Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-25
The Panama Canal.

In his speech in the Senate Monday on
the isthmian canal question Mr.. Morgan
said:
I'm the present situation it seems proper
that | should restate the most important
facts relating to the Nicaragua route that
there may be no hesitancy or evasion as to
executing the canal act of June ~. 1903.
Before doing this l must make a state
nent in some sense personal, which would
not make but for the respect have for the
character of The Evening Star of this city
and its worthy conductors.
In a recent issue. under the head of Mr..
Morgan and the Canal The Star says:
Congress- by vote almost unanimous
ordered the change (from Nicaragua to
Panama) and put the matter in the Presi-
dents hands, The Star is misled by some
lamentable oversight as to the facts as they
are shown by the record. The entire House,
save two votes had voted for the Mica
ragua route, and the matter that was put
into the hands of the President by the
Spooner law was not a discretion in the
choice of routes 1t was not even a diScre-
ton as to the time within which he was re-
quired to obey the law after the time for
dealing with Colombia had been fixed by
agreement in the HayHerran treaty.
THE Spooner amendment to the House
bill did not substitute the Panama route
for the Nicaragua route. 1t only gave
preference in the selection of routes to the
Panama scheme. upon certain conditions
that are now impossible. The giving OF
this preference stated and regulated in
the Spooner amendment did not displace
the Nicaragua route or condemn il with
even shadow of disapproval On the con-
trary. that law Is as firm and decisive to
the merits OF the Nicaragua route as the
Hepburn bill. the language of which, in this
respect. was copied from that bill. The
SpOOner law orders the President to cause
the isthmian canal commission to excavate
and construct the Nicaragua canal If Co.
lombia should fail within a reasonable time
TO rauty treaty with the United States
IN
prescribed in the Spooner act | need not
repeat them to the Senate, but The Star
would do well to give them careful exami-
nation and due weight to all their provi-
sions.'
AS MIR. Morgan states. the House voted
for the Nicaragua route almost unani-
mously But two members recorded them
selves in the negative. When the bill
reached the Senate the fight for Panama
became exceedingly spirited. Instructed
PERHAPS by the action of the House, the
Panama people. who had been simply talk
Ing about lowering their price. now def
nitely lowered it, and agreed to accept forty
million dollars, the figure of our own an
praisement of their property. The offer
proved tempting, and the Senate acted on
1t. The House bill was changed not count
ing Nicaragua out of the equation but put
ting Panama ahead of it on conditions As
the bill passed the Senate II provided for
buying the new Panama Canal Company
possessions at the price stipulated. But the
President was first to see that a satisfac-
tory title could be secured, and then to ne
gotiate treaty with Colombia for Amerl-
can control of a canal zone across the 18TH
mus IL he failed in this within a reason
able time and upon reasonable terms" he
was to turn to Nicaragua and Costa Rics
and negotiate for digging the Nicaragua
canal.
The House first refused to accept the Sen
ate bill A conference between the two
houses was held, in which Mr. Morgan and
Mr. Hepburn participated. and the result
was the passage of the Senate bill. 1t was
approved and became law June IS on
its face it records change of first choice
by Congress from Nicaragua to Panama
How many Of the advocates of the :. cl-