The sun., 1905-12-12
FIGHT OVER The CANAL BILL.
TUO fOMWIfTLES CONrh\D IOR
tUN;ROL or N.

Scnatc sends u Ia Committee 0n Appro.
prlatlOin Mr. M0rEan SAYS the FIRST
Thrcc Years work EuiAiied In Reckless
ENtrayagancr the De Irsseps Project,
MASHISGToS, Dec. ll,--By vote Of
~ ayes TO 20 noes the Senate this after
noon after an extended debate sent
the emergency Panama Canal bill to the
COMMITTEES on Appropriations The bill
came to the Senate from the II juse shortly
after noon, and was temporarily laid aside
for he conclusion OF the morning business.
When the Vice President laid the bill
before the Senate shortly before . O'Clock
MIR. Allison tRep., Iowa., chairman of the
Appropriations Committee, and Mr. Kit
tredge (Rep., s. D., chairman OF the Com
miltee on lnterocenniC Canals joined issue
for control of the bill. Mr.. Allison started
the fight by moving its reference to the
Appropriations Committee. Immediately
Mr.. Kittredge requested that the bill be
read. and that concluded Mr., Hopkins
(Rep., I'D asked Mr.. Allison why he moved
ihe reference 10 the Appropriations Com
mittee rather than to the Committee on
lnteroceanic Canals.
Because it s a deficiency appropriation
bill. replied MIR Allison.
The fight was really bet ween the CON
servatives of the Senate. who wanted the
appropriation passed promptly TO relieve
the situation in Panama and support the
President and Secretary Taft and those
Senators who we're anxious to get at the
salary list and do "A little investigating and
pairing of salaries.
Mr.. Hopkins made the principal speech
in opposition to the reference Of the bill to
the Appropriations Committee. His re-
marks were seconded by Mr.. McCumber
(Rep., ~ d.. Messrs. Tilman Dem, S. ca
and Morgan Dem, Ala) supported the
proposal to refer to the lneroceanic Canals
Committee. The debate at times was
exciting
Mr.. Morgan declared that the canal
would cost $500 900 600; that three years
work had already been done and the plan
of the canal had not yet been agreed upon.
"We ought to begin TO define deficit, to
fix the power to create deficiencies. said he.
when we approach the end of this work
in the distant future and find that we have
expended $500 900 900 and have contracts
outstanding for another 500 900, 900, what
shall we do' Senators vote for this APP
propriation to pay salaries without even
knowing the names of the officers for which
they are appropriating. These officers go
out and contract SIS 900 900 debts against
the country and call it IA deficit We must
take some steps to put limitations on this
power to create a deficit.
Messrs. Allison, Lodge and Teller de-
Tended the right ofthe Appropriations Com
mittee to control the bill.
Mr.. Hemenway (Rep., Ind late chairman
of the Appropriations Committee OF the
House inquired il the Int eroceanc Canal
Committee didn't have the power to Ak the
salaries for Panama officers regardless of
the reference of the pending measure.
Mr.. Allison replied that it was the duty
of the committee to do so, while the Appro-
priations Committee, under the rules of the
Senate. had no such power
The debate was brought to close by
Mr. Morgan charging that the first three
years work on the Panama Canal was the
equal in reckless eXtravagance and eX-
orbitant salaries to the first three wears of
the De Lesseps project and Mr. Tillman
making frequent observations upon
grating.
Panama bill back promptly, and Senators
predict that it will pass the Senate not later
than Thursday.
Secretary of War Taft expects to go be-
fore the Senate Committee on Appropria-
tions and answer many questions concern
ing what has become of the slo.r0OoO
spent by the lsthmian Canal Commission
and to explain why millions moreare needed
and needed Immediately. He has given
much careful study TO the question, OF eS-
penditure and few weeks ago called on
the commission for detailed statement
of the commissions finances. the state
ment thereto submitted not being salts
factory. Secretary Taft will also be able
to furnish any sort of information concern
ing what has been accomplished, and in
many instances he will be able to make
his answers from information he has
gathered by his own observations. One
of the principal reasons for his recent trip
to the lsthmus was to obtain general idea
Of what has been done so that he might
give The details to the Congress first hand.