The Sentinel=record., 1910-01-06
PASSED WITH THE DEMOCRATS MAKING A STRONG FIGHT
 AGAINST IT.
Section Two of the Bill, Which Con. fers Civil, Military and Judicial Powers on President,
 Caused Big Fight.

Washington, Jan. 5.--With he Democrats fighting every inch of the way, the Mann bill, providing Cor the administration of the Panama Canal Zone and centralizing the government thereof in the president of the Untcd States, passed the house tJda, by a vote of 119 to ,03. Ire voting was along strict party lines.
 The minority kept the house In ses. sion until i o'cioc6 his evenlpg, by offering amendment after amendment and demanding lrilers of eacl vlre. A futile effort was made by Repre- sentative Rich .sGsoa of Alabama 10 have the melsHsr reeommittod 10 the committee on interstate and foreign commerce, an aye an nas vote re- sulting 104 ayes and l36 nays
 Section two of tha bill, which con fers on the president military, civil
 and judicial powers, including rne power to make laws, vas the object of spirited attack, Representative Keller, of Ohio joining the Democrats in the fight
 The attitude of the majority and minority on this sectiaa may he beat described by question propounded to Representative Garrett of Tennes. see and MT Townsend's reply
 Do you believe that congress has any power under the constitution 70 confer legislative power on the presi- dent?" asked MT Garrett.
 Ordinarily. mo- replied Mir. Town send. In this case, yes. We are in Panama digging a canal and 1t is nee essary for the president to have the power to make rules and regulations for the government of the zone while that work is in progress
 Representative Mann, author of inc bill, claimed that precedent for dele gation of such power in the executive was found in similar action by Demo cratic congresses at the timc of the Louisiana Purchase and again waen Florida was ceded to the United States by Spain.
 Defending his party Representative Harrison of New York said that dis- tubed internal conditions made such action necessary. but that despotic government in those territories was continued no longer than was neees- sary to establish local government, Speeches we're made by Represes .ta- tives Underwood of Alabama Hard wick of Georgia and others in oppo- sition to this section.
 A motion of Mir. Hardwick to strike out the section entirely was lost by the close vote of S5 to 90
 The bill as 1t goes to the senate all- thorizes the president to have the Panama Canal complete dand to ap- BNAAh q LII VAN0A 5NhCi als VI lhR ~dAA4 and Canal Zone, thus doing away with the canal commission.
 It invests the judicial power of the zone in one circuit court aud such in ferior courts as the president may and allows appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States in civil cases involving 5000 and m criminal cases punishable by death or life Imprisonment. Trial by jury is granted in all criminal prosecutions for felony.
 Since the expiration Of the Fifty Eighth congress there has been no act in terms authorizing the government of the Canal Zone, but President Roo sevelt continued in existence the civil government of the zone after the act of April 2S. 1901. became ineffective automatically.