The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-13
TAKES EXCEPTION TO It
Senator Frye Says Cannon
Statement is Incorrect.
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL
N line Senator Denies That the Nation
Would Have to Pay SIS 100000
Tor Worthless Con-
CeSSion.

Washington, March 12.-Sume Of III:
members of the senate now in the city
take exception to the statement of Rep
resentative Cannon published Saturday
concerning the defeat of the recommen-
dation of the president in regard to the
Nicaragua canal. The statement II
which the senators make particular OBJ
lection is the following one:
IF the senate bill or any measure
proposed had been enacted the United
States would have paid $1,000 coo for a
worthless concession and would have
been committed by law to the construc-
ton Of canal along the Nicaragua
route, and under such conditions it
would have been compelled, before a
spadeful of earth was dug or in any
way actual construction begun, TO have
acquired by treaty with Nicaragua and
Costa Rica the territory Whereon 10
construct canal. and the right to con-
struct it. Such legislation would have
delayed and embarrassed construction
of an isthmian canal"
Referring to this statement tonight
Senator Frye chairman of the commit
tee in the senate which inserted the
Nicaragua canal amendment in tho
river and harbor bill. said:
The statement of MIR. Cannon to the
effect that the United States would
have paid $1,000, 900 for a worthless con-
cession if either the senate canal hi |
or any measure propose6 had been
enacted is incorrect The senate canal
bill provided for the apnointmpnt NV
the president of appraisers ia yalue any
property purchased and the anoount to
be paid for any such property was linn
tied to $4,000. 900 If if were assumed
that the appraisers wonld nav 81 900 ono
for some worthless thing and the nroei~
dent would have approyed such action
then Mr.. Cannon's statement ,niabt h.
correct But neither Mr.. Cannon nor
any one else assumes that such a thine
would have been possible. Nov. as ia
the canal amendment inserted in the
river and harbor bill not a word was
said about the payment Of ST cO5.o0o for
any purpose. That amendment authur-
lied the president for, and in behalf Of
the United States. to acouire surb nor
ton of territory now belonging 70 Costa
RIGA and Nicaragua. or sueh riphts
easements or privileges therein nv non.
nected therevith az NOV, h., ,,,,a.sa,',
to excavate, construct. control and do
fend such a canal. and so on Thar, is
nothing in that ur0visfon raonirinp tho
payment of IS 900 600 or = cents Nor IL
there anything in that provision re-
uuiring treaties TO h, neantiated Win
Nicaragua and Costa Rica to secure
territory The president was authnr-
lied to acquire it. if he c,uld and tba
money was apprDpriated tn nav for II
do not, and did not. fnternrat maj
amendment as authorizing tho rresifnnt
to acquire the concession of pronertv Of
any corporation, as do not believe such
cncessions are worth ANYTHING AM II
it did not authorize him to do so, il is
not true that the United states wanna
have paid $1,000, 900 for a worthless c9nl
cessi0n unless we are To assume that
the president Of the lrnitail stats vo,,Ia
be a party to it. do not think any
body will assume that Now rho nnlv
other proposed measure was 1he bo,,.n
bill, or the one reported to the house hy
Mr.. Hepburn, That hill did not an
thorize the payment of q can't f0,, an,
concession held NV aDv cornor,,ia,,
Hence, 7 do not see what cc',1d how.
misled Mr.. Cannon into MAKING snrb
statement unless il was the fact ,ho+
not being q member of any of The CON,
mittees having this matter in charge
he was misled
ct see tho, ip o,a+t,,, 4 !,
statement he saws that .ths 1Jnitaa
states cannot afford to enter imam the
great work until it has acquired nv. -
treaty a zone of territo,,, n.bora
construct the canal Holding that ,iayr
! do not see how he rnu1d ohiact as ~
does in another part of his settlement 70
measures which he saws would b,,.o |
the United States hafnra o,v |
work could be done an Tho na,,a, ~
have acquired bv treaty. from NicaD
ragua and Costa Rica the ta,,r;to,.,,
Wherein to construct a canal 40 ~
right to construct The Cnc, is ,ha+ |
a good deal WAS Iart in ~
senate bill and in the senate amanI-
ment to the river and harbor I'M as ra,
erection of the president Nothing could
De zone excepting with his approval