The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-09
QUESTION MAY Be LEFT
| To THE PRESIDENT
Nine Speakers Out of Fifteen Favored
the Morris Amendment, Which
Contains other Provision.
Debate Closes Today.

Washington, January 8.-The debate on
the Nicaragua canal bill In the house to-
day developed sentiment in favor of CIV
ing consideration to the recent offer of
the Panama company to sell its franchis-
es and property for SAC, ,00o 900. this senti-
ment taking the form of advocating the
Morris amendment to empower the Presi-
dent to select the latter route If the canal
commission, upon considering the COM
pany's offer recommends it and the re-
quired concessions can be obtained from
Colombia.
OF sixteen members who spoke today
nine favored the Morris am endment 1t
was agreed that general debate should
close tomorrow at 2 O'Clock after which
the bill will be open to amendment under
the five minute rule.
The final vote probably will be taken
tomorrow The speakers today were
Messrs. shackleford, Missouri; Parker.
New Jersey; Lowering Massachusetts;
Morris, Minnesota; Burton, Ohio; Hill,
Connecticut; Bromwell. Ohio; Gillett
Massachusetts and Littlefield, Maine, in
favor of the Morris amendment, and
Messrs. Burgess, Texas; Bell. Colorado;
Cooney. Missouri Cummings, New York!
Gibson, Tennessee, and Lacey Iowa, for
the bill in its present form.
shackelford Opened Debate.
The second day Of the debate was op-
ened by Mr.. Shaekelford of Missouri. a
| member of the committee which reported
/ the bill. He spoke earnestly In advocacy
OF It's passage
IF you favor this BILL" interposed Mr.
Barthoidt of Missouri, why Is it that
you and your Democratic colleagues from
Missouri at the last session voted against
similar billf"
Because" replied Mr.. Shackleford
'the bill at the last session as passed
through this House was to the tune OF
God Save the Queen want It passed
through to the sweet strains of Hail Co,
lumbia.' Democratic applause)
But the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was
not ratified at the last session." observed
Mr.. Bartholdt.
True 1t was not replied Mr.. Shack
elford, but our English secretary of state
wanted 1t ratified and because we be-
lieved the wishes of her majesty's repre-
sentative In the cabinet would prevail, we
opposed the bill.
Should Be Selected BY President.
the question of routes should be determ-
ined by the Executive. He made a COM
parison of the two routes, contending that
the Panama route had many advantages
over the Nicaragua route. He appealed
to the House not to fetter the President
by tieing him to single line of action.
Mr.. Morris Of Minnesota. who offered
the amendment yesterday to give the
President the alternative authority to Sc
4. Do. raa
mended by the commission after consid-
GRAFTON of the Panama Company's new
offer, said his amendment was not TO i'm
pede the construction of the canal, but
to insure the selection of the best canal
the best as to location, cost Of mainte-
nance and operation. durability and
freedom from danger from destruction. If
the bill was passed in the form In which
1t was reported the President could not
pany, and under 1t the President, by
treaty, might bind the United States to
construct the Nioaraguan canal, even
though we afterward became convinced
that the other was the better route.
Mr.. Cumming. New York, opposed fur
ther consideration of the Panama COM
pany's offer. The company wanted $40-
900, 900 for the work alseady done. which
covered about one-fourth of the canal.
The completed one-fourth had cost the
French stockholders $240. 900. At the
same rate it would cost the United States
s72o0O0.000 to complete the canal
Mr.. Gillet, Massachusetts,, believed the
new offer of the Panama company should
receive due consideration.
Mr. Littleheld, Maine, announced that
he would support the amendment
After some further remarks in favor of
the bill by Mr.. Corliss. Michigan. and
Mr.. Gibson, Tennessee and Mr.. Lacey.
Iowa, 1t was agreed that general debate
on the bill close tomorrow at o'clock.
At 4:5o p. m. the house adjourned.