Shall It Be Nicaragua Or Panama?

SHALL IT BE NICARAGUA OR PANAMA?

The Hepburn Nicaragua canal bill passed the house yesterday by a practically unanimous vote, only two members, one a republican and the other a democrat, voting against the proposition. This vote, however, does not indicate that the house of representatives is anywhere nearly as unanimous as that on the question. A vote on an alternative route a little earlier in the day developed 102 votes for and 170 against the alternative route. Another factor which caused many who do not approve of the unseemly haste in passing the Hepburn bill, in view of the offer of the Panama property for $40,000,000, to vote for the Hepburn bill, is the fact that they knew perfectly well that the matter will rest in the senate until the Panama proposition has been looked Into in all its bearings on the great canal undertaking. In the meantime a vote for the bill, it was thought, would bring some credit to the members with their constituents. Of course everybody is for the canal, but under the present circumstances it is the part of wisdom not to hurry the matter into law until the Panama proposition is fully before the country and its conditions and surroundings are fully understood. The senate will see that plenty of time is taken for the accomplishment of all this. And if it shall then be found that the Panama route is the better route for all purposes, the house having march up to the top of the hill will have for it trouble the privilege of marching down again. Knowing all this the country will contain its soul in peace.

Of course, as the situation unfolds it may appear that the country will want nothing to do with the Panama route, but present knowledge is undoubtedly impelling many to change views from the Nicaragua route to the Panama route. That route is very much shorter, twelve hours will be all the time needed for ships to pass through it, while the Nicaragua route will, it is said, require thirty hours at least. And as vessels will only be able to move through the canal during daylight this point of vantage means much.  Again, it ______ that at Panama a sea le______ constructed, but this is impos______ the other route.  Then again ____ Panama canal is one-fourth const_____ and if this route is decided upon ___is work can be had for much less than its cost.  There are many other reasons advanced in favor of the Panama route.  The government commission which has gone carefully over both routes and whose members are better qualified to pass judgment on the question as to which is the better, prefers the Panama route, provided a clear title can be obtained for $40,000,000 and the proper concessions obtained from Colombia. In view of all these facts, it would seem to be wise not to close the matter until all the information which may throw light upon the subject is at hand and carefully digested. There are times when the deliberate and slow moving senate is an advantage to the country.

The Michigan congressional delegation seems to be out of joint with Senator McMillan on the question of reciprocity concessions to Cuba on sugar. The congressmen will stand against the proposed cut in the sugar duty, while it is claimed Senator McMillan thinks a moderate reduction of the duty advisable. The congressmen must, of course, look after their fences, and as the beet sugar men are against the proposed reduction and the great mass of consumers are quiescent, the congressmen feel, therefore, that they must stand with the noisy few in order to insure re-election no matter what injustice is done the great majority, or how much discredit is thrown upon the nation's pledges to Cuba. To the careful student of the question there appears no menace to the Michigan beet sugar interests in the proposed concessions to Cuba. The same arguments were used to secure the sugar bounty law in Michigan- that the beet sugar industry could not exist without the bounty. Nevertheless, it has continued to grow and the factories to increase and multiply. If a particular business engaging the attention of a few cannot live without using the taxing power to extract profits for it from the pockets of the whole people, it would better die. But no one expects to see the demise of the beet sugar industry, should all the concessions contemplated be given Cuba.