The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-13
Senators Take Exception to Con-
gresham Cannop's Statement.
MISSTATED THE FACTS
PURCHASE OF WORTHLESS CON
CEssIoNs NOT AUTHORIZED.
Neither Did the Senate Bill Provide
For the Payment of Five Millions
For Such REPRESENTATIONS of
the Senate Measures Explained
Cannon Was Misled.

| IL.
members of the senate now in the city
take exception to the statement of Rep
resentative Cannon, published Saturday,
concerning the defeat of the recommends
ton of the president in regard to the
Nicaragua canal. The statement to which
the senators make particular objection is
the following one:
IF the senate bill or any measure pro-
posed had been enacted, the United States
would have paid 5000, 900 Tor worthless
concession and would have been commit
ted by law TO the construction of canal
along the Nicaragua route. and under
such conditions X would have been COM
PEELED, before a spadeful of earth or any
way began actual construction, to have
acquired by treaty of Nicaragua. and
Costa Rica the territory whereon to con-
struct q canal, and the right to construct
it. Such legislation would have delayed
and embarrassed construction of an
iSthmian canal.
Referring to .his statement tonight,
Senator Frye, chairman of the committee
in the senate which inserted the Near
aguan canal amendment in the river and
harbor bill. said:
THE statement of Mr.. Cannon to the
effect that the United States would have
paid S5,0O0,000 for worthless concession
if either the senate canal bill or any
measure proposed had been enacted. is in
| correct. The senate canal bill provided
for the appointment by the president of
| appraisers to value any property pur-
]
any such property Was limited to S5,O0O,-
900. If it were assumed that the appralS-
ers would pay $5.0000o0 for some worth
less thing, and the president would nave
approved such action, then Mr.. CannonS
| statement might be correct. But Mr..
Cannon nor any one else, assumes that
such a thing would have been possible.
! THE SENATE'S AMENDMENT.
Now. as to the canal amendment in
serted in the river and harbor BILL not a.
i lord sol al "a ma la1r of n
/ 0O0,0O0 for any purpose. That amendment
| authorized the president, for and in be-
/ half 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 con-
1 nected Herewith, as may be necessary to
1 a canal and so on. There is nothing III
! that provision requiring the payment Of
/ s., GOO 600 or 5 cents. Nor is there any
| thing in that provision recurring any
treaty to be negotiated with Nicaragua
! and Costa Rica to secure territory. The
president was authorized to acquire it, If
| he could. and the money was appropri-
/ ated to pay for ii. | 10 not and did not
/ interpret that amendment as authorizing
! the president to acquire the concession or
property of any corporation, as do not
! believe such concessions are worth any
thing. But if it did authorize him 10 do
! so it is not true that the United States
would have paid $5,OO0,OOO for worthless
concession, unless we are to assume That
/
! be a party TO it. l do not think anybody
viii assume that. Now the only other
proposed measure was the house bill, or
| the one reported to the house by Mr.
Hepburn That bill did not authorize the
| payment of a cent for any concession held
| by any corporation. Hence, l do not see
what could have misled Mr. cannon INTO
/ making such q statement, unless 1t was
/ the fact that not being member OF any
! of the committees having this matter in
| charge, he was misled.
ACQUISITION OF TERRITORY.
Y see that in another part of his state
| ment he says that the United States can
not afford to enter upon this great work
] of territory wherein to construct the
canal Holding that view, do not see
! how he could object, as he does IN an
other part of his statement, 10 measures
1 which he says would have compelled the
! United States, before any work could be
done on the canal, to have acquired by
! treaty from Nicaragua and Costa Rica
the territory wherein TO construct 2 canal
! and the right to construct it. the fact
J is that a good deal was lett in the senate
I hin and in the senate amendments to
/ subject is concerned, to the discretion of
! the president. Nothing could be done eX-
! cepting with his approval, and he was not
| required to pay out anything. but was
merely authorized to do it. Neither did
the senate amendment to the river and
! harbor bill commit the president to the
J NicaraSu an route. Inc oPooHeI dihehu-
! ment. which was adopted. specially pro-
| Vides that if the president was unable 70
make satisfactory arrangements over
the Nicaragua route, that he could nego-
tiate for control of. or right TO construct
! some other canal connecting the Atlantic
! and Pacific oceans.
Asked what notion he thought the pres
ident would take under the provision fin
ally adopted by congress, Senator Frye
i think that he will add two members
! to the Walker commission, and that he
will direct them TO proceed a once to
reuort on that route. BY the time that
! II done. the Walker commission will have
been able to complete its report in regard
TO the Nicaragua route. In my opinion.
/ that report will give everything needed
! i'm the way of Information as to the Near
aqua route and there will be no necessity
for acquiring any more information con-
corning that route"