The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-09
PRIVATE VS.. NATIONAL INTERESTS.


The announcement Just recently made
in dispatches from Washington of the
probable personnel OF the new isthminu
inter-oceanic canal commission, has &C.
casioned considerable adverse comment on
the presidents action by some prominent
papers in the East and South, among them
the Engineering News.
The chief ground for criticism Is that
the influence OF the old Maritime Canal
company, which is seeking to unload on
the government at big figure whatever
franchises and assets It may have, and
that has succeeded 80 far in blocking other
canal propositions, according to these crit
les, Is still apparent and still uppermost
in the composition OF the new commission.
The ostenslbie purpose Of the creation Of
the new commission. as declared In the
action of the late congress, was to have
an impartial examination and comparison
made of the practicabilty, strong points
4 and cost OF both the Nicaragua and Pan
anna routes. This Looks as II the Panama
\ company had been influential enough to
cast some doubt on the weight and cor
RICHNESS OF the preference heretofore ex-
pressed in this country for the Nicaragua
route. If there lie we'll based doubt on
this question 1t IS proper that the matter
should be rigidly and impartialiy exam
ined into and that canal only Endorsed
I which recommends itself as the best route
to the engineering talent of the country
all points, such as length, natural OBJ
stacles in the way and cost. being con-
sidered.
! It has lately come to the knowledge of
the public that the Panama company is
willing to sell to the United states. in
fact rather anxious TO unload It's great
undertaking upon other shoulders. Here
, then we have two companies contendlng
!, for the chance to turn over to tho Federal
government their respective franchises
and assets-the one with much substan-
tial equipment and work to its credit. the
, other with comparatively nothing. The
influence of the one seems to have been
strong enough to secure provision by
congress for a comparison of the merits
OF the two routes while the other. 1t is
9 now charged, has been influential enough
O with the war department or president tC
!, practically block an impartial investiga-
ton by securing "a packed jury in favor
u of the Nicaragua scheme.
It 1t Is unfortunate for us that We are
y placed between two powerful fres in
/, this matter of such vital Importance tt
: the Nation. The result is delay. and
: possibly an intermlnable delay, for eithe
appears capable of defeating the other !
i not strong enough TO command affrmatiy'
/, action by the legislative and executive
departments OF the government in It's owl
" interest.
Is The country at large wants an isthmiai
l. canal 1t cares not particularly for th
"a Nicaragua or the Panama route, so ori
that one or the other be chosen an,
pushed to completion The Nation does
not, however, desire TO see the govern
DC ment worked by the promoters of eitho
!, project, and will certainly condemn an,
action by the authorities or by the ne'
commission that may smack Of PARTIAL
y not founded upon the natural condition
,e surrounding the problem. The people
want the canal built and controlled by tn
Nation too, and would hardly approve
partnership with private spectators Il
II the premises,
q 1t Is as evident. however as 1t is unfcr
tunate that intensely selfish interests ar
not only compllcating but holding up thi
% vital canal question TO the continued
% detriment and great cost OF the CONNER
IA cial interests Of the Nation. Indeed 4
apears to be our misfortune that all on
great National questions must be embar
d raised II not determined by class, corpor
N ate or private interests!