Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-20
THE CANAL
ROUTE BATTLE.
Senate Divided Over the Isthmlan
Waterway
NICARAGUA MOST SUPPORT.
Those Opposed 10 Any Canal May
Give Their Notes 20 Panama-S
ators Leaving Washington
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Washington. June l6.-Whlch route
for the canal2 That is the question
that the United States senate Is now
called upon to answer. That Is a ques-
ton which is Of vast interest to the
people Of the country. More important
stil is the question whether there shall
be any canal authorized at this session
OF Congress. for at the present time
there ~ some doubt whether any route
will be chosen. A great deal Of care
full consideration hes been given to the
canal subject since the Hepburn bill
for The Nicaragua route passed the
house. There are three parties In the
senate on the canal question--one fay
orng the Nicaragua route, one the Pa
mama route and one against any canal.
The largest party Is for Nicaragua, the
next against any canal II II could bring
about that result without direct vote.
but the Panama route will show con-
siderable strength and perhaps a ma
Jority Of the senate. because those who
oppose any canal win vote for Panama
In preference 10 Nicaragua.
1T is A STRUGGLE.
Heretofore canal bills have passed
the senate without very much ditl-
cul,y-bills Of various kinds. but es-
peoally bills loaning the credit of the
government to the Maritime Canal
company. None received consideration
In the house. Now the house has taken
the initiative, and II Is 'up to" the
senate to enter upon this great UNDER
taking or find some method of delaying
II, That many senators shrink from
such a great undertaking there can be
no doubt, but that a majority favor
some canal seems certain. Into the
struggle have entered some Of the
strong men OF the senate-men who do
not stop until the last chance Of sue
cess for what they advocate has dis
appeared Senator Morgan has a strong
following which Is determined to pass
the Ncaraguan bill Senator Hanna
10 the leader OF the opposition, and he
has been most active In rallying men
to his support II Is battle Of consid-
cradle magnitude, and. unlike other
measures which have been before the
senate, IT'S disposition upon a final vote
is not q loregone conclusion.
SENATORS SLIPPING AWAY.
These are the days when senators
get away from the worries and cares
OF public life whenever they can. Some
senators decide to leave the capital
and do so either on account OF their
health or because they feel that they
have given sufficient time to public ar
fairs for one session Senator Hoar
has gone for the remainder Of the ses-
sion, and so has Senator Depew. The
latter stated In the senate that, relying
upon assurances he had received from
the senate steering committee that
Congress would adjourn by June 10, he
had made arrangements 10 be absent
from that time.
SOME OLD MEN MADE GLAD.
Speaker Henderson has caused great
rejoicing among lot Of very old men
by giving general approval 10 bill
pensioning the veterans OF Indian wars.
There are men from 65 to 80 years old
who participated In different Indian
wars from Florida to the Pacific coast
who will be benefited by this bill. Ii
has been pending for great many
years and defeated whenever Il came
up. II generally passes the senate, but
the house has held II up The bill has
always been pressed by the men from
the Pacific coast. as there are more
people In Oregon and Washington who
will be benefited than In any other
part OF the union,
INTEREST FADES WITH DIS
TANCE.
As we get away from any great event
our interest naturally abates. So it Is
that those matters which seemed OF
such great importance and so much In
the public eye when this Congress con-
vened last December scarcely receive
attention now. / refer particularly TO
the suggestion that anarchy be sup
pressed that adequate measures be
passed for the protection Of the presl-
dent When Congress convened, the
country was ringing with demands. for
legislation which would make II impos-
aible for another presidential as
sasslnation. Now, when the bill Is final
ly considered In the house. IL arouses
but little interest. The lawyers discuss
il from constitutional point OF view
and make IL matter OF grave concern
as TO legal phraseology. and they are
seemingly the only people interested.
ONE ON ELKINs.
There was recess In the senate, but
Senator Elkins did not know Il. lie
entered the chamber and found large
number OF petitions on his desk. No
one was talking. the senate seemed
very quiet. Prest Pro Tenn Frye sat
IN his usual place lie was talking
with two senators who leaned over his
desk.
Mr. President" said Elklns. "Mr
President"
Frye looked up and smiled. "The
senator from West Virginia. said he,
using the words Of recognition 10 a
senator.
"out OF order Mr.. President" said
Elkins. Il desire to present some petit
lions for reference
Then Frye laughed. Other senators
laughed The clerks and employees all.
80 laughed, and the page boys grew
hilarious.
Elkins finally discovered that the
Joke was on him, and he Joined In tile