Evening star., 1902-01-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


The second day of the debate in the
| House of Representatives on the Mica
raguan canal bill was opened by Mr.
| Shackleford Mo), a member of the COM
mittee which reported the bill. He spoke
earnestly in advocacy OF its passage.
He believed that the Eads Tehuantepec
route was preferable to any which had
| been proposed, but he did not think the
| present time for cavil. He did not like
| the Panama route but If the new proposi-
tion Of the Panama Company offered ad-
vantages over the Nicaraguan route he
| thought the President should have alterna-
| tive authority to accept it.
| IF you favor this BILL" interposed Mr.
Bartholdt CMo). why is it that you and
your democratic colleagues from Missouri
at the last session voted against a similar
billg'
| Because" replied Mr. Shackleford. 'the
bill at the last session was passed through
| this House to the tune of God Save the
| Queen / want it passed to the sweet
| strains of Hail, Columbia Democratic
| applause).
But the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was not
ratified at the last session." observed Mr..
| Bartholdt.
True, 1t was not" replied Mr.. Shacklc-
| ford, but our English Secretary of State
wanted 1t ratified, and because we believed
the wishes Of her majesty's representative
| the BILL"
Thinks Offer fs fin Good Faith.
Mr.. Lowering (MassD. also a member Of
the committee that reported the bill. who
followed Mr. Shackleford, said that in the
past he had favored the Nicaraguan route
because the engineers had reported in its
favor, and because until recently he had
believed that the transcontinental railroads
were using the Panama route to obstruct
| action. But he had recently satisfied him
self that the railroads were not behind the
Panama canal. The recent offer of the
Panama Company, he believed, was made
in good faith. The French stockholders
were trying to realize something out of the
wreck of their fortunes.
He believed that, in view of the Panama
company's offer, it was business to pause,
take advantage of the present situation
and give the commission which reported in
favor of the Nicaragua route an oppor-
tunity to revise its conclusions. He said
he would vote for the Morris amendment
and in conclusion appealed to members not
to make the fatal error Of committing the
government 10 the Nicaragua route. Mr..
Coverings remarks were literally ap-
plauded.
Mr.. Parker's Contention.
Mr.. Parker On. J) argued that tne ques-
tion of routes should be determined by the
executive. He made a comparison OF the
two routes, using the data compiled by the
commission, contending that the Panama
route had many advantages over the Mica.
raguan route. He appealed to the House
not to fetter the President by tieing aim to
a single line of action.
Wants the Best Route.
Mr.. Morris (Minn), who yesterday Of
fered the amendment to leave the selection
of the route to the President said 1t was his
purpose to insure the selection of the best
route. Heretofore he believed the Panama
proposition had been used solely for delay,
but since reading the commissions report,
he was unable to reach a conclusion as to
which was the best route. Before embark
ing upon an expenditure Of $200,000,000, he
thought experts should consider the recent
offer of the Panama company.
Mr.. Burton. who opposed the Nicaraguan
canal bill before, said he hoped the present
bill would pass.
He, however. favored the Morris amend
ment and said he believed the Panama
route offered the most advantages. II had
been more thoroughly investigated and
there was less danger of disagreeable sur
prises as the work progressed.
Mr. Hill Comm said he would vote for
the Norris amendment, and read a letter
from Prof. Ward engineer. who had
been engaged on the Panama route who
gave a number of reasons favoring tie
Panama route, among them being Ganger
of earthquakes along the Nicaragua route
THE SENATE.