The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-10

to the authorization the bin contained TO
negotiate contracts for the whole work
Mr. cannon said he would vote for the
Morris amendment and II Il failed he
would move 10 rccommit the bill With the
amendments he had suggested
Mr. DE Almond MOI said the question be-
fore the American people was nor as TO
whether congress would pass q hill for the
isthmiNn canal. but whether the bill would
be mature aud proper when passed. III
confidence existed IN the president why
should he not he given the opportunity TO
negotiate with Colombia or Nicaragua &C.
cording to the information in his possessiong
Alternative authority would ahah'c him
10 make better terms. Experts differed rs
to the advantages of the two routes Why
not give the president the discretion 20 Sc.
lectf Neither peril nor risk would he in
volved In it, The hill he ',rencd needed
maturing. Were the army engineers 10
huild the canal, or was there 60 hc ono
perhaps, nut certainly mighty. would OK
tend over many years Were tic princi
pies Of the civil service 10 obtain or were
politlcnl considerations 10 govern lie was
tired Of passing legislation In tho house aud
allowing the senate To perfect IT,
MIR Nandivcr (Mol and Mr.. Hooker Miss
advocated the passage Of the unamcnded
Mr.. Hepburn answered the criticisms ad
duccd against the bill during the debate
dcvoting considerable time to MrSCannon
manded clearpess and de6niteness, vet he
proposed to support the Morris amendment
which. Mr.. Hepburn, pointed out was
vague and indefinite. He had impuEued
bad motives TO no one hut he believed that
forces were working for delay
81 do not impugn the motives Of the gen
tlemau from Illinois, said he when he
liamentary sense, nm convinced, vet !
am free TO confess that only the ohllga-
tious Of parliamentary law would coLyincc
me when | remember that he has Invariably
been n sticklcr for deisS.'
Mr.. Hepburn then proceeded 20 review
Mr.. Cannon's record on canal legislation TO
show that his declarations of friendship did
not harmonlze with his constant course Of
hostile delay. lie rppcatedly drew applause
md laughter after he loosened his shafts
Of sarcasm on he chairman OF me Nppro,
to take 1t all good uaturedly. Joining in the
laughter provoked at his own expense. Mr.
Hepburn said that Mr., Cannon posed as a
business man yet he said, he wanted TO
Nay S4O.O0OOOO for something the commit
tee said was worth S2IOOO,OO0. With re-
gard to the alleged claim of the Maritime
Canal company, which the gentleman rom
Illinois discovered in the ''palc moonlight
the commission reported that they hpd al
ready been cXtinguished
Addressing the democratic side, he read
th- plank In the Kansas CITY platform
pledging the party to the NicarGguan cnual
That" said he. amid laughter lis. In
my opinion, the most respectable declara-
..rbere arc reports In the air." said he,
SSnat any isthmiau Hill will have rough
and rocky road 10 traNel IN Guulhcf npuN
that sentiment of ceftain persons of potency
is against IT. What will hc the moral
euert IL this house by n practically unani-
nous vote indicates it's purpose 10 do what
tho neoplc demand shall be donef " the
N.A~is amendment carries he said the
selection of the Panama route would dc.
mend upon the attitude Of a majority OF
inc commission choice might hinge
upon tho attitude of one man and no man
ne declared should he placed In such a
poSition with S4o00O,OOO I'm the balance.
The hill was read for amendment under
the five-minute rule.
Mr.. Shackelford MOI, offered the amend
mcnt to authorize the president to de
tetmiuc the choice OF rSutcs as between
Nicaragua and Panama II the propsty ana
franchises OF the Panama comuany could
I've procured for S4O,OOO0OO. The amend
mcnt was defeated upon rising vote, lo-
to 1T0,
nud Mr. Burgess (TeSasl offered various
amendments which were voted down
Tho committee then rnpor' ed the bill u
the house whereupon Mr.. Cannon moved
to recommit the bill with instructions t
report Back within thirty DAYS substitute
to enable the president 10 acquire the neces
snry rights for canal from Nicaragu;
or Colombia and TO authorize him to selcc
The route within sixty days. The amend
mcnt was defeated withoU division, Mr.
/ cannon being unable to seourc recor,
vote, The bill then was passed ayes sos
( noes .
Messrs Fletcher Rep Mimi and Lassi
/ ter tDem. Va) cast the negative votes. TIT
/ announcement was greeted with applause
| At $50 the house adjourned