Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-02-23
MORGAN is A HARD FIGHTER
Keeps Up the Contest for His Pet Plan, the
Nicaragua Canal Route.
PROPOSED ANNEX TO THE CAPITOL
Next Few Years Likely TO See Large
Additions to the Public buildings
II at the seat of National
Government.
Fl N a STAFF Correspondent


Nicaragua route is pathetic illustration
Of the vigor and energy sometimes shown
by an old man in the United States senate.
II is now nearly thirty years since Mr..
Morgan began to advocate the construction
Of canal across Nicaragua by the United
States. Since he began his propaganda
millions Of dollars have been expended by
private individuals and corporations in the
preliminary work of the construction of
a canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific
through the Nicaragua route At various
times during that period It has seemed
probable that this particular plan would
be indorsed by the federal government. But
at last the French company, owning the
rights and franchises for a canal In the
republic Of Colombia. made such a propo-
sition that IT was deemed most expedient
to take up the work inaugurated by De Les
seps and carry 1t to completion. After the
United States had once been committed
TO this proposition It seems futile for any
one to undertake to negative the action
OF the administration and OF congress. Still
Senator Morgan never abandoned ths fight
for a moment. On the contrary he has al
lowed no opportunity to slip by in which
he might continue his contest. During the
past few days the executive sessions of the
senate have been devoted to the consider
alton Of the Panama canal treaty. No one
has thought for a moment from the outset
of the discussion that any possible contin-
gency could arise which would lead the
United States to recede from the action
which It has already taken and to provide
for canal by the way of Lake Nicaragua.
Yet Senator Morgan has talked day after day
in favor Of his pet project. He is an able
and brilliant man and when he becomes
enthusiastic upon any subject he can dem
onstrate his ability to discuss II to the
utmost degree. There are perhaps a dozen
senators who agree with Mr.. Morgan that
the Nicaragua route is by far the better
Of the two, and there are some who even
go so far as to assert that the day will
come when two canals will be necessary to
accommodate the commerce which must
pass from one ocean to the other. But
after all the Panama canal will be the first
| constructed and it will, Of course, be built
under the auspices of the United States
government There can scarcely be a doubt
that Mr. Morgan realizes this fact, but the
knowledge has not prevented him from
doing everything in his power to further
his original proposition.
few days ago ex-senator Warner Mil
! Ter of New York was in Washington and
during his visit he took occasion to heartily
| indoFse everything that Mr.. Morgan has
done Mr.. Miller was one OF the principal
promoters Of the Nicaragua Canal COM
| pany, which concern spent more than
| 81, 900 900 in surveys and preliminary work.
| Mr.. Miller did not hesitate to express him
| self very forcibly and he said that in his
! judgment, acquired from a personal knowl-
| edge of the physical condition, that the
Panama canal can never be put into sue
cessful operation. Mr. Miller believes that
whatever money may be paid to the French
company for its rights will be virtually
thrown away and that the day will come
within a very few years when the world
will admit that the Nicaragua route is
the only feasible one.
Annex to the Capitol.
The house OF representatives has again
demonstrated it's faith in Mr.. Elliott Woods
the superintendent of the capitol, who is
the oficial architect OF congress. Uncle
Joe Cannon, soon to be elected speaker who
is not given to advocating extravagant ap-
propriations Is the father of the plan tc
adopt Mr.. Woods idea for the erection oi
a great Office building for the use OF mem
bers OF the house of representatives and tc
be connected with the capitol proper by g
subway. Upon Mr. Cannon's motion the
house adopted an amendment TO the sundry
civil appropriation bill, authorizing the
purchase OF a site and the expenditure OF
100000 in the erection of the buildinl
upon plans drawn up by Mr.. Woods. 1t II
proposed to acquire the property facing Cap.
itol park on the south, and to put up
modern convenient office building which
will enable members to attend to the af
fairs of their districts in proper manner
without being compelled to pay ofice rem
out OF their private purses. The extent t.
which members are subjected to this ex
pense is not realized outside OF Washing
ton, and few people even here realize tha
the Offices maintained for the benefit o
their constituents by nearly 100 representa-
tives must be maintained at the private ex
pense of the member Some OF these once
cost from $1,000 to 81 200 a year, in add
tion to the cost of clerks and stenographer
who occupy them. The senate. on tn
other hand furnishes each OF its member
with a room. The majority OF the senator
are quartered in what is known as the sen
ate annex, a six-story building TO tn
north of the capitol grounds, which wa
erected for hotel some fifteen years ag
by man from Baltimore. The hotel was
dismal failure from the outset The owne
of the property found that he had an ele
Thant on his hands, and after a great dea
OF effort he succeeded in unloading Il upol
the government at a comfortable advanc
on its original cost. Soon afterward II wa
found necessary to practically rebuild tn
interior in the interests OF safety. Toda
, II is a miserable substitute for a real oflc
building inconveniently located badly ar
ranged and with nothing like modern facili
ties for the transaction of business. Tn
senate will undoubtedly indorse the actioi
OF the house in providing the means 10
the erection of an ofice building for tn
popular branch, Of congress There is ais
a proposition pending 10 acquire a site an
: erect a similar building on the north sid
: of the capitol so as to balance up, as
were, the architectural aspect OF the sur
roundings. Whether or not this may b
done during the present session OF con
gress. II is certain that a new once built
ing for the senate will be authorized With
} a very few years. Such a structure is badl
p needed. and the need is recognized on a
/ sides.
e New Public Buildings.
o Within the next Ave years there will b
" several notable additions to the publ
buildings Of the national capital. Cor
gress has already authorized the erectio
~ OF fine new building for the use Of II
Department OF Justice. II would have bee