The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-13
Say He Did Not Know What He Was
Talking About.
United States Would Not Have
Paid 100000 For a Worth&
less Concession, as the Bill Pros
vided That the President
Should Appoint Appraisers to
Value Any Property That
Might Be Purchased.

WASHINGTON, March 12-Some Of
the members of the Senate now in the
city take exception to the statement of
Representative Cannon, published Sat-
urday, concerning the defeat of the
recommendation of the President in re-
gard to the Nicaragua Canal. The
statement to which the Senators make
particular objection is the following:
IF the Senate bill or any measure
proposed had been enacted, the United
States would have, paid $5,OO0O0O for
worthless concession, and would have
been committed by law to the con-
struction of a canal along the Nicara-
qua route and under such conditions it
would have been compelled, before a
spadeful of earth was turned, or actual
construction began in any way, to nave
acquired by treaty of Nicaragua and
Costa RIGA the territory wherein to
construct it. Such legislation would
have delayed and embarrassed con-
struction of an isthmian canal"
Referring to this statement tonight,
Senator Frye, Chairman of the COM
mittee in the Senate which inserted
the Nicaragua Canal amendment in the
river and harbor bill, said:
The statement of Mr. Cannon to the
effect that the United States would
have paid $5,0O0O00 for a worthless
concession if either the Senate canal
bill or any measure proposed had been
enacted, is incorrect. The Senate canal
bill provided for the appointment by
the President of appraisers to value
any property purchased, and the
amount to be paid for any such prop
erty was limited to $5,00O0OO. If it
were assumed that the appraisers
would pay $5,0O0O00 for some worth
less thing, and the President would
have approved such action, then Mr..
Cannon's statement might be correct.
But neither Mr.. Cannon nor any ons
else assumes that such a thing would
have been possible. Now, as to the
canal amendment inserted in the river
and harbor bill, not a word was said
about the payment of S0,O00,O0O for
any purpose. That amendment author
lied the President, for and in behalf
of the United States, to acquire such
portion Of territory now belonging to
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, or such
rights. easements or privileges therein,
or connected Herewith, as may be nee
essary to excavate, construct, control
and defend a canal, and so on There
is nothing in that provision requiring
the payment of S5,000,00O or cents.
Nor is there anything in that provision
requiring any treaty to be negotiated
with Nicaragua and Costa Rica to Sc
cure territory. The President was au-
thorized to acquire it if he could. ana
the money was appropriated to pay tor
it. I do not and did not interpret that
amendment as authorizing the Presl-
dent to acquire the concession or prop
erty of any corporation, as l do not
believe such concessions are WORTH
ANYTHING. But if it did authorize MN
to do so, it is not true that the United
States would have paid S5,OUoUo 1or
a worthless concession, unless we are
to assume that the President OF the
United States would be party to It,
do not think anybody will assume
that. Now, the only other proposed
measure was the House bill, or the one
reported to the House by Mr.. Hep
burn. That bill did not authorize the
pavment of a cent for any concession
held by any corporation. Hence I do
not see what it is that has misled Mr.
Cannon into making such a statement,
unless it was the fact that, not being
q, member of any of the committees
having this matter in charge, he was
misled.
ct see that in another part OF ms
statement he says that the United
STATES cannot afford to enter upon tnlS
preat work until it has acquired by
treaty a. zone of territory wherein 10
construct the canal. Holding tna1
view. I do not see how he could obJectf
as he does in another part of his state
ment to measures which he says WOULD
have compelled the United States. pc
fore any work could be done ON the
canal to have acquired by treaty from
Nicaragua, and Costa RIGA the TERRITORY
vbereon to construct canal, ana the
RIGHT TO contract it, The fact Is thac
n good deal was left III ne Senate Dir
and the Senate amendments 10 the
river and harbor bill, as TAR as tuiS
subject is concerned. to the dlscretioil
of the President. Nothing coulu
dome executing with his approval, anu
he was not required to pay out any
thing. but was merely authorized 10 uo
- Neither did the Senate amendments
tn the river and harbor bill commit the
President to the Nicaragua route. nc
Snooner amendment which. was ADOPT
Cd snecially provides that If the Pres
ident was unable to make satisfaceorV
ARA ngements over the Nicaragua route
no col,ld negotiate for a control OF, ol
riobt to construct, some other canai
connecting the Atlantic ana Faciho
oceans -
Asked what action he thought 'he
President would take under the PRIV
sion finally adopted by Congress- sen
ator Frye replied:
at think he will add two members ~
the Walker commission, ard tnat no
will direct them to proceed at once -
Panama and inspect the canai tnsi1
and report on that route. BY the tii'ie
that is done the Walker commisslon
will have been able to complete It's re-
mort in regard to the Nicaragua rousS-
In my opinion. that report viii give
everything needed in the way OF iniof-
nation as to the Nicaragua route az
there will be no necessity for acquirlns
any more information concerning tnae
route"
Never nlay at any game OF chances