Show TALK ABOUT THE CAL l 3 iJ hj House Enters Upon Consideration ft Consid-eration of Measure i iI I 1 VOTE WILL BE TAKEN TODAY I i S 1 9 1I I IcItit Debate Wns Memorable Because oft 1 of-t tho Unexpectedly Powerful Opposition I Opposi-tion it DevelopedMr Cannon Contended 4 Con-tended that the Authorization of tho Canal Over the Nicaraguan Route at tills Time Would Delay Building for Years and Cost tho Government Fifty Million Dollars ICr Washington May IFor the first time during the llfty years of agitation of the project for the construction of nn Interoccanic canal the House of Representative today entered upon it consideration of n measure to actually authorize the building of D canal Many I times prior questions bearing upon the f tmes subject have been before the Ilouse but this was tho llrst time positive acton I ac-ton can be predicted Tomorrow the j bill will be voted upon before adjournment I adjourn-ment The debate today was memorable ItIZ memo-rable because of the unexpectedly powerful 1 pow-erful opposition It developed i1 Mr Barton Oj chairman of the Rivers I Riv-ers and Harbors committee Mr HitW ft 1 chairman of the Foreign Affairs I H committee and Mr Cannon III chairman of the Appropriation committee commit-tee throw the weight of their Influence against It not hecause they are opposed op-posed to the building of the canal but because they considered that the time h for authorizing its construction was f t1E1 nut ripe Ii fLAYTONBULAVJflR TREATY Mr Burton and Mr HItt contended 3 that t the bill would violate the Clayton Bulwer treaty which guarantees tho neutrality of the canal and Mr Can i non quoted Admiral Walker chairman of the Isthmian commission as saylirg the commission was not yet prepared to xay which was the best route V Mr Cannon contended that the authorization d au-thorization of the construction of the s anal over the Nicaraguan route at this time would delay its building for years and cost the Government 550 C 00000 OTHER LINES OF OPPOSITION The debate also developed other lines I of opposition Some of the Democrats insist 1 that the amendments striking t he words defend and fortifications irom the bill are designed to make it I I harmonize with the HuyPnuncefoic tioaty and It Is therefore objectionable md Mr Shickloford of Missouri desired de-sired the bill amended HO that If that r treaty Is ratlllcd the bill will not go iiio 1 effect PECULIAR SITUATION The anomalous situation Is therefore i presented of practically every member I I on the hour professing his friendship for tho canal and yet or powerful I op a piiKitlim arrayed against It on various ground Tin bill was ably and vigor misly chumploncd by Clmlrinin Hep burn of the Interstate Commerce committee com-mittee Mi Leveling uf Mudsaehusetts Mr I Runsdel oC Louisiana and Mr In Li < 0115 of Michigan Mr Fletcher of Minnesota was the only member of the r Commerce committee who opposed the a passage of any bill at this session During the debate today exSecrolary z of State Sherman was one of the Interested t In-terested listeners on the floor and Admiral Ad-miral Walker followed tho proceedings 9 from a seat In the reserved procfedlnEt KING NAMED ON COMMITTEE U On assembling the Speaker announced ii an-nounced the appointment ot Mr King of Utah to succeed Mr Shafroth of i Colorado on the Irrigation committee The Nlcarnguau canal bill was then railed uP and Mr Hapbtirn offered the amendment of the committee substituting la substi-tuting the word protect for defend and the words provision for defense d Instead of fortlllcatloriH for defense r HEPBURN OPENS DEBATE > Mr Hepburn opening the debate said 1 t1 c It was now almost exactly fiftyfour iwt years since the project of nn Inter irj oceanIc canal was first broached but this was the first day n iblll to carry Much a project into effect had received i the attention of the House of Representatives i J Repre-sentatives There had always been Home way to defeat action And now r again today the continued we see omt gonllpmen notably tho gentleman r Cft who has twice before defeated action I p 5 Htandlng here protesting that this is J J J not the auspicious moment AitSI HISTORY OF PROJECT 1 Mr Hepburn reviewed the whole history t his-tory of the canal project and said tho ing1 reports were practically unanimous In i favor of the Nicaraguan route Speaking lll1 Speak-ing of the ClaytonBulwcr treaty he YEF declared amid a general outburst of applause that the interest of the j Americans in the canal had become so great that they would refuse to be bound with t barrier Imposed by another I I j S an-other generation half a century ago Regarding existing franchises Mr 1 Hepburn wild that whenever the treasuries 1 treas-uries of Nicaragua and Costa Rica 1 I were low these countries sold franchises k4f fran-chises In nit twentyseven liad been Itl i granted during the lust lifts years ThlH 1 bill recognized and dealt with none of JL them As to the Panama canal Mr it il Hepburn expressed the opinion that it I t would never be feasible for the United 0 J States r F AN AMERICAN WATERWAY iQ4 I want said he and I think the 4 American peoplo want an American I canal which can It necessary discriminate J dis-criminate In favor of our own people giving our commerce the advantage J over the commerce of other countries rO sf We are cntcrlngaipon the most Intense Sic t1 contest In th history of time and It I pj IH the