The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-17
SEATTLE, SATURDAY, DEC. ~.


! The Portland Oregopian takes excep-
L ton to the Morgan bill for aid to the
.,construction OF the Nicaragua canal
on the ground that the bill leaves pri-
waite interests actually. II not theoreti-
scsliy. Ia control Of the canal. and there
fore opens the way to a repetition Of
the Pacific railroads scandal The con-
ssstention OF the Oregonlan is that there
! lis but one proper course 20 be taken in
1.-THE entire matter, and that is to secure
direct and exclusive government con-
struetion and control.
1 To such desirable end there are few,
! IL any. to object But such an end il
impossible. Nor does 1t suffice to say,
.jas the Oregonian says. that the govern
.,ment should have nothing TO do with
1.-THE canal until II can have everything
Ito do with IT, Absolute government
'sownership Is definitely and permanent
:ly removed from the range Of possibil-
: ity.< should the Maritime Company's
stcoucession lapse, as Ii will do within
:iies4 than year unless the United
States government comes to Its relief,
.ithsaconcession will pass into the hands
sof the Graee-Cragln syndicate. who
have abundant means to live up to their
sEcontract and maintain the private own
'ership In perpetuity. That will put a
quietns forever upon the hope of United
States control.
I. On the other hand, the Morgan bin.
.for aid to the Maritime Company, does
In effect and with perfect security vest
in the United States the adminIstra-
ton of the canal BY the terms of the
hill the United states secures nine out
of eleven directors. and those nine are
,appointed by the president. to execute
his Will and TO subserve the interests Of
1.-The government, 1t is inconceivable
that private influence as represented In
the remaining two directors could out
weight the governments superior repre-
sentation.
Says the oregonian: 1.-THE govern
,ment. to be sure, will. under the Nor
gan bin. name the majority OF the gov
erning board. but 1t VIII be urged that
those directly interested In the canal
company have the largest personal
stake in its management: their claims.
duly supported in the lobby and by lib
eral campaign subscriptions. will be rec
ognized. and In one way or another IL
viii be eonsriyed 10 control the canal
beard"
Campaign subscriptions. lobbying and
the largest personal stake In the man.
agement' are not probable contingen.
sxses. The appointments to the govern
Ing hoard are "a be made by the pres,.
dent. lie may remove the officers "a
he sees lit and name those who Will exc
cute their Important trust In accord.
ance with the public interest. Per.
sonai stake" cannot dominate. because
OF the overwhelming national concern
In the canal. No amount of lobbying
no iihera,isy. Of subscriptions To pol!ti-
cal parties can obscure the vitality II
the popular control or the necessity
of IL.
4 Unlike the Pacific railroads the Mica.
rarua canal Is matter which IN lss
sective, daily operation Affects the en-.
.iirs United States 1t has commercial
political and International bearings
(which, so far from allowing the ascen,
snrcy Or the private company. VIII cor.
sstant'g assert the supremacy Of N.
wider Interests. ard ultimately lead
.rather TO the exclusion or the private
company and The absorption az the en,
Stlrs Institution by the government thar
10 ire reverse fate. which the oregoniAr
sapprehenss