The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-18
GIVEN A HEARING.
Panama Canal People Make a Talk
Before House Committee.

Washington, Jan. 1S.-The new Panama
Canal company was given a hearing today
before the house committee on commerce
The hearing was in accordance with
hear all the persons concerned in an
included General Henry l. Abbot, United
States corps of engineers, retired; Louis
ChOrOn, chief engineer of the company;
Mr.. Bayard, commercial representative,
and Messrs. Cromwell, Curtis and Brown,
as wen as number of technical experts
caragua canal commission, also was pres
In the opening statement Mr.. Cromwell
summed up the Panama project as fol-
Nearly one-half of the work of exca-
walton is actually completed, the harbOrs
to entry by vessels of the largest draught;
there is an existing railroad parallel to
the canal and vastly expediting the work
of construction; the concessions, titles and
solvency of the company are unquestion-
able. over 500 men with force OF $50
engineers have been for four years and
are now actually, engaged in the canal
with Colombia entered into, special guar
antics respecting canal across the
has been done and Will be completed with
the United states. we have an right 10 as
sumo that the Panama canal is neces-
Sary, if not the controlling factor in the
solution of the isthInian canal problem
He particularly denied that the new
company was under the control of the
FRENCH government or was lnhuenced by
any American railway interests. The COM
ing any financial assistance from the Unit
an American treaty the company placed
its work subject to the full inspection of
ing took on a very spirited form at the
afternoon session by the line of question
Messers. Mann, Stewart, Atkinson and
Davis. General Abbot said the Panama
From the STANDPOINT of the government,
he said that before any canal was built
tial Commission Of inquirers to examine
all the routes. Chief Engineer Choron
1t was after these statements that the
sharp oss-questioning began. Mr.. Stew
of France had paid into the old Panama
Canal company under De Lesseps & Son
ed to be about $3.50 COZ, 900.
do you. expect to give these poor PEG,
asked Mr. Stewart.
1t was explained by several of the canal
surplus incomes would go to these old
Mr.. Hepburn and Mr.. Mann pressed for
a showing of how the finances would be
raised to carry out the project Mr.. Mann
be to head off the Nicaragua canal
said the Panama enterprise would be car
qua route. Mr. Mann sought to show by
a series of questions that the COMPANY 5
S1o0.0c0.O00 assets had cost it but 900
anu an agreeent TeiaIIng 10 III
warmth of feeling was shown on both
sides. When the companys representa-
tives expressed the fullest confidence in
the building of the Panama canal, Mr..
Mann rather mockingly asked if they had
amy more confidence than De Lessons -
When members of the committee asked if
the company would give guaranty of its
/ financial ability to complete the canal, it
was stated by Mr.. Cromwell that an alb
| solute guaranty, as good as a United
States bond. would be given if the COM
| pany were given the assurance that &C
| ton antagonistic to its interests would not
| be taken.
Without any assurance, it was said. no
positive financial guaranty would be given.
Many inquiries were made to the pur-
| pose of the company in appearing before
| congresS-whether it was to head off a
/ rival" This was disavowed by the COM
pany'S representatives, who said they were
| making campaign against the Nicara-
| qua canal, but were combining their efforts
| to showing that the Panama route was
| the best one and that it would be built
| through the new Panama company with
| out recourse to government aid.