Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-12-21
situation as I have Always neld wonu

situation as I have always neld wou1c
be encountered in connection with the
Panama route. We have expended mil
lions Of dollars and are now no nearer
to the completion Of the enterprise
than when the United States took con-
troll Of It," He contended that the canal
could not be constructed as q lock ca
nal within less than 10 years nor as a
sea level canal in time to serve this
generation.
Mr.. Scott concluded with the state
ment that he would not oppose the
appropriation for the Panama canal.
Mr.. Morgan took up the thread of
Mr.. Scott's remarks in favor of the
San Bias route, expressing the opinion
that in view Of the divided opinion of
the engineers on the Panama route 1t
would be wise to order an immediate.
survey Of the San Bias route. II would
welcome 1t as q happy solution" he
said, and added that the location. of
the route is an ideal one. In this con-
nection he discussed the presidents
declaration favorable to the Panama
canal. and said:
"This is taking time by the forelock
in very strenuous way. ! do not
know how Others may feel when told
by the president that the canal must
be built at certain specified place
and not at any other, but myself,
do not feel comfortable"
Speaking of the Spooner law Mr.. |
Morgan expressed the opinion thai
properly administered 1t is wise and
patriotic measure, but he added that
its operation had been "thwarted by
the determined opposition Of the pres
ident." He criticised the present bill
as being q prete2se because 1t does
not reduce the sals les given as the re-
suit Of ''the presidents liberallty, gen.
crosby or extrava. 1ce."
He spoke Of the isthmian canal as
the best regulator Of railroad rates.
and he said that the Panama road
would prove most valuable In that re-
spect. 1T will prove the best bargain
ever secured. wipe out from my
memory all the circumstances attend
Ing its acquisition and say the United
States never made such bargain"
He concluded with the announcement
Of his intention to vote for the bill
Mr.. Bacon called attention to the -,
failure Of the committee on appropri-
ations to report an amendment for the
reduction of salaries paid by the COM
and asked II that fact indi-
Gated that the commission approves
them. Without waiting for a reply,
he expressed the opinion that the
salaries were exorbitant and out OF
III proportion to the salaries paid to
other government employees. There
d no parallel for It in any other sal
tries paid by the United States" he de-
,lared
Mr.. Allison said that the original
aw had given the president authority
o fix salaries. Congressional commit,
ees, he urged, have little time for con.
Iidering such matters, and It Is quite
impossible for them to determine accu-
'stely the amount that should be paid
or services
Mr.. Morgan suggested an increase
4 20 per cent. over Washington sal.
Iries, and Mr.. Clay declared that many
medals engaged on the isthmus are
aid morn than 100 per cent more I
han for service IN the PHILIPPINES. I
ie instaneed one case In which a sal,
~ had been increased from S2,4O0
o to.0Ou, anu raau ueFS snoui0 % I
ONE explanation
hese salaries In four Or eve dsys,"
IL said. "of course. We can guess at q
/ but We DO not want TO do that" q
Mr.. Clay asked what became Of the I
honey paid BY the United States to
be Panama road for services and Mr..
Hale replied that the money cones q
ack to the national treasury. He Il
I'D the road Il run - IN iadspeRd-