Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-13
sAYssTA1eMENr IS INCORRECT
SETS RIGHT IMPRESSIONS on the
NICARAGUA CANAL.
Senator From Maiae Denies Asser-
st~a That Ceanrr. WOuId Have
Paid for "WOrthless'' Com
cesston and Vpholds
the Presla~at.

WASHINGTON. March l2.-Sonie of the
members OF the senate now in The city take
exception TO the stat s;nent Of Representa-
tive Cannon published Saturday concern
ing the defeat OF thu recommendation OF
the president IN regard TO the Nicaragua
canal. The statement To which the sem
ators make particular objection IS the fol-
lowing one:
IL the senate bill or any measure pro-
posed had been enacted the United States
would have paid $S.o0000 for worthless
concession and weuitl have been commit
ted ny law to the construction of canal
along the Nicaragua route, and ,nccr such
conditions IL would have been compelled,
before spadeful of earth or in any way
began actual construction. 10 have acquired
by treaty Of NicaIOsua and Costa Rica
ths territory whereol to construct a ca
nal. and the right 10 construct il. Such
/. legislation would have delayed and embar-
raised construction OF an isthmian canal
Referring to this statement tonight, SEN
ator Frye, chairman of the committee In
the senate which inserted the Nicaragua
canal amendment in the river and harbOr
bill. said:
The statement Of Mr.. Cannon to the
eject that the United States would have
paid S.00ooO for a worthless concession. II
either the senate canal bill or any measure
The senate canal bill provided for the ap-
pointment By the president of appraisers to
value any property purchased and the
amount to be paid for any such property
WAS limited to 5000 go. If IL were as
euned that the appraisers would pay $5.-
o00e0 for some worthless thing and ths
president would have approved such ac-
tien. then Mr.. Cannun's statement nigh.
be correct But neither Mr.. Cannon nor
al hot Spsch hipfv
would have been possible.
Now as to the canal amendment inserted
In the river and harbor bill, not word
was said about the payment of $5,d0O.00O
for any purpose. THAI amendment author
eseA 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 necessary 10 excavate, construct.
control and defend q caAal. and SO on.
''There ID nothing In that provision requir-
ing the payment OF e5,ooooOO or cents.
Nor Is there anything Ia that provision re-
curing any treaty N be negotiated with
Nicaragua and Costa RlGa to secure terri
tory. The president was authorized to ac-
auire II, II he could. and the money was
appropriated to pay for II: do not and
did not interpret that amendment as au-
cossioa or property OF any corporation, as
do not believe such concessions are
worth anything. But IL 1t did authorize
him to do 10, Il is not true that the United
States would have paid $5,000.OO0 for a
worthless concession unless We are to as
sume that the president OF the United
0tates would be a party to 1t. Now. the
enly other proposed measure was the house
Alll, or the one reported to the house by
Mr.. Hepburn. That Till did not authorize
tho payment of cert for any concession
head BY any corporation. Hence ! do not
eee what could have misled Aar. Cannon
into making such a statement unless 1t
was the fact that not beipG . member of
the committee having this matter in charge
he Was miHled.
Il see that in another part Of his state
ment he says that the United States can.
not afford to enter upon this great work
until II has acquired by treatry a zone
OF territory whereon to- construct the
canal Holding that view 1 do not see
how he could object. Us he does In another
part of his statement, TO measures which
he says would have compelled the United
States before any work could be done on
the canal. 10 have acquired by treaty from
Nicaragua and Costa. Rica the territory
WhereOn to construct 4 canal and the right
- construct It. The fact 10 that good
deal was left in The senate hill and in the
Senate amendments To the river and har-
her bill. AZ far as this subject Is concerned.
90 the discretion of tie president. Nothing
could be done excepting with his approval
and he was not required 10 pay out my
thing. but WAS merely authorized 10 do 1t.
Neither did the senate amendment to the
river aud harbOr bill commit the president
70 the Nicaragua route. The Spooner
amendment. which wls adopted. specially
provides that " the president was unable
TO make satisfactory arrangements over the
Nicaragua route he could negotiate
Tor coutrO! of or right 10 construct some
rothec canal connecting the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans"
Asked what action lie thought the presi-
dent would take under The provision final
~ sdopted by congress Senator Frye re-
bAed:
II think that lie will add Two members
10 the Walker commission, and that he
will direct them 10 pN,eeed Mt once 10 Pan-
anna and inspect the c;inal there and report
on that route. BY the time that Is done
the Walker commission will have been able
10 complete It's report In regard 10 the
Nicaragua route. In my opinion that report
WI give every thing feeded III the way of
RHokMo1aQp a. to the N!caragua route and
AfN VIII be no necessity for acquiring any
pre- information concerning that route
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