The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-19
SPOON[R Goes
AFTER MORGAN
Senators Meet in Debate on
Panama Question
ROOSEVELT IS DEFENDED
Tillman Moves to Reconsider the LII
ioukaIani Bill Allowing Her $780,
600, But the Matter Is
Not Taken Up.

Washington, February 1S.-The Panama
canal question again today was the up
permost topic in the senate and Mr..
Spooner spoke on that subject during the
greater portion of the days session. He
discussed many phases of the subject.
sustaining the course of the President
throughout the proceedings resulting in
the independence of Panama. He also
contended for the superiority of the Pan
anna route over that Of Nicaragua. He
was interrupted frequently by Mr.. Nor
gan.
Early in the day Mr.. Tillman moved to
reconsider the tie vote Of last Monday,
by which the bill TO grant s150,0OO to for
mer Queen Liloukalanai was defeated,
but further consideration of the matter
was not pressed at the time.
The senate adjourned until Saturday on
account of Mr.. Hanna's funeral, which
takes place tomorrow
The senate also adopted the joint reso-
luton directing the secretary of COM
merce and labor to inquire into the claim
of the Wales Island Packing company on
account of the recent decision of the
Wales Island in Portland canal, Alaska.
Morgan Resolution Adopted.
The senate then adopted without objec-
ton a resolution offered by Mr. Morgan
calling upon the President to supply such
lnfirmation as he may have relating to
the present state of organization Of the
republic of Panama, copy of the con-
stitution of said republic and to inform
the senate as to any ordinace or other
proceeding of the constitutional conven-
ton recently In session in Panama relat-
ing to the Hay-varilla treaty.
Mr.. Spooner then spoke on the isthmian
| canal question. He began with evident
| embarrassment, and In opening referred
| to Mr.. Hanna's death:
I'VE all recognize" he said, that a
| very strong and kindly personality has
passed from our midst, and every senator
| finds himself, whether he will or not,
| looking for a face he cannot see. listen
ing for a voice he cannot hear. l know, J"
he added, that have no heart to speak,
and l know that you have no heart TO
| listen"
Defense of the President.
He then proceeded with his address de-
Tending the President against attacks up
on his course in connection with the re-
bellion in Panama and predicting he
would be fully vindicated by his story as
his predecessors had been.
Mr. Spooner referred to the efforts at
| legislation in the interest of an isthmian
canal, and discussed the report of the
canal commission favorable to the Pana-
ma route, and criticized Professor Haupt
| for signing a report to which he after
wards took exception. He also discussed
the relative merits of the Panama and
| Nicaraguan routes, contending that the
advantages were all In favor Of the Pan
| anna route. He found strong argument
in favor Of Panama by the fact that a
sea canal level is feasible at Panama. Mr..
Morgan took issue with the statement
relative to a sea level canal, contending
that the tides in that vicinity are such
as to render a sea level waterway almost
out Of the question. Mr.. Morgan declared
that two canals one of them at Mica
ragua, could be built as economically as
could one tide water canal at Panama.
And" said Mr.. Spooner. interrupting,
| II have no doubt that when the time
comes Nicaragua and Costa Rica will be
delighted to make the proper CONCESSIONS
'T don't know replied Mr.. Morgan,
"that they will be delighted, but they
can be compelled to do So
by the use Of guns" Mr.. Spooner sug-
| gested.
Morgan Makes Retort.
| Mr. Morgan responded by saying that
| such an agreement could be secured by
this government as easily as it could build
a new republic at Panama"
Mr.. Sponer defended the President
against the charges that he had violated
4 the Spooner act in failing to take the
| (.1-. ,t.fa frtI -
| accept the Hay -Harron treaty. If he had
taken that course, Mr.. Spooner declared
there would have been senators to re-
| prove the senator for his strenuous ef-
| fort to turn his back on route In favor
| of which congress had made a solemn
declaration.
WiIfuIIy Violated Spooner Law.
| Mr. Morgan said that he had been
among those who had accused the Presi-
dent of wilfully violating the Spooner
| law, and he added the remark that the
| act had seemed to him like an act of
! bad faith.
| Mr.. Spooner replied that Mr.. Morgan
had himself voted to fix definite time in
which to enter upon negotiations with
| Nicaragua and he said that the time
fixed in that amendment had not expired
when the Hay-BunauVarilla treaty was
sent to the senate.
"The fact remains" said Mr.. Spooner,
that the senator from Alabama was the
| only American quoted by Colombian
| statesmen while the treaty was under
consideration at Bogota."
Satan Quoting Scripture.
That replied Mr. Morgan. without
rising from his seat, 'is not the first time
that Satan was ever accused of quoting
scriptures"
| Mr.. Spooner said that he had observed
that whenever our ships were In the vicin-
| ity of Panama, there were always French
| ships there. IT have no doubt" he said,
| 'ff on August IL the President had aban-
doned Panama and gone to Nicaragua,
| there would still have been ships there.
| although they would not have been ours"
What would they have done?" Mr..
| Morgan asked
They would have taken care of French
| interests just as all governments are ex-
pected to protect their interests" Mr..
| Speoner replied.
| without concluding, Mr.. spooner sus-
pended his remarks at S:42, and the senate
| went into executive session. adjourning
l af 3.E0 until SATURDAY..