Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1902 — PANAMA ROUTE WINS. [ARTICLE]

PANAMA ROUTE WINS.

NICARAGUA CANAL BILL BEATEN /, IN BENATE. Spooner Amendment Adopted bx a Vote of 42 to 84—Honoe Has Previously Legislated in Favor of Nicaragua) Thus Mixing Matters. The Spooner substitute, directing President Roosevelt to secure the Panama route, was adopted by the Senate Thursday afternoon. The vote was 42 yeas to 84 nays. Debate on the isthmian canal bill closed at 2 o’clock and voting was begun at once on the Nicaraguan measure reported by the committee and the jSpoouer Panama substitute. The first roll call came on Bacon’s amendment, which was adopted, 52 to 20. All the Panama advocates voted for the amendment, indicating that they are in a majority. With defeat staring him in the face, Senator Morgan made another speech for his pet Nicaraguan bill. He had not intended to speak again, but Senator Allison, chairman of the Republican caucus, made a speech for Panama which the venerable Alabaman thought 'demanded an answer. Senator Allison supported the Panama route because he said he did not presume to ignore the testimony of eminent engineers who had deliberately made that fthoice. “The insinuation that the Spooner substitute means no canal is utterly without foundation,” said Senator Allison, replying to the oft-repeated charge that the Panama advocates are opposed to the interoceanic waterway. "The people of the United States demand that this canal be built by the government, and it will be, if not by Panama, then by the Nicaraguan route.” Senator Morgan made a strong final plea for the Nicaragua route. Regarding the greater cost of the canal by that route he said there was an eminent engineer who would build it for $146,000,000, and another had Offered to build the canal free for the United States if given a lease of it for the first ten years after Its completion. Matters Now Mixed. 1 The bill as passed is known by the name of Senator Spooner, “find it authorizes the President to acquire the Panama rights and property if it shall be found that a good title can be furnished. If not the President is authorized to proceed to acquire the Nicaragua route. The* passage by the of the Spooner bill really leaves the building of an isthmian canal as far off as ever, according to a Washington correspondent. The House of Representatives has passed a bill for a canal at Nicaragua and until the two branches of Congress harmonize in the matter of route and all other details there is no legislation. ~* A conference committee will be appointed to attempt to effect an agreement, but it is not anticipated that this committee will be ready to report before next session of Congress, and then the fight over the routes will be renewed in the House, to which the conference committee must report for approval. There is another obstacle which must cause delay. If the ,Panama route is chosen a treaty must be negotiated with the Colombian government, and this treaty must be ratified by two-thirds of the United States Senate.