Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-16
FORCING rHE CANAL PROJECT

ipAl'taN' ~ 80
The friends of the Nicaragua cana
project are determined to force 1t
through the present congress, II posi-
BILE, and they are prepared to resort to
any sort Of tactics, as shown by offering
the house canal bill as n rider TO the
sundry civil appropriation bill, in order
to accomplish their purpose. In his
speech in the house of representatives a
few days ago, stating expenditures OF
the government under proposed legisla-
ton, Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the com
mittee on appropriations, urged the me-
cesslty of curtailing expenses wherever
possible to do so, if it was desired to
avoid an increase of taxation or com
pelling the government to borrow.
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Can
non said that while favorable to the
construction of the Nicaraguan canal he
was opposed to an appropriation Tor
that project at this time. He declared
that while revenues and appropriations
should be sufficient for an efficient public
service within u borders, and should
and must be sufficient to maintain our
obligations in the outlying territory;
while every dollar should be given for
these purposes, he would object to en-
tering upon new lines Of expenditure un-
til they have been fully considered by
the house of representatives and real de-
bate and consideration held touching
them and even then unless there Is
already Upon the statute book or hand
in hand there goes upon the statute book
legislation that will give the money
necessary to meet the expenditures. Mr..
Cannon said that in the remaining time
of the present congress it is impossible
to give intelligent and fair and proper
consideration to II bill that would
construct the Nicaraguan canal, without
neglecting other imperative legislation.
He urged that in the existing condition
of the country, just at the close of the
war, with all the matters in front of us
that must be met, and with our present
revenues, 1t is not possible to consider
intelligently in a brief time the proposed
canal legislation.
1t is understood that this represents,
Ill NlC HILL, tht DoSlllDl VI SDtdhpE
Reed. He has not been favorable to
the canal project. What his present
views Of it are, under the changed con-
ditions, Is perhaps known only to him
self, but it is safe to assume that he is
opposed to legislation by the present
congress, carrying a heavy a%ppropria-
ton, for the construction of the Nicara-
guam canal. The proposition to make
the canal bill a rider to the sundry civil
appropriation bill is designed to head
off any obstruction on the part of the
speaker of the house. The supporters
of the canal bill urge that this legisla-
ton must be had now, or the opportunity
to construct the canal under existing
franchises and treaty rights will be lost.
We do not think there need be any seri-
Gus apprehension on this score. If at
any time the United States shall decide
to construct an isthmian canal, whether
it be a year hence or longer, it will have
no difficulty in making fair and just
terms with the countries through whose
territory the canal will be built. Nicara-
qua and Costa Rica will not at any time
refuse to enter into an arrangement
with the United States for the con
struction of a canal, but in the event
that they should do so we are not con
fined to the Nicaragua route, nor has il
been demonstrated that this is the mos
feasible and desirable route.
We believe that the weight of intelli.
gent public sentiment, could it be as.
c%ertained, would be found on the side OF
the chairman of the house appropriations
committee in this matter. In presence
of an assured heavy deficit for the cur
rent fiscal year the duty of avoiding a
this time new lines of expenditure il
plain and imperative.