The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-06-07

The second day OF the canal debate in
the Senate was somewhat more cventful
than the first.
Senator Hanna continued his speech in
a forccful manner. that drew the atten-
ton of a large number of Senators nearly
all day. Senator Morgan contributed 10
the situation 4 number Of interesting
clippings from Panama papers in 1852. at
the time Of The great ,-irnna4rs- earth
quake. Senator Bacon late in the after
noon introduced proposed amendments.
placing the construction of the canal in
the hands OF an "isthmian canal com
mission instead of the Secretary of
War, no matter which route is chosen.
The clippings introduced by Mr.. Nor
gan were sent to the State Department
by the United States consuls in Colom-
bia at the time of the earthquake They
were vivid descriptions OF the havoc
wrought by the earthquake throughout
Panama. One of them made especial
reference TO damage 10 the zcanal works
then under construction.
The Bill Taken Up.
The bill itself was taken at up .
o'clock. There was not at first a quo
rum in the Senate, but after a few min
utes' skirmishing the requisite number
of Senators had been secured
Mr.. Hanna proceeded with his speech.
He took exception to some of the state
ments made by Mr.. Mitchell on Thursday
regarding his CHanna'sJ position He
said that he did not dispute the feasibili-
~ of the Nicaraguan route, but that he
did not believe there has yet been a suf-
ficiently exhaustive examination of the
route.
Mr.. Hanna stated he had no personal
motive in his friendliness to the Panama
route.
There should be no politics in this
question and no sectionalism, and no
sentiment. There is none, and certainly
there is no personality in it.
If what l say in favor of the Panama
route Goes not convince the Senate that
this route is the better one, should not
want the Senate to vote for it
Full Consciousness of Responsibility.
He earnestly declared that he was
here to do-his duty to his country, and
when he was honored by appointment
upon an important committee OF the
Senate, he entered upon his duties with
the full consciousness of the response
bilities devolying upon him and he acted
accordingly.
He paid tribute TO the late President
McKinley's loyal, honorable. and disin- |
terested position in selecting a commits |
sion TO investigate as to the feasibility |
of constructing an isthmian canal. and |
the route which, in the judgment OF that |
commission, was the best.
Mr.. Hanna secuted the idea that there |
was danger OF spontaneous combustion |
of fuel from the heat of the zone a.
Panama. He said he mad been familiar
with the handling of bituminous coal for
thirty years. but never before had he
heard OF coal under cover, and protected
from moisture, having ignited from
spontaneous combustion.
In his treatment OF the Bohio dam
question, which, he declared, would be
exploited as the great bugbear raised |
against the physical impossibility Of the
construction of the Panama Canal. he
that the French engineers
knew what they were doing when they
said that stable dam could be built in
the clay foundation. He supplemented
this by a statement OF his very positive
belief that there was nothing Impossible
in building down to rock foundation, II
the Government shall see fit 10 do so.
He mentioned the fact that the mem
bers of the American commission had
gone to Paris, and spent weeks and
months in examining the maps and plans
Of the new Panama Company, and tina:
after their return, they went TO the
isthmus and found that the facts sub
mitted to them in Paris were absolute
Iy correct.
Biased by Self Interest. t
Mr.. Hanna alluded rather caustically
10 the fact that United States Minister :
Merry and Captain Menocal. two Of the /
important witnesses. before the Senate /
,anal Committee, were personally in c
crested in the Nicafaguan route
He also called attention to the fact :
hat the House passed the Nicaraguau I
quite bill before the Isthmian Canal /
Commission had made its supplementary 4
oport. This supplemental report he {
aid. made an entirely new phase Of
he question.
Mr.. Hanna introduced a voluminCus
compilation Of testimony secured by
im from captains and sailing masters
4 all the steamship ard sailing ship :
ines which ply on the Atlantic, and
specially tboss which would use aa
sthmian canal If built The statements
'cre eighty three in number I
Mr. Hanna stated what he considered c
o be the facts regarding the two routes !,
o these seamen and requested them
o answer questions as to the better of
he two The answers we're unanimous
y In favor OF the Panama route
Senator Harris and Senator Mitchell,
riends Of the Nicaraguan route, did not u
eem Inclined TO let this testimony 90 "
Mr. Harris, Who is an OF
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