House of the
Nicaragua canal bill was opened by Mr..
Shackleford OF Missouri. a member of
the committee which reported the bill.
He spoke earnestly in advocacy of its
passage. He believed that the Eads Te-
huantepec route was preferable to any
which had been proposed, but he did not
think the present n time for cavil. He