The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-05
NEWSPAPER POLLS SHOW
 THAT VOTE WILL BE CLOSE
Senator Morgan Believes That Pro- nounced Majority of Senate Fa' yors Nicaragua Route and
 will Be Maintained.
BY PATTERSON sTEALEY.


 Washington, June 4.-(SpeciaD-senator Morgan of Alabama opened the deoate In the Senate today for the Nicaraguan panal. The Senator's speech was a care fully prepared argument read from manuscript and dealing mainly with the volcanic features of the two routes In line with his recent interview, he deciar- ed the Panama. route was more likely 10 suffer from earthquake disturbances than Nicaragua. Thus far only six senators have announced a purpose to speak on the canal. This indicates that the consld- eration of the bill may not take up as much time as was expected.
 If was reported today that ten or twelve beet sugar Republicans of the senate were thinking of devoting themselves 10 lengthy canal speeches in order that thls subiect could be kept before the body' thus preventing action on Cuban recipro- citv until SO late that the advocates of Cuban concessions would be willing 10 drop it and go home. It looks, however, as if the senate as we'll as the house. would not be inclined to debate the meas ire to any great extent and it is no won der.
 Studied 1t for Years.
 Congress has spent years studying the subject and eight times has Nicaragua canal bill gone through, either one oody pr the other A week or ten days debate ought to be sufficient With the possible exception of Senators Dubose and Teller inc Democratic side is believed to be solid for the Nicaraguan route The two Tennessee Senators, Bate and CarmacK' have been quoted as favoring the Panama route, but both authorized the statement today that their present intentions are to vote fer the Nicaragua bill.
 Newspaper polls of the question indi- rate that the present standing of the Sen ate is very close. One poll gives Al TOT the Nicaragua route, 3S for Panama, and q undecided The poll however, counts two Senators against the N1caraguan route who are known to be for it without going into other errors, which are liable in all polls.
 Senator Morgan believes that pro- nounced majority of the Senate now fa- vors Nicaragua, and he feels that ma iority will be maintained throughout the debate.
 Debate Begins.
 The Senate began consideration of the canal bill at o'clock, MT. Morgan, chair man of the interoceanic canal committee, opening the debate. He referred to the latest argument against the construction of the Nicaraguan canal the danger from earthquakes and volcanoes, and said that the canal bill, had been covered with vol canic soot and ashes as by funeral pail. A part of the report of the minority on the committed he said was so sombre that he was surprised that the report recommended the construction of any canal at all.
 MT. Morgan said his com mittee did not regard the danger from volcanoes or earthuuakes, as either probable or seri- ous either as to the Nicaraguan or Pan- anna route. After the volcanic and seismic disturbances of recent months, he was satisfied the danger to an Isthmian canal had been lessened materially.
 MT. Morgan declared that Nicaragua had been free from seismic disturbances during the recent general disturbances. but the region about the Panama canal had been disturbed seriously by earth uuakes. He quoted Minister Merry as say ing that the only enemies of any canal used the volcano earthquake argument against any canal route.
 MT Morgan again referring to the dis turbances reported from Nicaragua quot ed a letter from the minister of Nicara- qua to this country, calling attention to- the fact that the reports printed were unl true and that the Associated Press had reported nothing of the kind, and it would have done SO had the story been well founded. He maintained that all projects other than that of the Nicaragua route were being put forward in order to defeat any canal legislation.
 In conclusion the Alabama Senator made a powerful appeal for action upon the measure to which he had devoted much of his legislative life.
 The Senate at 5:25 D. m. adjourned.
 MT Morgan reviewed at length the political conditions in Colombia finding in them a grave menace to the United States in the construction of a canal by the Panama route. He presented 1so the present phases of the diplomatic negotia- lions looking to the building of a canal by both the Nicaraguan route and the Pan- anna route. He closed with a strong ap- peal for the passage of the Nicaragua bill.
 THE HOUSE.