New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-13

srx,roR FRYE TAKES EXCEPTION TO
VIEWS OF MIR. CANNON.
40 PROVISION FOR EXPENDITURE OF
,.oxrv FOR WORTHLESS CONCESSION
WHAT THE PRESIDENT WILL
PROBABLY DO

,,ONEy FOR WORTHLESS CcNCESSloN
WHAT THE PRESIDENT WILL
PROBABLY DO
,,-.ah,nston March 12-some of the members
-. che Senate now in the city take exception
~. statement Of Representative Cannon
A,,sbad on saturday. concerning the defeat
- .ha recommendation of the President in re-
=, 20 the Nicaragua Canal. The statement
:. which the Senators take particular excep-
ton is the following one
o1f the Senate bill or any measure proposed
rad been enacted. the United States would nave
Maid 100000 for a worthless concession ana
would have been committed by law to the con-
etruction Of a canal along the Nicaragua route
"a under such conditions II would have been
compelled before threw a spadeful OF earth
or in any way began actual construction 10
have acquired by treaty from Nicaragua ana
Costa RIGA the territory wherein TO construct
g canal and the right TO construct It, Such
legislation would have delayed and emoarrasseu
construction of an Isthmian canal
Referring to this statement tonight senator
FRYE chairman of the committee in the Sen
ate which inserted the Nicaragua Canal
amendment in the River and Harbor bill said
The statement Of Mr.. Cannon. to the effect
,rat tho Tinted states would have PAID So.Oup'-
ono for worthless concession. II either the
Senate Canal bill or any measure proposed had
been enacted is incorrect. The Senate CanaA
Hill provided for the appointment by the fresi-
dent Of appraisers to value any property pui-
chased and the amount to he paid for any such
,rort, was limited to S5OOOO0O. If II were
oesumed that the appraisers would pay >'oo''-
o,, for some worthless thing. and the President
,,orl5 have approved such action, then MT
-,rnons statement might be correct But
Neither Mr. Cannon nor any one else assumes
that such thing would have been possible
AMENDMENT TO RIVER AND HARBOR BILL
Now as 10 the canal amendment inserted In
TIE River and Harbor bill. not word was said
sboui the payment Of 100000 for any pur-
nose That amendment authorized the Presi-
dent, Tor and in behalf Of the United states 10
acquire such portion Of territory now belonging
.o Costa RIGA and Nicaragua or such rights
,asen,ents or privileges therein. or connected
,h.ravith as may be necessary to excaNate'
Construct control and defend a canal ana so
on Tboro is nothing in that provision requiring
.hs payInont of $5Oo00O0 or > cents. Nor is
,bcro ANYTHING in that provision requiring any
,~eatv To- be negotiated with Nicaragua ana
Costa R.ca to secure territory. The President
was authorized to acquire it If he could, ana
tho money was appropriated to pay for IT.
- do not and did not interpret that amend
roe0t IS authorizing the President TO acquire
The concession Of property Of any corporation
&c y a. not believe such concessions are worth
ANYTHING But II ii did authorize him to do So
., is not true that the United States would nave
Maid 5000 600 for worthless concession uh-
less We are 10 assume that the President OF the
United states would be a party TO IT, 90 not
.A,.i. o,,.rodv will assume that Now. the only
o,,er rronosed measure was the House bill, or
,ho ONO ranorted 10 the House by Mr.. Hepburn
That bin did not authorize the payment vi
cent for any concession held by any corpora
ton Hence do not see what couid nave HIS
led Mr. Cannon into making such statement
unless il was the fact that. not being member
Of any Of the committees having 'hls "ia'''i "
charge he misled.
LEFT TO DISCRETION OF PRESIDENT
81 see that in another part Of his statement he
said that the United States cannot afford 10 en-
ter upon this great work until 1t has acquired
bv treaty zone OF territory wherein t. con-
struct the canal Holding that view do not
see how he could object he does in another
mart Of his statement to measures which he
saws would have compelled the United States.
before any work could be done on the canal. to
have ACQUIRED by treaty from Nicaragua and
Costa RIGA the territory wherein 70 construct
canal and the right 10 construct 1t. The fact
IS that a good deal was left in the Senate Dill
and in the Senate amendments 10 the River and
Harbor bill as far as this subject is concerned.
to the discretion OF the President Nothing
could be done except with his approval. and ne
was not required to pay out anything, but was
merely authorized to do it. Neither did the Sen
ate amendment to the River and Harbor Dill
{. mint the President TO the Nicaragua route
The Spooner amendment which was adopted
a. that IL the President is unable
10 make satisfactory arrangements over the
Nicaragua route he could negotiate for control
or right to construct some other canal connect
ing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
Asked what action he thought the President
would take under the provision finally adopted
by Congress Senator Frye replied:
i think that he will add two members TO the
Walker Commission. and that he will direct
them 10 proceed at once TO Panama and inspect
the canal there and report on that route. BY
the time that is done the Walker Commission
will have been able TO complete its report in
regard 70 the Nicaragua route In my opinion
that report will give everything needed in the
way Of information to the Nicaragua route
and there will be necessity for acquiring any
more information concerning that route"