New-York tribune., 1902-06-27
CANAL ASSURED AT LAST
BILL 4 WATTS PRESIDENT 5
SIGMA TIRE
THE HOUSE ADOPTS THE SENATE
MEASURE BY y VOTE OF 252 TO $
PANAMA ROUTE FIRST CHOICE.

PANAMA ROUTE FIRST CHOICE
) Washington, June 2G.-For the first time in all
/ the years nf agitation and discussion. an Istn-
/ milan Canal bill has been passed 10y both houses
Of Congress. and awaits the signature of the
, President The passage of the bill to-day
marks the close of u struggle Of more
than fifteen years in Congress to secure
some positive and practical canal legisla-
ton. The bill provides. in brief that the
property and franchises of the Panama company
shall be purchased by the United States for
S4oo0o0Uo if i satisfactory title can he OBJ
tained. and the President shall proceed to CON
struct canal by that route. Otherwise, the
Nicaragua route is to be chosen
CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED.
The House to-day by a vote of 2:2 TO s adopt
ed the conference report the Canal bill thus
, accepting the Senate measure in toto.
Nj Hepburn. of Iowa. chairman Of the Com
mittee Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
called up the report and the statement submit
ted by him yesterday was read. showing that the
effect Of the adoption OF the report would be the
elimination of the House bill and the enactment
into law of the Senate bill 4 desire to move
the adoption of the report" said Mr.. Hepburn.
In doing so I desire say that l have not
changed in the slightest degree my belief in the
wisdom of the House Of RI representatives on the
9th of last January"
At this point further proceedings were blocked
by the Speakers announcement that the original
papers were missing. and that no action could
be taken until they were before the House
The papers should be in the hands Of the
| clerk observed Mr. Hepburn
But they are not here" said the Speaker.
They must be in the Senate. At any rate. 1t
! is well settled that a conference report can
not he considered without the original papers"
slderation of the report asked Mr. Hepburn
The Chair thinks not replied the Speaker
The matter must go over until the papers
are found"
Accordingly. the report was withdrawn and
the House resumed. consideration Of the Philip
pine Civi! Government bill!
MIR HEPBURN MOVES TO CONCUR
When the papers had been found Mr. Hep
burn moved the adoption of the conference
port. He reiterated his statement that he had
not changed his opinion that the House meas
ure was wiser than the Senate bill. II was
drawn with the central idea he said that in
the building of the canal far P, rved from
borders. to avoid scandals and corruption. all
power should be centralized in person. in
whom should be all power and all responsibility
There would he no one behind whom any
could hide while the Senate bill created "A com
mission Of seven, who should hold office until
the canal was completed, and who might thus
have an object in delaying the speedy com
pletion Of the work. He also favored the Mica
ragua route. but. despite all defects. the House
conferrees were convinced that 1t was better to
do something than to have no legislation at all
Mr. Richardson. the Democratic leader in
terrupted to ask how much time the President
had to decide respecting the Panama purchase
"A reasonable time" replied Mr.. Hepburn.
tba
u reasonable time will be construed to be-
asked Mr. Richardson.
Il not able enghten the gentleman"
responded Mr. Hepburn. The Senate rejected
propositions to fix the time limit six, twelve
and eighteen months"
Does the gentleman think that a reasonable
tme?" asked Mr. Richardson. I do not in
tend to vote for the report if such delay is
contemplated
Il think it proper for me to say Mr.. Hepburn
replied that the House conferrees sought to
allowed. but the Senate rejected proposition.
We were informed. however, that the action of
the Senate must not be construed d legisa
tive construction of reasonable time: that the
propositions were voted down because they were
considered obstructive and meant nothing"
To further inquiries from Mr.. Richardson Mr..
Hepburn said .! believe in all sincerity it is
the Senate bill nothing"
Mr. Burton. of Ohio, urged acceptance of the
conference report. The country would give full
credit to the House conferrees, he said for
Welding their personal convictions to the larger
interests of a canal He maintained. however.
that the Panama was the better one. For gen
erations this linking of the two oceans had been
= dream and hope And now declared Air
Burton, June 26. the opportunity has at last
come for ii canal. Make way for the canal"
he exclaimed amid applause.
Mr. Underwood and Mr. Richardson. of Ala
bama both urged concurrence, though saying
their people strongly favorable to the Mica
ragua route.
CHEERS FOR MORGAN AND HEPBURN
This is step nearer the canal" said Mr.
Mann of Illinois. and this is due to the cOur-
age and persistency of two men-John T Nor
gan of Alabama, and Colonel William p Hep
b,1rn of Iowa" Great applause.)
Mr. SuIZer of New York and Mr.. Adamson.
of Georgia. while primarily for the Nicaragua
Continued second page.