New-York tribune., 1906-06-15
TO VOTE ON CANAL BILL
SENATE SETS THURSDAY.
President Declares He WM Veto a
Sea LeUeL Measure.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau ]


Washington June 14-Speaker Cannon ana
several Of the House leaders held conference
! to-day at which il was determined to ADOPT
| a belieerent attitude on the question of level
! for the Panama Canal, and this decision was
reached just about the time that the peace1raA-
! ers in the Senate gaining victory there'
AS result of the House conference IL was oe-
| ternlined that Representative Burton sAoula
| speak for one hour tomorrow In favor OF lock-
and-dam canal, after which resolution shouio
be offered providing that the sundry Civil bill
should be so amended TO make II compulsory
that the appropriated therein for the con
tinuanoe of the canal work should be expended
only for lock canal.
While this decision was being reached at the
House end of the Capitol the Senate was dis
cussing the advisability of setting a day for a
vote the Kittredge level canal bin. 1t was
finally determined by unanimous consent to take
the vote this bill and all amendments thereto
beginning at o'clock Thursday. June q.
Now the Senate leaders maintain that they have
induced the advocates of a sea level canal in the
upper house TO abandon their plan OF putting a
provision in the Sundry Civil bill that the ap-
propriaton for the canal shall be expended only
for a Level project, this being condition OF
fixing day for 8 vote The argument used by
the leaders to accomplish this was that it would
mantfestly be unfair for the Senate. after spend
ing the whole session considering this subject, TO
attempt to force a decision the House in the
closing hours Of the session. when that body had
enjoyed no opportunity TO consider It at all IT,
however the House is prepared to demonstrate
that Il has had ample opportunity TO make up
its mind on the subject and 10 provide by legis-
lation for a lock-and-dan canal, this argument
falls 10 the ground and ii is feared that the con-
tempated action OF the House Will precipitate a
long and bitter fight. which VIII delay adjourn
ment and may not, and probably viii not, re-
suit IN any agreement
Meanwhile the President is insisting that
Congress shall determine the type of the canal
at this session. He says emphatically that if
the sundry Civil bill comes to him with pro-
vision that no funds shall be expended on the
canal except IN furtherance Of the sea level
plans, he viii veto the bill and call Congress
IN special session He IS convinced that the
present advocates Of a sea level canal are the
same men who for years opposed any canal,
and who later tried 10 oheckmate the Panama
Canal by belated advocacy Of the Nicaragua
route II the President viii be satisfied with
sea level action by the Senate and none at all
by the House, the question can probably be left
that form, but If it is insisted that the House
make provision for lock and dam canal there
viii be, in the opinion of the Senate leaders,
contest Of no mean proportions and one that
VIII call out intense antagonism between the
respective chambers.
Under these clrcuInSt tanCeS, hope is expressed
that the House leaders viii reconsider their de-
cisiOn Of to-day and viii decide to trust 10 the
Senate's making no attempt TO dictate the type
OF canal beyond such is implied by the
passage Of the Kittredge bill.
After Senator Dryden had finished his speech
on the Panama Canal bill to-day Senator Kilt
redge made effort to secure an agreement TO
vote on the bill and was making fair progress,
when Senator Foraker interposed with ques-
ton 10 the necessity for determining the type
OF the canal al the present session. He said that
his predictions had been in favor of the sea
level type, but that some doubt had arisen In
his mind, and that he did not feel prepared
TO vote. Messrs, Teller, Warren Hopkins and
Scott agreed with this suggestion, Mr.. Teller
saying that it was entirely understood that, re-
gardless Of what the Senate may do, the House
viii act the measure at the present ses-
sion. and Mr.. Hopkins saying that no possible
harm could come from a postponement.
Senator Hale expressed q desire to secure q
vote at the present session. saying that If the
decision as to the type is TO be postponed there
ought TO be no further work the canal but
Senator Carter arguing for pOstponement said
that the construction could be carried on until
next winter without interfering with the type
Senator Culberson called attention to the Presi-
dents declaration Of his intention to proceed
with the construction Of lock canal unless Con-
gress should order otherwise, but the Montana
Senator held that In a work Of such proportions
/ as the canal a few months time would mako
little difference in determining the tyne
Mr.. Hale made the point that the bin was the
diminished business and that il must be either
! voted on or displaced by vote. He said that
/ II the bill was not acted upon now il would
/ be added as an amendment 10 the Sundrv CgviI
/ bill.
Senator Blackburn opposed postnonement
declaring lAat the Presidents preference for q
/ lock canal is known, he said: 'Tt is an oran
secret that If this session adtourns the tLne
or the canal IS fixed and fixed by reason of our
non L4!l -tcLloH n Il VIII be lock-and-dan canal,
| whether Congress prefers 1t or not"
AFTER further discussion the agreement IN
vote was reached.