The Sentinel=record., 1911-02-26
ID FORTIFY
 THE CANAL
HOUSE VOTES s3,ooo ooo APPRo- PRiATloN BY AN ovERWHELM.
 ING MAJORITY.
Question Now Seems Settled as Sem ate Is Two to One in Favor or Project to Cost Complete
 s12,ooo, ,ooo.

Washington, Feb. 25.--After nearly five hours debate the house of repre- sentatives shortly before 10 o'clock tonight voted overwhelmingly fin favor of the policy of fortifying the Panama Canal and appropriated $S,000, 900 to begin the work, the total cost of which has been estimated at $12,000,- 900.
 The action of the house practically settles the question of fertilization, for the sentiment in the senate Is said to be more than 2 to 1, in favor of protecting the Isthmian waterway by .seaecast batteries.
 The real test in the house came on an amendment proposed by Represen- tative Tawney, of Minnesota, chair man of the committee on appropria- ions, providing that no part of the money set aside for fertilization should be used until the president of the United States had attempted to negotiate treaties with all of he lead ing maritime nations guaranteeing the neutrality and international protection of the canal.
 Representative Sherley, of Ken lucky, warned members of the amend ment had been introduced for the sole purpose of defeating the approprla- tion.
 The Tawney amnedment was voted down, 130 to 6S, and a motion by Rep resentative Keller, of Ohio, to strike out all provision for the fortifcation of tae canal was lost, 135 to 51.
 The real interest in the debate seemed to center in the Tawney amendment and the speeches made for and against it by Mir. Tawney and MT. Sherley. MT. Tawney, stalwart. republican, looked to the democratic side for sympathy and applause and received both. Mir. Sherley, one of was accorded an ovation by the repub- licans.
 When it came to voting the repuD- licans generally supported the forti- fication plan and the democrats op- posed it. The defection of about 20 republicans from the general policy of fcrtification was offset by similar defection on the democratic side in favor of fortification
 The fortification of the canal was provided for in the sundry civil bill, but was considered in the house prac- tically as separate measure and after all of the features of the sundry civil bill had been disposed of.
 The debate began shortly after o'clock. Representative Walter |. Smith, of Town, led off in favor of for tifcation and was immediately fol- lowed by Representative Keller, who led the opposition forces.
 The debate was general from that time on and no less than 20 mem bers spoke from five to twenty min utes. Mir. smith was generally re- garded as representing the admnis- tration in the fight for fertilization. He began by citing the various trea ties on the subject of a canal and de- clared that the United States not only had an absolute right to fortify, but that we nave contracted to pre- serve is neutrality and to protect it against blockade. This makes 1t the solemn duty of this people to fortify the entrance to the canal as secure ly as any of the ports of the world"
 When General Keifer had conclud- ed his speech against fortification, which followed the general line of an extended address. he made to the house on the subject several weeks ago, he made point of order against the appropriation for fertilization, de- claring it was not justified by exist ing law.
 Representative Mann, of Illinois, was in the chair and overruled tho point MT. Mann declared the Spooner act and treaty obligations distinctly gave the United States the right to construct, maintain and protect the canal.
 A number of the democrats who spoke and voted against the fortifca- tim declared they were in favor of fortifying the canal after 1t was com pleted. but they did not think the work had progressed far enough to do so now.
 Representative Smith explained that ..s'Eps