Arizona republican., 1905-12-15
INSURANCE
 AND CANAL. The Principal Topics of Dis, cuSsiOn Yesterday
In the Latter Much Opposition to the Presidents Views Was Brought to the Surface.

Washington, Dec. 14.-The senate spent four hours today in discussing the Panama canal emergency appro- prlation bill and when it adjourned the bill was still under consideration. There were some speeches by Messrs. Teller, Scott and Morgan, and they were followed by a general debate in which all phases of the controversy were exploited, including the question of salaries, the control of the Panama railroad and the necessity for general legislation on the canal subject. Sen ator Allison, chairman of the commit tee on appropriations, expressed the opinion that congress should take up the question of salaries in connection with other canal legislation. He also said that the status of the Panama railroad should be made the subject of legislation
 Messrs. Teller, Scott and Morgan ex- pressed satisfaction with conditions in Panama, but all indicated a determin- alton to support the supply measures necessary to secure construction of the canal as at present undertaken. MT. Teller advocated a sea level canal; MT. Scott spoke in support of the San
 
 and MT. Morgan expressed an opinion that before the Panama canal is com pleted, another canal will be necessary to do what business required.
 separate bill regulating the issu- ance of bonds for the canal and plac- ing them on the same basis as other bonds of the government was passed without debate.
 During the day MT Elkins made the statement from the committee on interstate commerce, expressing the opinion that the committee would pre- sent a report within a reasonable time.
 MT. Teller concluded with a plea for wider and deeper caSal than that had been decided upon by the canal commission. He also indicated a pre- ference for a sea level canal, admitting that its cost would not be less than $100000,000 but contending that such canal would better meet the demands of the world.
 MT. Scott expressed an opinion that mistake had been made in selecting the Panama route, and made a speech advocating the San Bias route We are now confroHted with just such a situation as I have always held would be encountered in connection with the Panama route. We expended millions of dollars and are now no nearer to the completition of the enterprise than when the United States took control of it.
 He contended that the canal could not be constructed as a lock canal within less than ten years, nor as a sea level canal in time to serve this generation. Mir Scott concluded with the statement that he would not op- pose the appropriation for the canal but he expressed an opinion that if the investigation recommended by him three years ago had been made the San Bias route would have been chos- en and what he termed the present complication would have been avoided.
 At the instance of MT. Aldrich, the senate inserted an amendment extend- ing the incidental expenses of the com mittee's provision limiting the expen- ditures of the appropriation. The sug- geStion of the amendment led to dis cussion as to the authority of the commission to make contracts. MT. CulbersOn called attention to Secre- tary Taft's statement to the effect that under the terms of the Spooner act the commission has authority to con- tract for the construction of a canal, and MT. Allison expressed an opinion that the commission has now power to enter into contracts, but that expen- ditures could not be made except as appropriations are made.
 Tillman made some inquiries regard ing responsibility for sucn contracts and expressed the opinion that under the circumstances we might at some time find ourselves ''in the cloud or in air"
 "In clouds or in air?"' asked MT. AL lison.
 More likely in mud" insited Mir T'illman, flor l think we are more likely to be stuck there. Who is to judge of the wisdom of such con- tracts?" he asked.
 "The president" responded the Iowa senator.
 Suppose he made a mistake; then we would be required to pay the ex- pense," MT. Tillman urged and Mr. AL lison replied, complacently: Very likely"
 MT. Morgan took up the thread of MT. Scott's remarks in favor of the San Bias route, expressing an 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. q would welcome it as a happy solution" he said, and he added that the location of the route is an ideal one. One of 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 travers- ed is unpopulated.
 In this connection he discussed the presidents declaration favorable to the Panama canal, and said: This is talk ing time by the forelock in a very strenuous way. l do not know how others may feel when told by the pres ident that the canal must be built at a certain specified place and at no other For myself, I don't feel com fortable''
 MT. Morgan said that he had been misquoted as having said that there had been graft in connection with the