intention of the American people r 1 I that they Hliall have their full anaro 4 of the worlds commerce I want the iI4 worh fl ti dH I canal when completed under our con I Or irol I do not wunt our hands tied before It te5 be-fore wo enter the contest gS QUESTIONED BY CLARK Jn Ie If we pass thin bill and the Senate lhls then ratifies the HayPaunccfote treaty led I eU the provisions of which conflict with 1d it interrupted Mr Clark of Missouri S E 0 which would lake precedence reriji I I do not know replied Mr Hep burn If they absolutely conlllct the connct ttnh I In law would be superior to that treaty No cried gentlemen from various er CC o parts of the hal L I I wt decide to protect the canal the HuyPauncefotc treaty would give I England the same rights persisted rS3Dte Mr Clark t ClarlcDANE G oner DANE NOT SAY NAY LU F am afraid responded Mr Hep c xsC La burn that loch action would IKS unfortunate un-fortunate for the provisions of my bill But if the HOUK of Ilcpresenlntlvr by nn overwhelming vote declares tin i policy of the American people to hp for 1 Rn American canal untrnmmeliid by entangling alliance no one In the i Inlted States will dare to any nay I ii1 ri A do not think there hi i n disposition by I ei the administration to thwart the will I of tho American people rr1l l It Is not the Intention to praca the P I I HayPaunccfote treaty why is 1 It not LA withdrawn ald Mr Clark ctJU Wo mut nol atop now for fear of ill Ileal c Set I something In the future replied Mr I HepburnTHAT llcPburnlHAT WORD FORTIFY I you will put that word fortify back in the bill It will have the unanimous unani-mous vote of this side said Mr Clark I do not think the changes the committee com-mittee consented to make in the interests inter-ests of harmony as we supposed made any radical Mr differences Hepburn In the bill responded Do you think the ClaytonBulwrr treaty can he abrogated by nn act of Congress asked Mr Doll Ivor 1 doubt It would bo better were tho abrogation to be arranged through the State department but I entertaln ho doubt o our power to abrogate It by legislation Inconsistent with Its continuance con-tinuance SHACKEIFORD IS HEARD Mr Khackclford who made the minority mi-nority report in favor of an additional section providing that the canal should not be built if the HayPauncefote treaty was ratified said he was earn osHy In favor of > the canal but great Ireat as its benefits to tin Americans would be there waR one question dearer to the American heart the Monroe doc trine No exigency should compel us to depart from that doctrine which would always be our shield agalnstgfoi elgn encroachment If England wils to have the benefits of the canal why should It be built with American money x LOVISRINOS VIEW Mr Loverlng of Massachusetts said lsels the time for discussion had passed The desire of the American people for the canal was unanimous the feasl bully of the route was proved and events showed the necessity of immediate immedi-ate construction that we might reach millions of people In the Orient cheaply MI Ranwlell of Louisiana made a general argument in favor of the immediate imme-diate construction of a canal and was followed by Mr Fletcher of Minnesota in opposition The commission appointed ap-pointed by the Jast Congress ho said had made an exhaustive investigation He did not bellovr the findings of the commission should bo forestalled He and his constituents favoml MID canal but premature action was undesirable At the next Ecrcfllon when the ncxt SCIIOI fu commissioners commis-sioners report was before Congress action ac-tion should be taken for the building of an American canal TREATIES DIr D-Ir Burton of Ohio who wasj one of the leaders of the opposition said I yield to no one In my desire for the early connection of the two oceans by an Isthmian canal but this measure docs not provide the business methods of accomplishing it I Ignores solemn treaties I commits us to one route when the advantages of all routes should be considered and compared If the United Slates were to engage In a business enterprise It ought to go about It In a businesslike way If we were definitely committed to the Nicaraguan route Nicaragua and Costa Rica would I llx an extortionate price for right of way and nonconcessions CANAL SHOULD BE NEUTRAL He laid special stress upon the arguments argu-ments that the canal should be neutral and said that not only had our Government Govern-ment advocated neutral channels but had done so particularly with reference refer-ence to an isthmian canal Beginning I with Henry Clay In 1S2C wo had until very recently iavored equal privileges to all nation He maintained that the ClaytonBulwer treaty was adopted rather upon our Insistence l than that of Great Britain and that it Is I still as binding as any treaty or statute of the United Slates however much It might be assailed SOLVING WHOLE MATTER I I As a solution of the whole matter he suggested the making of provisional treaties with the Governments through which the different routes for canals I may go obtaining options on right of way and concessions and the postponement post-ponement of the selection of the route rOUe until next Dei embnr At another point Mr Burton said Nothing else than a neutral canal 1 is in accordance with the spirit of this age nothing else Is in nccord with our I conscience and benefit In managing It Nothing olso Is I in accordance with the