Gilpin observer., 1902-06-12
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS


Senator Clark of Wyoming has re-
ported from the public lands commit
tee bill to prevent discrimination in
the issuance of grazing permits in for
est reservations. The bill was designed
especially to relieve conditions exist
ing between Utah and Wyoming in re-
gard TO the Uintah reservation. The
secretary of the interior refuses to
grant grazing permits in Utah to the
herders of Wyoming. The herds of
Utah go into Wyoming during the win
ter to Craze without molestation. The
bill abolishes the rule that no grazing
permits shall be granted to stock
growers of another state and also pro-
vides that no wool growers union or
stock growers association shall desig-
nate the persons to be given permits
as has been the practice in the past.
Discussing the Isthmian canal in the
Senate Mr.. Morgan of Alabama,
chairman of the committee on inter-
oceanic canals, said his study of the
situation had convinced him that really
there was no greater danger from vol
canic and earthquake disturbances to
the Panama route than to the Near
aqua route, but he was satisfied that
little danger to either was to be anti
cipated. Mr.. Morgan reviewed at
length the political conditions in Co.
lombia, finding in them grave menace
to the United States in the construc-
ton of a canal by the Panama route.
He presented also the present phases
of the diplomatic negotiations looking
to the building of canal by both the
Nicaragua and Panama routes. He
closed with n strong appeal for the
passage of the Nicaragua bill.
The President has nominated Briga-
dier Generals John c. Bates and
George w. Davis to be major generals.
Brig. Gen. John C. Bates was born in
Missouri, where he entered the regu-
lar army as a first lieutenant of infan-
try in 1861. He was brigadier general
of volunteers in the Spanish war. and
was with Shafter at Santiago. In the
Philippines his notable works We're
the negotiation of the treaty with the
Sultan of Jolo and the capture of
Lieutenant General Trias of the in
surgent army. He has four years
more of active service. Brig. Gen.
George w. Davis entered the volun-
teer army in his native state of Con-
necticut in 1861 as quartermaster
sergeant, and became a captain of the
regular army in 1867. After the war
with Spain he was made governor gen.
eral of Porto hico. where he remained
until ordered to the Philippines in
1901. He has only one more year to.
serve.
The views of the minority members
of the Senate committee on the canal
bill were presented to the Senate by
Mr.. Kittridge. The report advocates
the substitution for the House bill of
the Spooner bill, leaving the selection
of the routes of an isthmian canal to
the President, but it is devoted largely
to the purpose of showing thar the
Panama route is preferable to the Mic
aragua route. This contention is based
upon the last report of the Canal Com
mission. The assertion is made that
all the natural advantages are with
the Panama route, not the least of
which Is the comparatively brief time
necessary to traverse the canal. Doubt
is also expressed as to whether right
of way car be secured through Nicar-
aqua, while it is declared that there
are no legal obstacles in the way of
securing the Panama company's right
of way. 1t further is contended that
from an engineering standpoint the
L
point of possibility of destruction or
damage to locks or dams for the canal
from volcanic eruptions or from earth
quakes, the minority assert that the
Nicaragua route is directly in line
with numerous volcanoes more or less
active, which in the past have wrought
great destruction to the surrounding
country; that the entire country
through which the Nicaragua canal
route runs has been frequently disrupt
ed by violent earthquakes, while the
Panama route has no volcanoes, ex-
tinct or otherwise nearer than 200
miles. g..
An interesting contribution to the
discussion of the Isthmian canal pro-
ject was made in the Senate by Mr..
Harris of Kansas, a member of the
committee on inter-oceanic canals, who
is also an engineer of recognized abil-
ity.' Mr.. Harris was for long time
chief engineer of the Kansas division
of the onion Pacific railway. His
views upon the engineering problems
presented in the pending proposition
were listened TO with great. interest by
his colleagues. One fact, he said. was
prominent and conspicuous. No ex.
ploration nor survey made of n canal
route there has ever placed on record
report. adverse in opinion as to the
feasibility and practicability of con
structing n canal by the Nicaragua
route. In answer to Mr.. Hanna, hs
quoted NJ. De Lesseps, the famous
French engineer, as saying to com
mittee of Congress that II n canal Will
locks was to be constructed, the Near
aqua route was the best. Mr.. Harris
said In making its supplemental report
in favor of Panama. the IsthmiaI
canal commission had allowed the idea
of getting n bargain unduly to infu
ence its judgment and obscure Its bus
mess vision. Mr.. Harris went into
minute details of the Panama PROPOSE
ton. his point being to show that th,
valuation of the property of the Pann
ma canal, both as to the canal ant
railroad property. was not only exces