The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-10
WILMINGTON. N. c., FRIDAY. JANUARY IL. 1902,

erty as SI09. .000. 900 and the newspaper
reports that the company now offered
TO sell the property for $40. .000. .0Od If
that latter report were true the Pana-
ma canal would cost less than the Mica
ragua and he ssked IL Mr.. Hepburn
did not believe with equal cost that the
commission would have reported in
favor OF Panama.
Mr.. Hepburn replied that the COM
mission had stated the respective adj
vantages OF both routes under condi-
tions then existing. He could not tell
what the commission would have rc-
ported under other circumstances.
ANY gentleman who absorbs the
commissions report" said he, land
weights 1t must believe that. other
things being equal, the canal that Is
400 miles nearer our territory: that
makes New Orleans 4S0 miles nearer
San Francisco and New York 375 miles
nearer than the other is better for
canal for us (Applause).
eff we build the Nicaragua canal.
asked Mr.. Sims. of Tennessee. lis it not
likely that the French government will
complete the Panama canal?"
There is the same probability of two
canals" answered Mr.. Hepburn, that
there is of the Suez canal being parai-
leled by another"
In reply to another question as to the
adVislbility of giving the presidei- tne
authority to build OIL either route, 3Ir.
Hepburn again raised an outburst U:
applause ny declaring that he looked
upon any "atter1pt to entangle the
United States in the Panama enterprise
as an effort to defeat any canal"
Mr.. Reeves. of Illinois. asked whether
it would not be better TO wait a few
davs or weeks until the secretary OF
state could inform congress just whar
We could obtain in the wav of conceS.
sions from Nicaragua.
In an enterprise Of this magnitude"
replied Mr.. Mephurn, there never has
heen and never will be day when
some gentleman will rot be able to urge
some reason for pCstponement." Cap
plause). We have been suffering from
that for years. I am assured by those
who know that the protocol with Nicar-
aqua has reached such a stage that We
are certain to get what we want" Gap
plausel
Replying TO Mr. Cannon's inquiries
as to the conditions Of the protocol with
Mo ara qua Mr.. Hepburn stated his un-
derstandinz was that s5.0s0.000 and ST.
0G0.GU were about the figures allowed
Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Mr.. Cannon closed the colloquy with
Mr.. Hepburn by stating that while he
had ALWAYS favored the canal he was
satisfied the precipitate passage Of this
hin s"crified advantages which the
| United States now possessed and meant
| q heavy increase in cost which would
| have to come out of the treasury.
Mr. Davis. of Florida. member OF
| the committee which reported the bill,
| followed Mr.. Hepburn with an earnest
| plea for its passage. He advocated the
| Nicaragua rather than the Panama
route and insisted that the time had
n0vv arrived when talk should cease
| and work begin. I'VE need this canal
| said Mr.. Davis. ''for the convenience
| and the expansion of our commerce.:
| we need it for the proper handling of
our navv. for bringing nearer together
| our eastern and western shores. for the
| protection of our island possession and
| for easy access to them. The American
| farmer needs it that foreign markets
| may be opened up for the product of his
| toll: the merchant and manufacturer
| that they may compete with rivals In
| other lands"
| Mr.. Adams. of Pennsylvania. who op-
/ posed a similar bill al the last session
/ on account Of the then existence of the
/ Clavton-Bulwer trea thought that
! the offer of the Panama Company
! should receive careful consideration. L
| the cost of the two routes We're sub
| slantlaIlv equal he 2ontended that the
| Panama route was preferable.
| At the conclusion Of Mr.. Adams re
| marks. Mr.. Morris. of Minnesota. gave
| would offer the following amendment:
| "Provided. however. that if the Pan
! anna canal so far as constructed anC
the property. rights, privileges. anC
| franchises of all The corporations o.
persons interested ther Elm can he ac
quired by the United States free anC
| clear of all incumbancCs. for q sim no
| exceeding $4O,0G0,900 and in addition
| thereto equally desira BILE political an(
territorial rights and privileges as IL
case of the Nicaragua route ard at n,
greater expense within six mon hs from
the passage of this act then the presi
| dent of the United States. If the 18th
! mian canal commission or a maiori
| thereof shall so recommend. is hereh'
| authorized to purchase the same and tt
complete the construction of the SaiC
| Panama canal. subject to all the con
| ditIons. privileges and limitations afore
said. And the sum of $50, 600. GOO is here
by appropria ed out of anv money il
the treasury not otherwise appropriatet
! toward the project herein contem
plated
The house then adjourned. \