The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-21
MIR. MORGAN < WANTSCANAL Will. Accept Panama, If
 Necessary. CONFEREES ARE NAMED Hepburn Will Keep Up Fight
 for Nicaragua. He Will Agree to Spooner Substitute, However, If There is No Pros >e pect for His Measure
 Passing.

Washington. June 20-(Speciai)-The naming of the House conferees this af- ternoon, to consider the canal bill which ps ssed tke Senate yesterday, indicates that no time will be lost by the two houses in trying to reach an agreement before the close of the session. The con ferees are Chairman Hepburn of the Com mittee on Commerce. who championed the Nicaragua route in the House. Fletch- CT of Minnesota( Rep) and Davey of Louisiana Dem).
 The conferees will hold their first meet ing tomorrow afternoon, and while there is no certainty as to what the result will be, it is considered as very likely that the House members will insist upon the insertion of a time clause within which tte President must determine whether the Panama route shall be selected. and they will also probably insist on more explicit provisions for insuring a clear title to the property and immunity from future claims by creditors and sharehold- CTS of the defunct corporation.
 Senator Mallory of Florida made three futile efforts yesterday to have time cleuse inserted. but was fought by MT. Spot ner ana QeleaIed III every He first placed the time at six months, and later increased 1t to a year. and finally a year and a half. The Senate would probably yield to such a demand rather than defeat the bill. just as the House would probably prefer to accept the main provision of the Senate bill rather than prevent legislation of any kind.
 Senator Morgan Talks.
 Speaking of the result. Senator Morgan said today;
 After all of these years of struggle. although defeated oh the choice of route. .stillfeeI that an American canal across the isthmus from the Atlantic to the Pacific Is assured. My preference was for Nicaragua. It seems to me to pos- sess many advantages over the Panama line, and there were fewer complications 10 be encountered. I fought for this route because I thought that it means A certainty of construction. But I wish to say that I am more interested in hav- ing a canal than in any particular route. For that reason, l voted for the final passage of the bill. amended.
 T feel sure that the House will accept the Senate bill. which I must advocate in conference. and, with President Roose- welt in the chair I feel that an Ameri- can canal will be built. l know that the
  matter of this kind, and am convinced that he will satisfy himself as to the Panama complications at once If they cannot be overcome, he will then proceed with the Nicaragua canal, for which we have fought.
 Representative Hepburn said before be- ing named as a conferee:
 1T em disappointed at the action of the Senate in adopting the Spooner sub stitute. I thoroughly believe that Nica- ragua means an American canal and ear ly canal.
 Hepburn Wants a Canal.
 If I am appointed a conferee on the part of the House, shall use my utmost endeavors to have the House bill finally adopted. I cannot say, however. that l should prefer no action at this session to the final adoption of the Senate Dill. I prefer d canal to any particular route. Senator Mitchell who was chief lieu tenant of Senator Morgan on the canal committee, said:
 q fear that the action of the Senate means a long delay in canal legislatlon' and for that reason ] was opposed to the Snooner substitute. If the House yields its own bill and adopts that of the Sen ate of course it means that we have ac- complished something; but or that nave grave doubts at present.
 Senator Harris said;
 .,I am not satisfied with the result of todav's vote. I fear 1t means no cahai' I voted for the. bill after it was amend cd Ii was a bitter pill. but ] am earn estIv and sincerely in favor Of building and isthmian canal and neHeVe Lne N;caraeua route Offers the most feasible conditions I fear the influences which usre powerful enough to bring about to- days result in the Senate will be power t,,i srouph to prevent the construction or any canal. If the administration IS strong enourh to resist those influences ana overcome them, then there is some hope.
 Cleveland and Hill.
 The all absorbing topic of conVersauon a,i among Democrats today was tl,e T,.a dinner given in New York last night The sentiment among members of the party from all sectionk of the country IS over whelmingIy to the effect that the speeches made by Cleveland and Hill were put an other step in the movement towards the harmonizing of all factions of the party and that they will go long way towaros bringing about the unity of action which will be necessary if the Democrats are to win at the forthcoming elections.
 There seems to be no foundation for the story sent out from New York Wednesday night to the effect that a movement is on foot to urge MT. Cleveland to again be- come a candidate for the Presidency. Nearly all of the prominent men who were alleged to be behind the movement ha 5e denied all connection with the matter.
 Defunct Reciprocity Bill.
 The failure of the Republicans to take my action at the conference held this afternoon means that the Cuban reciproc- ,,. hill is absolutely dead The confer ,nce adjourned subject to the call of the