The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-13
CHECK TO CANAL BILL.
It Has Been Sidetracked by Hawaii
and Porto Rico.

New York, Feb. ia special to the
Herald from Washington, D. C., says:
Advocates of the Nicaragua canal bill
hoped to be able to call up the measure
in the senate mediately after the vote
on the financial bill next Thursday but
it has been decided that Senator Cullom
should have the right of way with his
bill providing for the government of
Hawaii.
This measure IS not expected to lead
to a protracted debate and after it is
disposed of the measure providing for
the government of Porto Rico will pro-
badly be taken up. AS the latter bill
involves the tariff question, a long dis
cussion is probable. The canal bill will
likely be made the regular order after
Hawaii and Porto Rico have been dis
posed Of
Senator Morgan. in charge of the ca
nal bill, says it is not his intention to
antagOnize the other bills with the
nal proposition. He realizes that more
time will be required for the considera-
ton of the canal bill. because of the Op-
position raised in some quarters aginst
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. He regards
the final passage of the measure as inc
vitable, for, there is an overwhelming
majority for it in each house.
Senator McLaurin of South Carolina,
says none of the recent objections offer
ed by the opponents of the canal based
on the new treaty will have any influ-
ence on his vote in favor of the prompt
fident congress will provide all the
safeguards necessary to protect the in
terests of the United States in time of
peace or war He regards the building
of the canal by the government as an
aid to the commercial interests of the
south. He is confident that even If there
should be no international agreement
Uncle Sans navy and army will be
able to protect the canal against all
foreign interference.
The authorities say that primaril- the
concesSiOnarieS must seek redress L. ON
Nicaragua and Costa Rica in the event
of government construction of the canal
and it is presumed the parties are TAX
ing measures for the protection of their
interests as far as possible.
Eventually, the matter of compensa-
ton of the Eyre-Cragin syndicate may
be discussed in the negotiations be-
tween Nicarag qua and the United States
for the acquisition of territory for the
waterway. The right of the Maritime
Canal company to ask for an extension
of its concessions is to be settled, the
state department explains, by a COM
mission of four members, provided the
Nicaraguan government will agree to
the appointment of persons other than
its own citizens as members of the
commission.
Should the United States proceed with
the construction of the canal it would
purchase the property of the Maritime
company, which Rear Admiral Endi-
colt estimated as worth not more than
half a million dollars, and which Rep
sentative Hepburn, chairman Of the
house on interstate and foreign COM
merce, says is worth about $3.50 600
Naval officers are much interested in
the canal.
In time of war" said an officer I'm
case the canal were entirely under
American control it would be an easy
matter, with Notifications for an en-
envy to slip a stick of dynamite under
one of the locks and thus destroy the
usefulness of the waterway to the COM
nerce of all nations. What would then
be its value for war purposes to this
government? With strong fleets sta
toned at each end of the canal it would
be an easy matter to destroy every ship
of the enemy which dared to make the
passage through the waterway.
Suppose the government had fortif-
cations at the termini of the canal. In
time of war it might be considered adj
Visable to reinforce the Atlantic fleet.
The vessels of the Pacific station would
enter at Brito. for instance. and pro-
coed to Lake Nicaragua. The destruc-
ton of locks on the eastern and western
slopes by the use of dynamite. perfect
ly feasible at night, would result in the
penning up of this section of American
force. Even supposing that the fleet did
succeed in making the passage and af-
ter getting through the canal locks
were destroyed, there would be danger
of the Pacific slope unprotected.
"On the other hand with the neutral
ity of the canal guaranteed by all ma
lions of the world there would be less
danger of its being DESTROYED Besides,
the control of the Caribbean sea as
sured to US by our naval position and
the acquisition of Porto Rico and the
contemplated purchase of the Virgin is