The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-13
TAKES ISSUE WITH CANNON.
SENATOR FRYE SAYS THE REPRE-
SENTATIVE Is MISTAKEN.
Bafidinx of the Ntcaragua Canal
Did Vet Provide for Payment of
$4,000, 600 worthless Concessions.

WASHINGTON. March ia-Sorie Of the
members o. the senate HOW in the city
take exception 70 the statement Of Rep
resentatiye Cannon published Saturday
concerning the detea. 81 the recommends
ton OF the president in regard ta the Mic
aurasua canal The statement to which
the senators make particular objection is
this one.
III the senate bill or any measure pro-
posed had been enacted. the United States
would have paid s5.t co. for Il worthless
concession and would have been commit
ted BY the law TO the construction OF
canal along the Nlcafagsan route and
under such conditions. IL would have been
compelled before moving a spaaefui OF
earth or in any way beginning the actual
construction to have acquired By treaty
OF Nicaragua and Costa Riea the territory
wneTeon 10 construct q canal and the
fignt 10 construct IL. Such legislation
would have embarrassed and DELAYED con-
struetion OF an isthmian canal"
Referring 10 this statement tonight. SEN
afor Frye, chairman of the committee in
the senate wasch inserted the Nicaragua
canal amendment in the river and harbor
BILL said:
The statement OF Mr.. Cannon 10 the
effect that the United States would have
paid S5.1oo0o for a worthless concession
~ either the senate bill or any measure
proposed had been enacted Is incorrect
The senate canal bill provided for the
appointment by the president of apprais-
ers 10 value any property purchased and
the amount to be paid for any such prop
erty was limited TO S5.oooeaa. II 1t were
assumed that the appraisers would pay
S.oo,5ce for some worthless things and
the president would have approved such
action, then Mr. Cannons statement
might be correct But Mr.. Cannon nor
any one else. assumes that such thing
would have been possible Now. as to- the
canal amendment inserted in the river
and harbor bill not word was said about
the payment of s. Go coo for any purpose
That amendment authorized the president
for and In behalf Of the United States, TO
acquire such portion OF territory now be-
longing to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, or
such rights, easements, or privileges there
in. or connected herewith as may be
necessary Ia eNcavate, construct, control
and defend canal and SO on. There is
nothing in the provision requiring the
payment of $500 eco or cents. Nor is
there anything in that provision requiring
any treaty 20 be negotiated with Nicara-
qua and Costa RIGA 10 secure territory
The president was authorized TO acquire il
II he could, and The money was appropri-
T.
interpret that amendment as authorizing
the president to acquire The concession or
property OF any corporation, l do not
believe such concessions are worth any
thing Bail II 1t dsd authorize him TO DO
go. II is not true that the United States
would have paid S.. on0 90 for a worthless
concession until we are to assume that the
president of the United States would be
party to IT, / do not think anybody will
a Z Efl flf NsNsg hA .s,fxs fHnr
posed measure was the house BILL or the
one reported to the house by Mr.. Hep
burn. That bill did not authorize the pay
ment OF cent for any concession held by
any corporation. Hence, DO not see what
could have mislead Mr.. Cannon into max
Ing suoh statement unless II was the
fact that not being a member of any OF
tho committees having this matter in
charge he was misled.
II see that in another part of his state
ment he says that The United States can
not afford TO enter upon this great work
until IL has acquired by n treaty "a zone
OF territory wherein to construct a canal
Holding that view do not see how he
could object. as he does IN another part
of his statement 10 measures which he
says. would have compelled the United
States before any work could be done on
the canal 10 have acquired by treaty
from Nicaragua and COSTA Rica the terri
tory wherein to construct canal and the
right 10 construct it
The fact Is that II good deal was left
in the senate bill and In the senate amend
ments To the river and harbor bill as far
ms this subject ia concerned 10 the dis
erection of the president; Nothing could
be dore excepting with his approval and
he was not required to pay out anything
but was merely authorized 10 do IT, Mel
Their did the senate amendment To the riv-
or ana hartsor hsn commit ru- president to
the Nicarag qua route. The Spooner amend
Fnent which was adopted, specially pro-
vided that II the president wac unable to
make satisfactory arrangements over the
Nicaragua route that he could negotiate
for control OF or right to construct 'sorue
other canal connecting the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans
Asked what action ne thought the pres
teisHs would take under the provision
finally adopted BY congress, Senator Frye
replied
II think that Re will add two members
ia the Walker commission and that he
will direct them 10 proceed at once to
Panama and Inspect the canal there and
repurt that route. BY the time that ia
done tha Walker commission will have
oeen able Ia complete it's report in regard
10 the NicarastGA route In NY 8ptYsion
that report will give everything needed Ia
the Nay Of Information as 10 the Nicara-
qua route. and there will be no necessity
fer acquiring any more Information con-
corning that route"
DEATHS.