Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-06
THE CANAL ON THE IsTHMus.
Action During the Next Session OF
Congress Seems Unlikely.

Action During the Next Session of
Congress Seems Unlikely.
1t looks as if another session of Congress
would go by without action on the 18TH
milan canal. At least, Professor Emory r.
Johnson. a member of the recently ap-
pointed isthmian canal commission, who
is now in the city, expresses his belief that
no formal report of that commission can
be presented with a twelvemonth. The
President especially impressed it upon the
commissioners that they should make their
investigation SO thorough as to leave no
question open for future examination.
This takes time. They might present Con-
gress preliminary report before the COM
ing session was far along, but this would
be unsatisfactory. It is claimed that there
has been altogether too much preliminary
information on the canal question and not
enough of the other kind. 1t Is reasonably
certain that the opponents of the canal
will be able to fight off any action which
would have To be based on an advance re-
port. Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa. however says
that he shall Introduce his bill at the De-
cember session.
OF the nine members of the commission,
six are now in Paris studying the financial
standing of the Panama properties and
making other Investigations along that
line. Professor Johnson is in Washington
making an economic investigation of the
value of the different routes. ex-senator
Pasco is in this country studying the legal
questions involved, the rights and claims,
for this has been assigned to him as q
speciality, and Mr. Haupt is at his home
1t Is probable that the six commissioners
now in Paris will complete their work so
as to get back to this country in October
The commissioners will then go to the 18TH
mus and spend as much time there as may
be necessary.
1t will be just well. politically, for the
canal project to be postponed once more.
The presidential campaign is coming on,
and the party platform will probably have
to be drawn up before the final report of
this commission could be had. This will
give both parties a good excuse for waiting
and an opportunity to declare with en-
phasis their devotion to the canal project
in general without hurting the feelings Of
advocates of any particular route The
republicans, because the existence of this
commission is due to them, will have the
much as il they had actually begun to dig
the ditch. - -
1t is. of course, possible that the radical
element in Congress will take matters in
their own hands and rush through a canal
bill Mr.. Reed Is NO longer in the chair to
prevent such a procedure, and how firm
Mr.. Henderson intends to be cannot be
known until the river and harbor commit
tee is appointed. If Mr.. Burton of Ohio is
again it's chairman 1t will mean that Col.
Henderson purposes to have the Nicara-
guam canal project handled with calnness
and deliber3t ton. y Mr.. Burton reflected
Speaker Reeds views in the last House.
He held his committee in line. and made
Speaker Reeds victory over the canal en-
thusiasts easy one. All this matter is
familiar to Col. Henderson. If he desires
to continue IN sane treatment of the
in the makeup Of the river and harbor
committee. -