safety with which it can be maintained We Insisted the on removal of the sound dues and the neutralization of the channels near Denmark although they woie within a cannon shot of the BhoreWHAT WHAT WAS INSISTED UPON We Insisted upon the neutralization neutraliza-tion o Magellans straits We Insisted Insist-ed upon thC neutralization of the Sl Lawrence river In that part where it flows exclusively through Canadian territory We granted and received the neutral and equal tm > of the great canal on tho Canadian border which la maintained 1 to this time Ve have fought for this principle The triumph of Decatur and Balnbrldgo against the Barbary pirates did not Inure to our benefit alone but to the whole world AVo cannot afford to He doAm upon this record Today the administration has obtained from the powers of Europe Eu-rope assurance of an open door In China a diplomatic triumph Does no one see the humor that appears In asking those concessions there and yet proposing to close the waterway between be-tween tho two oceans to the other nations of the world UNITED STATES HELD ALOOF Mr Hepburn Insisted that this Government Gov-ernment specifically refused to participate parti-cipate In the serIes of treaties that secured the neutralization of the Suez canal being the only nation that specifically spe-cifically did refuse to do that Mr Burton responded that the 1 BUlton dCd refusal re-fusal was not at all because we were opposed to the principle of neutrali sation but was because It Involved nn Implication of participation In the affairs of the Eastern hemisphere in which we did not wish to engage CORLISS ANSWERS SUGGESTIONS Mr Corliss Mich answered some of the suggestions of Mr Burton He Insisted that it should hn strictly an American canal and that there was no occasion to I delay the authorization dcln nuthorlznlon until un-til its after report the Walker commission made Mr Illtt Ills opposed the bill on account of the provision for the construction con-struction of the canal after structol aCel obtaining from Nicaragua and Costa Rica full control over the territory through which It passed Tho provision ha said was In contravention of the Bul wcrClayton treaty which ho maintained main-tained was in force The faith of the nation was pledged In that treaty 1 had been entered Into largely at out own solicitation IIITTS STRONG WORDS He believed we had the right during dur-ing the fifties when Great Britain was encroaching In Central America to notify her that she was violating the treaty and that If she persisted the treaty wag abrogated Instead of that we refused to abrogate Great Britain yielded I her contention and tho treaty remained in force Mr Freyiln huysen was the only Secretary oC Stale who had ever maintained that the treaty was not void but void able I ableMr Mr Illtt used strong words In his denunciation of tho attempts to 10 late tho ClaylonBuhver treaty He styled It a cynical dlsregrad of the moral law and an attempt to commit the American people to open perjury CANNON AGAINST BILL ILL Mr Cannon Ills conclude the de bate of the afternoon with a brief but vigorous speech against the bill IIoAvas In favor of the canal but nLld it was his > duty as a Representa tive to see that the canal was con structcrt as economically oomlcal and early as 10llbl During the last session Comrreas ap nroprlHlHl 1000000 for the invitig tlon of the various routes One thL wind engineers I laid hocn at work 500 ou the Nlexrnguun 0 rotiu 300 the 10 on i Panama and 200 on the Darlen JI route nurlen IfJUte Should Congress go ahead IUd disre gard that prodigous work done by the Walker commission INVESTIGATION BEING MADE Mr Canon stated that invest Htatel an fnton wa being made non a IncHl Lbim > of ruilnr off rI i t rnt t Uintjfhe mllib cf tlu IrOiOl route which It was possible might save half the cost of the canal He had talked with Admiral Walker within with-in two days Was Congress not to take cognizance of what was going on l this bill became a law it would place I the United States at the mercy of Nicaragua and Costa Rica Mr Cannon Can-non created something of a sensation I by quoting Admiral walker chairman of the Isthmian Canal commission assaying as-saying I We are not prepared to say nov when the auial across tho Isthmus should be constructed or which Is tho I best l route and It will lake us the remainder of the year to determine I those two facts tlsc CLAIMS IT IS A TRUST I Mr Cannon said that the proper way to get the concession would he to play one Government against the other Gentlemen talk of trusts said he I Genlcmcl Inllnite wisdom could not I create such it trust as this bill creates cre-ates He said he had been Informed the gentlemen pressing this bill wero doing HO to delay the construction of the canal He did not believe It but he did believe they were too zealous Honesty without caution and wisdom way as bad as dishonesty He declared de-clared the enactment of tho bill would put l weight oil It that would hinder c Us construction for years and cost the I I Government 50000000 Mr Stewart N J asked why Admiral I Ad-miral Walker had not furnished the r secret information given Mr Cannon I Can-non lo the House I Is not secret Information replied Mr Cannon I I sought It and P got it as any gentleman I gentle-man could Admiral Walker sat In the gallery during Mr Cannons I speech At ri21 p m the House took a recess re-cess until S oclock |