The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-09
SEM .IiNE.NI FOR
PANAMA. ROUTE
Many Ihink Propos ton Should 8
~ est-asz..
Considered,
NO DESIRE To I'M lDE WORN
.utuor ., Ameadmen. to uive ,ne rres,a.4s
Power to selsc. sapana Route il >omr
mlsslo. Favor II Alter eOus,asr.nz
the new Oner.
NO DESIRE To INF lDE WORN
(By Associated Press


WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. S.-The de-
bate upon the Nlcarasuan Sanai OIL! III
the House to-day developed sentiment IN
favor OIL giving consideration TO Inc re-
cent otter OF the Panama Company to sell
its franchises and properly Tor stv,uvV,vvv,
anu This sentiment TOOK the form or au-
vocau the Motifs amenunienL TO en-
power the fresluent to select the iatter
route, II The canal IuuiuLAssion, upon
considering the company o.ler, rervm-
menus II and the required CONCESSIONS
can We ODlalnsd from COiomDia- Ot SIX
teen mrIupers WHO sLvhe tu-uay, nine
favored the MOTIFS ainenunlenL 1t WAS
agreed that general oepaLe should c!uSe
tomorrow at c!ockr aIter Wh!ch the
bill will be open to amendment unoor the
hve-mlnuas rule. The maj vote PROBABLY
viii be taken tomorrow.
The SPEAKERS to-day were MesSrs.
Shackleloru, OF missouri; Parker, OF New
Jersey; Lowering, OF Massachusetts; Nor
ris, of Minnesota; burton, or ONO; Hill.
of Connecticut; Bromwell, Of Ohio; Gil
lett, Of Massachusetts,, and Litueheld, of
Maine, in tavor of the MOTIFS amend
ment, and Messrs. Burgess, of Texas;
Bell, OF Colorado; Cooney, Of Missouri;
Cummings, of New York; Gibson, of Ten
nessee, and Lacey, Of Iowa, for the bill
in its present form.
SLAP AT HAY.
Ndr. Shackleford, Of Missouri, believed
that the Eads Tehuantepec route was
| preferable to any which had been pro-
posed, but he did not think the present g.
time for cayiL He did not like the Pan
ANA route, but if the new proposition OF
the Panama Company offered advantages
over the Nicaraguan route he thought
the President should have alternative
authority to accept it.
If you favor this BILL" interposed Mr..
| Bartholdt, of 9iissouri. why Is it that
| you and rcur Democratic colleagues from
Missouri at tile last session voted against
| a similar bill?''
Because" replied Mr.. Shackleford,
| the bill at the last session was passed
| through this House to the tune Of God
| Save the Queen l 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, it was not replied Mr.. Shack
leford, but. our English Secretary Of
State wanted it ratified and because we
believed the wishes of Her Majesty's
representative in the Ca binet would pre-
vail. we opposed the bill"
Mr.. Lowering, OF Massachusetts,, also
| member of the committee that report
| ed the bill, said that in the past he had
favored the Nicaraguan route because,
Until recently he had believed that the
| trans-continental railroads were using
! the Panama route to obstruct action.
| But he mad recently satisfied himself that
| the railroads were not behind the Panama
Canal. The recent offer Of the Panama
| Company he believed was in good faith
| NO DESIRE TO IMPEDE.
Mr.. Morris, Of Minnesota, who offered
the amendment yesterday to give the
President the alternative authority to Sc
| lect the Panama route If it was recon-
| mended by the commission after the con-
| sideration of the Panama Company's new
| offer, explained the purpose of his amend
| ment, which, he said, was not to impede
the construction of the canal but to in
sure the selection of the best canal-the
| best as to location, cost of maintenance
and operation, durability and freedom
from danger of destruction.
| Before the Isthu1ian Commission made
| its report he did not believe the Panama
route feasible. He thought 1t had been
used solely for the purpose Of delay. But
since reading the report he was unable to
reach conclusion as to which was the
| better route.
I
was to cost $500, COX. 600. perhaps more, he
considered it wise that the experts should
| have an opportunity to consider the new
offer. OF the Panama Company. II the bill
| was raseed in the form in which 1t was
! reported the President could not entertain
| the offer OF the Panama Company, and
under 1t the President might by treaty
| bind the United States to construct the
| Nicaraguan Canal, even though we after
| ward became convinced that the other
was the better route.
MORE THOROUGH EXAMINATION.
Mr. Burton, of Ohio. who led the oppo-
/ stion to a similar bill in the last Con-
/ gress. said he would now be GLAD to see
/ the pending bill pass. The events of the
! last twenty minutes, he declared, had
| vindicated the course Of the minority.
/ In speaking of the advantages of the
| Panama route he said a member OF the
| commission had told him few days ago
] that the examination of the Panama route
had been much more thorough than the
other, and there was far less danger OF
disagreeable surprises as the work pro-
81 essed. MIR. Burton received round Of
applause as he concluded.
I Mr.. Hill, of Connecticut, at this point
read letter from Prof Ward, Of Bridge
/ port, Conn.,, who was employed as an en-
I gineer on the Panama Canal for six and
/ half wears. contending that the Panama
/ route was tIo Uctlc1 Oi1 Liz Ao21o"AA1
/ grounds:
First-It has two excellent ports with
a well equipped railroad.
Second-An established line Of steam.
/ ers to New York.
Third-competent equipment of cars
and machinery.
N Observation-Disclosures for 10000 Ia
i borers.
Fifth-Actual definite plans for the
/ completion of the canal with all the ex-
perimeI,tal work done. and,
Sixth-The serious danger OF volcanic
disturbances at Nicaragua.
WANTS IT FORTIFIED
Mr.. Burgess, of Texas. who represents
the Galveston district, supported the bill
in an earnest speech The only amend
ment he favored was one declaring in
unequiyocal language that the canal
4 should be fortified. He said that the
American people would make a black
/, mark against every member of Congress
VINO voted against the fertilization Of
4 the canal at the time Of its construction,
I Mr.. Cummings. of New York, opposed
I ~Ez 49,