Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-22
SENATE FOR LOCKS
Upper House Passes Bill for This Type Of
Panama Canal
ONLY ONE TEST VOTE ON SUBJECT
Hhis is hezativs in Effect and Shows Small
Majority for Bill.
ACTION GENERALLY ACCEPTED As FINAL
Prospect Of Contest Between President and
Senate is Fast
cTIoG GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS FINAL
MTTaEOGi LEADS THE OPPOSITION
south Dakota senatOr says Sea Level
Canal COuId he Constructed In
Three Years Additional
Time.

WASHINGTON, June 2.-The senate tosS
day took a position in accord with
president and the house OF representatf,
by declaring for a lock canal across tn.
Isthmus OF Panama. The result was
reached after days discussion that was
almost devoid OF interesting incident There
was only one record vote and that was
negative I'm character, coming on motion
to lay on hhe table the lock type substitute
for the sea level bill. This motion was made
by Senator kittredge and was voted down
81 to %.
The vote is generally accepted as def
nitely settling the type of the great water
way and terminates what at one time
threatened to become sharp difference be-
tween the senate on one side and the presi-
dent and the house on the other. The en-
gineers have figured prominently in the dis
cussion and frequent attention has been
called to the fact that while eight put OF
thirteen engineers reported favorably to a
sea level canal all OF the five dissenters
were American engineers, while OF the other
eight fiye were Europeans. Some senators
avowed their preferenc for the all-Ameri-
can report.
Senators Kittredge, Cullom, Scott, Fora
ker and Dick spoke on the bill today.
The remainder Of the day was devoted to
the amendment to the sundry civil bill APP
propriating $4,000 for the presidents travel
ing expenses and the subject was unfinished
when the senate adjourned. Senators Nc
Iaurin and McCumber criticized the pro-
vision sharply.
Debate Begins Promptly.
The senate lost little time today in be-
, ginning its consideration Of the sea level
Panama canal bill with view to taking a
final vote on the measure before adjourn
ment for the day.
The hrst speech on the subject was made
by Senator cullon in opposition to the sea
level bill on the ground both of expense
and impracticability. He contended that
the president has authority under the
spooner act to construct lock canal
Senators Scott and Foraker announced
their intention to vote FOR the lock plan
or anals saying tlrey were hopeful that
al some time in the future the canal would
be deepened to the level OF tidewater Mr.
Foraker confessed that he was not entirely
persuaded. but that he had decided to fol
low the lead OF those who have the creates
responsiblity-the president, the secretar!
OF war and Engineer Stevens.
The debate was closed by Senator Kit
redge in advocacy OF the sea level plan
In reply TO the objection TO that type o
canal he quoted number OF engineer
to the effect that II could be complete,
within twelve years, no more than two o
three years in excess OF the time requires
for lock canal.
eoAator Dick said that he had originall
dAaAgOd from his advocacy of the Mica
raguan route to the Panama route becaus
he believed a sea level canal practical a
the latter place and that he was not will
ing now to surrender that advantage.
Negative Test Vote.
When the hour arrived for taking tn
vote Senator Hopkins offered his subst
tute providing for a lock canal. Senate
KittredGe moved to lay the subject on tn
table, but the motion was lost, 81 to q
the vote in detail being as follows;