The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-20
Commission to Supervise Construction
OF the Canal Also Provided for
by Amendment.
BILL NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE
WHICH APPROVED THE NICARAGUA
ROUTE BY A LARGE MAJORITY.
Provisions of the Spooner Substitute
md Detailed vote-CIosing Speeches
by Morgan and others.

WASHINGTON, June 1s.-An isthmian
canal. while not yet absolutely assured, is
nearer to construction than it ever has
been. The Senate to-day by a majority of
eight votes adopted the Spooner substi-
tute for the Hepburn Nicaragua canal bill.
the vote on the substitute being AZ to a.
After two amendments TO the measure had
been adopted. one providing for a commits
sion TO supervise the construction of the
canal, by a vote of 81 to % and the other
(Senator Fairbanks's) providing for the is
suance of s13O.OOOOOO Of 9 per cent. gold
tonds to raise money with which to con-
struct the waterway. by a vote of 5S to IS,
the substitute bill was passed by a vote OF
81 TO s.
II has been evident for several days that
the Spooner substitute, which in brief pro-
vides that the President shall select the
Panama route if he can obtain a clear
title to the Panama Canal Company's prop
erty. but, otherwise, he shall adopt the
Nicaragua route. would comand the votes
of majority Of the Senate. The Panama
route was considered more desirable by
the Senate than the Nicaragua route. The
only question left open is the title to the
property and that the President will deter
mine, II the House should adopt the Sem
ate's amendment TO it's bill.
Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama, closed to-day's
debate with an earnest appeal for the
adoption of the Nicaragua route He had
been preceded by Mr.. Clark, Of Montana,
in support of the Nicaragua route, and Mr.
Allison. OF Iowa. in support of the Spooner
proposition.
At the conclusion of the debate Mr..
SpOoner perfected his substitute, the
changes made being principally verbal
An amendment providing for the appoint
ment OF. an isthmian canal commission to
direct The construction of the canal and
providing that seven members of the COM
mission shall receive such compensation as
the President shall prescribe until it is
otherwise fixed by the Congress, was
agreed to-5@ to %.
An amendment providing that II the
President could not within six months get
a clear title TO the Panama Canal Com
pany's rights and concessions, he should
proceed with the Nicaragua canal. was
laid on the Tablet to 3l-and one limiting
the time of the Presidents decision to
the Panama route To twelve months was
rejected-35 to Sand the same fate. by
a vote OF ~ TO 81, awaited Mr.. Mitchelrs
amendment to the Spooner substitute pro-
viding that even though the President is
satisfied he can obtain clear title to the
Panama Canal Companys property, If he
shall be convinced for any reason that il
is not for the best for the United States
to purchase the Panama property, or If he
shall think the canal ought 10 be con-
structed by the Nicaragua route, he shall
proceed TO the construction of the canal
by the Nicaragua route.
cirect vote was then obtaned on the
Spooner substitute. 1t was adopted. AZ to
"a. the detailed vote being:
Yeas-Aldrtch, Allison, Bard, Beveridge,
Burnham. Burrows. Burton, Clark of Wyo-
ming, Cullom, Deboe, Dietrich. Dryden,
Fairbanks, Foraker. Foster of Washing
ton. Frye, Gallinger. Gamble, Hale. Hanna,
Hansbrough, Hoar, Jones OF Arkansas,
Jones of Nevada, Kean, Kittredge, Lodge,
McCOmas. McCumber, Mcmillan, Mason,
Milard. Platt of Connecticut, Pritchard,
Proctor. Quarles. Scott. Spooner. Warren,
Wellington. Wetmore--42
Nays-Bacon Bailey. Bate. Berry, Black
burn. Carmack, Clapp of Montana, Clay
CockreIl. Culberson. Daniel, Dubois, Foster
OF Louisiana. Harris, Hawley, Heitfeld,
McLaurin OF Mississippi. Mallory, Martin.
Mitchell. Morgan, Nelson. Patterson. Pen
rose. Perkins Pettus. Platt OF New York
Quay, simmons. Stewart. Taliaferro, Tur
ner. Vest-34.
first name in each case being favorable 10
Panama and the second against IL: Depew
MCEneTN. Illlnan.
DOlliver with Money, kearns with Gibson;
McLaurin. of South Carolina. with Simon.
Elkins and Rawlins were absent and un-
paired.
Mr. Hoar, of Massachusetts, then offered
substitute for the SpOoner proposition,
making il the duty Of the President To de-
eide by which route the canal should be
constructed IL was rejected-13 To o.
Mr.. Fairbanks then offered an amend
rnent providing for the issue of Sl30,OOO 900
OF gold bonds bearing per cent. interest
q a
Culberson moved 10 lay the amendment
on the table. The motion was defeated-36
10 81. The amendment then was adopted
Yeas-Aldrich. Allison Beveridse. Burn
ham. Burrows. Burton. Clapp. CuIlorn
Deboe. Fairbanks. Foraker, Foster OF
Hale. Hanna. Hansbrough. Hawley Hoar
Jones OF Nevade. kean. kittredge, Lodge
McCOmas. McCumber. Mcmillan. Mason
Millard Nelson. Platt OF Connecticut
Wellington. Wetmore-;S.
Nays-BacOn Bailey. Bard Bate Berry
Blackburn. Carmack. Clark OF Montana
Clark OF WyOming. Clay. CockreI. Culber-
son. Daniel Dryden, Dubois, Foster Of
Louisiana. Harris. Heitfeld. Jones OF
Arkansas. McLaurin of Mississippi. Nal
iory. Martin. Mitchell. Morgan. Patterson
Penrose. Perkins. Pettus. Platt OF New
York. Quay Simmons. Stewart. TaltafcrrO.
Teller Turner. Vests.
Mr. Mason offered an amendment 10 Mr.
Fairbanks's amendment providing that all
he people OF the United states should
nave opportunity ~ subscribe TO the pro-
posed loan. The amendment was agreed
Mr. Morgan then offered the Nicaragua
sanal btll "A substitute for the SpoOner
proposition. thus raising the question pre-
Mr. spooner moved 10 lay the Nicaragua
'iii on the table and the motion was agreed
oil 70 3.
The bin then passed. s. 20 o. the votes In
he negative being cast by Messrs. Bate