The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-15
For Four Hours Measure
 is Discussed.
NEW ROUTE Is PR0P osED
Senator Scott Thinks Mistake Has Been Made.
Matter of Salaries Paid Employees of the Panama Commission is the Subject of investigation
 in Upper Chamber.

Washington, Dec. 14.-The Senate spent four hours today in discussing the Panama Canal emergency appro- priation bill and when it adjourned the hill was still under consideration. There were set speeches by Messrs. Teller Scott and Morgan and they were fol- lowed by a general debate. in which all phases of the controversy were exploit ed. including the question of salaries' the control of the Panama Railroad and the necessity for general legisia- tion on the canal subject. MT. All son, chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, expressed the opinion that Congress should take up the ques- tion of salaries in connection with otner canal Iegislation. He also said that the status of the Panama Railroad should be made the subject or legisia- tion.
 pressed dissatisfaction with the condi- lions in Panama. but all indicated a determination to support the supply measures necessary to secure the con- struction of the canal as at present un- dertaken. Mir. Teller advocated a sea level canal; MT Scott spoke in support of the San Bias route as preferable to all others and MT. Morgan expressed the opinion that before the Panama Canal is completed another canal will be required.
 separate bill regulating the issu- ance of bonds for the canal and placing them on the same basis as other Gov arnment bonds was passed without de- bate. During the day MT. Elkins made q statement from the Committee on In- terstate Commerce expressing the opinion that the committee would pre- sent a report within a reasonable time.
 Affffnds Of Administrations.
 Quoting Secretary Taft's testimony before the committee on appropriations MT. Teller said that the attitude Of the administration is that the Presi- dent has the right under the law to con struct a lock canal without further consultation with Congress. "Possi- ply is this true" he said Congress has done many foolish things in the past forty years but T do not believe 1t has ever done so foolish a thing as 1t has done in putting out of it's own hands the control of this important work"
 He thought that Congress and not the executive is to blame for this ac- tiop and attributed it to the demands of the public for undue haste in the matter. To this demand he also attrib- uted the expense which has so far at tended the work on the canaL
 Mir Teller concluded with plea for a wider and deeper canal than that decided upon by the canal commission. He also indicated preference for q sea level canal, admitting that it's cost would not be less than $5O0,OOO,00O but contending that such canal would better meet the demands Of the world
 Mir. Scott expressed the opinion that a mistake had been made in selecting The Panama route and made a speech advocating the San Bias route. we are now confronted with just such T situation as I have always held would he ecountered if we follow the Pana- ma route. We have expended millions of dollars and %lre no nearer to the com pIetion of the enterprise than when the United States took control of 1t. He contended that the canal could not be constructed as lock canal within less than ten years nor as a sea leFet canal in time to serve this generation
 Enumerating the advantages of the San Bias route he said it was Snly 90 miles fin length; that it has good har- bors; it could be traversed in five or six hours; is capable of construction In three years and will accommodate all the business much more readily than any other .....'.:. : .
 MT. Scott concluded with the state nlent that he would not oppose the appropriation for the Panama Canal but he expressed the opinion that if the investigation recommended by him three years ago had been made the San Bias route would have been cho- sen and that he termed the present complication would have been avoid ed.
 At the instance of Mir. Aldrich the senate inserted an amendment extend- ing to incidental expenditures the committee's recommendation limiting expenditures to appropriations. rms led to a discussion of the authority of the commission to make contracts. MT. nt Secretary Taft's testimony that under the terms of the Spooner act the commission had authority to contract for the construe- ton of the canal and Mir Allison ex- pressed the opinion that the commls- sion now has power to enter into con tracts but that the expenditures could not be made except as appropriations are made.
 MT. TilIman made some inquiries re- Garding the responsibility Tor such contracts and expressed tnc ,,, oPIhI1t ,.I1.St that under the circumstances we might at some time find ourselves 'iE the clouds or in the air"
 Tn the clouds or in the air?" repeat ed Mir. Allison.
 stuck in the Mud.
 .More likely in the mud, insisted Mir. Tillman," flor think we are more likely to be stuck there. Who is to fudge of the wisdom of such con tracts?'' he asked.
 'sThe President" responded the Iowa Senator.
 suppose he made a mistake; time we would be required to pay the expense, Mir. Tillman rrged. and MT. Allison re- nIied complacentIy. 'Very likely
 Mir. Morgan took up the thread of MT. Scott's remarks in favor of the San Bias route. expressing the opinion that in view of the divided opinion of the anrineers on the Panama route 1t would be wise to order an immediate s,rvey of the San Bias route.
 ..f yrorld welcome it as a happy sO- 1,tion." he aeded, and added that the location of the route is an ideal one. 0f the greatest recommendations in it's favor. he said, Is the fact that there Is no spanish population at either end Of the line and that the country tra versed is unpopulated. In this con nection he discussed the Presidents declaration favoring the Panama Ca nal and said: This is taking time by line forslock in very strenuous way. ~-I don't know how others may feel when ,-S by the President that the canal
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