The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-15

has authority to contract for the con struction of the canal, and MT. Allison expressed the opinion that the commls- sion now has the power to enter into con tracts. but that the expenditures could not be made except as appropriations are made Mr. Tillman made some inquiries regarding the responsibilities Tor sucn contracts and expressed the opinion that under the circumstances we might at
 some time find ourselves 'in the clouds or in the air
 "Iu the clouds or in the air?" repeated MT. Allison.
 More likely in the mud insisted MT. Tillman, flor I think we are more hkely to be stuck there. Who is to judge or the wisdom of such contracts?' he asked
 "The President" responded the Iowa
 senator
 Suppose he made mistake; then we would be required to pay the expense
 Mr. Tillman urged. and. MT Allison re-
 piled complacently ''very likely
 Morgan Favors San Bias.
 MT. Morgan took up the thread of Adr.
 Scotts 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. it would be wise
 to order an immediate survey of the San Bias route H 4an 1T would welcome 1t as a happy solu- tion" he said, and added that the lo- cation of the route is an ideal one. of the greatest recommendations in US IaFof he said Is the fact that there is no span ish population at either end of the line' and that the country traversed is unpop-- ulated. In this connection he discussed the Presidents declaration fayoring the Panama canal and said;
 This is taking time by the forelock in strenuous way. l don't know now others may feel when told by the Presi- dent that the canal must be built at certain specified place. and not at any other, but for myself don't feel comfort able"
 Mr. Morgan said that he had been mis- ouoted as having said that there had been graft in connection with the man agement of the canal and quoted what he had said: If, he added, any grai' | has occurred 1t will be found Tn con nection with the management of the rail road
 Speaking of the Spooner law, MT Nor gan expressed the opinion that property | administered, it. is wise and patriotic measure, but added that its operation hao been ''thwarted by the command ana de- | termIned opposition of the President. lie l criticized the present bill as being pre- I tense because it does not reduce salaries given as the result of '.the unprecedented l liberality, generosity and extravaganza. MT. Morgan expressed the opinion that | by the time the Panama canal IS com pleted the business will be so great that another isthman canal will be necessary | and he contended that no canal should ! be permitted in that vicinity unless un- der the complete control of the united l States. Even" he said, 'if the govern | ment controlling the territory at either | or both ends of the canal. such as Nlca- ragua, for instance. should undertake 10 build a canal. this country would be | derelict, If 1t did not take 1t in charge and control 1t as demanded by the great military and commercial interests of the | United States"
 | This he said was the reason for exert | Ing himself for preserving the Mckinley compact for canal across Nicaragua | "In that compact" he said, "the memory | of that,great man will be preserved, and | his greatness will grow until will be re- vealed the full splendor of his great | character"
 | He spoke of the isthmlan canal as the l best regulator of railroad rates. and he | said that the Panama road would prove most valuable in that respect.
 "It will prove the best bargain ever se- cured I wipe out from my memory all the | circumstances attending It's acquisition | and say the United States never made l such a, bargain
 He concluded with the announcement | of his intention to vote for the bill. MT | Bacon called attention to the failure of l the committee on appropriations to re- | port an amendment for the reduction of | salaries paid by the commissions, and asked if that fact indicated that the com | mittee approves them. Without waiting | for reply he expressed the opinion that 1 the salaries were exorbitant and out of 1 all proportion to the salaries paid to other government employees. ''rhere Is no par | allel for 1t in any other salaries paid by | the United States he declared. Can Fix Salaries. l MT, Allison said that the original law | had given the President authority to fix | salaries. Congressional committees, he | urged, have little time for considering such matters and it is quite impossl- ble for them to determine accurately the amount that should be paid for services. Mir Morgan suggested aI Increase of 20 per cent over Washington salaries, and Mir. Clay declared that many officials engaged on the isthmus are paid more than 100 per cent more than for service fin the Philippines. He nstanced one. case in which a salary had been increased from S24O0 to sS000 and said there should be some explanation. MT Allison admitted the reasonableness of this conclusion. He admitted that on it's face it looked as if the salaries were too high. but said it was difficult to say from the facts before the Senate just what should be done. However, this was an emergency appropriation and he had
 not supposed that the committee was
 expected to go into all the details in this connection. Mir. Hale suggested an amendment might be removed requiring that hereafter estimates for all canal salaries be submitted by the secretary. e