The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-01-10
CHOOSE CANAL ROUTE.
Belief That Congress Should
Allow President to Select.
SHOULD BE FREE TO BUY PANAMA

Senators In q Scramble For Good
Committee Places - The President
Knew His Record-District OF CO.
lumbia's Changed Divorce Laws.
WASHINGTON, Jan. t. Especial. j
There is a growing impression about
congress that the selection Of the 18TH
milan canal route should be left to the
president. That this congress will au-
thorize a canal there seems not to be
the least doubt. Unless there Is very
careful consideration the Nicaragua
route will be chosen, but there Is a
growing impression that there should
be no fast and hard decision made by
congress for either route, but that dis
erection should be lodged with the pres
ident to take the most desirable course
when all the facts are laid before him.
If he has this discretion, it is argued,
he can negotiate for the Panama route
and bring the Panama company to
terms, because he could choose the Nj
caragua route if he could not make
satisfactory terms with the Panama
company. 1t also seems desirable by
some to have discretion given the pres
ident to decide between a sea level ca
nal and a canal with locks. AS the
probability cf canal being construct
ed becomes more certain there Is de-
mand by many commercial interests
for a sea level canal. l have heard a
number Of prominent senators say that
they would rather vote $100,O0O,0OO
more for sea level canal than one
with locks.
Serious Consideration.
The serious consideration which the
canal question now receives from pub
lie men shows that they realize that
1t Is no longer a sentimental theory,
but the absolute fact they are now
facing. 1t is not the old dream OF
northwest passage" to be found
somewhere and In the distant future,
but the actual reality of waterway
connecting the oceans that is now be-
fore us. 1t is this realization which
causes all men in responsible positions
to give the matter that attention which
great undertaking demands. There
is a sincere desire TO secure the best
that can be obtained for the money.
Millions are to be expended by the
United States, and while there are
probabilities of waste and extrava-
gance where such vast sums are used,
there is q determination among those
who are responsible for voting this
money to secure the very best results
for the outlay. While 1t is possible
that in the end the Nicaragua route
may be selected outright by congress,
there is q growing sentiment in favor
of leaving the selection to the discre-
ton of the president and the men des-
ignated to carry on negotiations.
Good Committee Places.
There is quite a scramble for the
good committee places which are made
vacant by the death Of Senator Sewell,
something like the scramble among
New Jerseymen for his vacant seat in
who will say that attempts to secure
such vacancies caused by death are
unseemly, yet it is the men who hustle
that get there, whether they are after
dead mems shoes or the positions held
by living ones. Now, to me it seems
that it. is more unseemly to seek
place held by live man who does not
want to give it up than to seek the
place as soon as mans death makes
it vacant. You can't injure the dead
man, but you can the living man.
Knew His Record.
A politician who wanted q colored
man appointed to some office took the
applicant up to the White House the
other day and introduced him. Now,
this particular colored man had actu-
ally served a sentence in Jail under a
conviction of libel and it transpired
that he was known to the president.
II have heard of you, Mr.. -" said
he, taking the man by the hand and
steering him across the room. Eyes, L
know you quite well. l am familiar
with your record" and, as he gently
moved him to the door, he added,
"your Jail record" That particular
colored man will not be appointed dur
ing this administration.
District Divorce Law.
During the closing days Of the last
congress a codification of the laws Of
the District of Columbia was passed.
Just as the bill was about to pass the
senate Senator Wellington of Mary
land offered an amendment, which was
hurriedIy adopted, which changed the
divorce laws Of the District. No di-
vorce can now be obtained save on the
ground of infdelity. Wife beating,
drunkenness and nonsupport are no
longer valid. The result was that the
month before the old law expired hun
dreds of divorce cases were filed I'm
order to take advantage Of the former
law.
A Young Financier.
For young man Representative
Overstreet of Indiana has acquired
prominent place as a financial legis-
lator. He is not chairman Of any
Of the house committees dealing with
fiuonoa hut ha Ia a mamhar of tho