Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-22
THE GREAT LAKES CANAL
A Commission Provided For, but Which
Has Not Been Appointed
Serve without Ccmpensation-Mag-
nitude of the Project.

It Is sometimes very difficult for the gov
ernment to secure the services Of citizens
in public work FOR which no compensa-
tion Is provided. A striking case In point
Is the national commission on the proposed
ship canal between the Great Lakes and
the Atlantic ocean. Congress has provided
for the creation Of such a commission, but
1t has also provided that the members shall
serve without compensation in any form.
They are to be paid their actual travelling
and other necessary expenses. however, and
an appropriation of $4,000 was made for
that purpose.
Two Commissions Provided For
The last Congress provided for two i'm
portant engineering commissions. One
was to examine the Nicaragua canal and
report upon the feasibility and probable
cost of its completion. The other was to
consider the feasibility of the construction
of IA ship canal from. the Great Lakes to the
Atlantic ocean, Provision for these two
commissions was contained in the sundry
civil appropriation bill approved March 2,
1898. The Nicaragua canal commission was
duly appointed by the President. and the
commission has been over the route OF the
canal and returned TO New York yesterday
on the cruiser Montgomery. Its report VIII
be ready for submission to Congress In De-
cember. Although it has not been fully
prepared it is generally understood that 1t
will recommend the completion of the canal.
The Great Lakes Canal.
The other canal project. however. has not
received such favorable consideration. Pos-
sibly the fact that the commissioners Will
receive no compensation may have some
thing to do with the failure to secure COM
petent persons to render this important
service, or there may be other reasons equal
ly good. but. at any rate, the commission
cd ond CT
can be learned, there is no prospect or Its
organization in the near future. This omls-
sion is the more singular. considering the
vast interests at stake, inasmuch as the
commission Immediately after the passage
of this act" nearly five months ago.
Text of the ProvisiOns.
The full text of the provisions is as fol-
lows:
1.-The President of the United States is
authorized to appoint, Immediately after
the passage of this act, three persons, who
shall have power to meet and confer with
any similar committee which may be ap-
pointed by the government OF Great Brit
ain or of the Dominion of Canada, and VINO
shall make inquiry and report whether 1t
is feasible to build such canals as shall
enable vessels engaged in ocean commerce
to pass to and fro between the Great Lakes
and the Atlantic ocean, with an adequate
and controllabe supply of water for con-
tinual use; where such canals can be most
conveniently located, the probable cost of
the same with estimates in detail; and II
any part of the same should be built in
the territory of Canada, what regulations
or treaty arrangements will be necessary
between the United States and Great Brit
ain to preserve the free use of such canal
to the people of this country at all times;
and all nee essary facts and considerations
relating to the construction and future use
OF deep-water channels between the Great
Lakes and the Atlantic ocean. The per-
sons so appointed snail serve without COM
pensation in any form, but they shall be
paid their actual travelling and other neces-
sary expenses, not exceeding In all $4,000.
for which purpose the said sum of $4,000.
or so much thereof as may be necessary,
is hereby appropriated.
The President may, in his discretion.
detail as one of such persons an officer of
the army or navy.
Trouble to Get Civilian Commissioners
The only trouble in the appointment of
this commission Is to secure the two
civilian members. The President has the
entire army and navy from which to select
the third member and the officer so Sc
lected would be compelled to serve or else
resign his commission. The magnitude Of
the work undoubtedly is a source Of en-
barrassment. 1t calls for the best en-
cheering talent in the country, and entails
considerable time and trouble.
The Canadian authorities are investigat-
ing this subject independently at present.
with view to the opening of deep water
way through Canadian territory entirely,
but 1t is understood that they stand ready
to cooperate with the United States in the
consideration of this subject, and will ap-
point a commission to act Jointly in the
matter, so seen as the United States takes
the initial move in that direction, in ac-
ccrdance with the legislation Of the last
Congress.