The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-11
.nmarr Of Conclusions.
The final conclusions of the commission

summary of Conclusions.
The final conclusions of the commission
are stated. as follows:
l. The estimated cost Of building the Nicaragua
canal is about SIS 600 900 more thaa that Of COM
peting the Panama canal leaving out the cost CT
acquiring TIE latter property. This measures the
difference il the magnitude Of the obstacles to be
overcome in the actual construction OF the two ca
mails. and covers all physical considerations. slch
as the greater less height of dams. the greater
or less depth Of cuts, the presence or absence OF
natural harbors the presence or absence of rail-
road, the exemption from liability TO disease,
and the amount of work remaining to be done.
The New Panama Canal Company has showa no
disposition TO sell its property the United States
Should that company be able and willing to sell,
there is reason to believe that the price would not
be such as would make the total cost to the United
States less than that Of the Nicaragua canal.
II. The Panama canal, after completion, would
be shorter. have fewer locks. and less curvature
than the Nicaragua canal. The OF these
advantages is the time required for weasel to
pass through. which is estimated for an average
ship at twelve hours for Panama and thirty-three
hours for Nicaragua.
On the other hand the distance from San Fran
cisco to New York is 377 miles, to New O-lesns
$40 miles. and to Liverpool Ss6 miles greater via
to pass over these distances being tda lie
difference in the time of transit through the ca
nails, the Nicaragua line. after completion, would
be somewhat the more advantageous Of the two to
the United States notwithstanding the greater cost
of maintaining the longer canal
III. The government of Colombia in which lies
the Panama canal. has granted an exclusive con-
cession, which still has many years to run Il Is
not free to grant the necessary rights to the
agreement be reached with the New Panama Canal
Company. The commission believes that such
agreement Is impracticable. So far as can be as
eertained, the company is not willing TO sell its
franchise but il Will allow the United States TO
become the owner CT part OF It's stock. The COM
mission considers Eaeh arrangement inadmissible
The governments Of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
On the other hand, are untrammeled by conces-
sions and are free to grant to the United States
such privileges as may be mutually agreed upon
The shipping subsidy bill is now the
regular order of business in the Senate.
IL. was given this preference Tuesday
over the Spooner bill for the government
of the Philippines, which is thus displaced
and buried in an already overburdened
calendar
After the roll call Senator Frye took
the floor and spoke for an hour and a
half, speaking without notes, and COM
manding the close attention of his col
leagues with his forceful and eloquent
presentation of the affirmative side Of
the question. He has had the subject un-
der consideration for years and his ia
miliarity with ii enabled him 10 present
an interesting and valuable array of facts
and figures in support of his position.
In beginning, Mr. Frye said this great
maritime nation was placed in d position
humiliating beyond expression by the
present condition OF our merchant ma
rine With a boundless sea coast, unpar-
alleled and unapproachable natural re-
sources, ship-builders the equal of any
in the world. the greatest exports in the
world. and every other argument In our
favor, the United States had permitted
its commercial rivals to seize the path
ways CT commerce and hold them prac-
ticaIly to the exclusion of this country.
Last year, of all the enormous exports
and imports of the United States, only
per cent. was carried in American bot
toms Last year, Mr.. Frye said. the
United states paid 10 foreign nations
principally Great Britain and Germany
500 60t a day for doing carrying Sra6e
work for this country. He could not see
how any Senator or other observer could
be Dlln0 10 IniS EDlG4tltff. he pottlte-i ONI
that during the E,ar with Spain the United
States was forced to search the seas over
for auxiliary cruisers and transports. the
Cnly reason fer such condition beiBE
that We had sacrificed our carrying ships
The world" Mr.. Frye declared mas
entered upon a ferce commercial war. and
IL is 10 be a long and strenuous conflict
Each nation is seeking the advantage OF
its rivals in this conflict and Il pressing
forward 10 gain that advantage. Most OF
the foreign nations are looking Tor COM
mercial advantage in the East Russia.
France, Great Britain, Italy. and Germany
are paying an aggregate OF &,9a,ooo per
year in subsidies for the carry ing ships
OF the Eastern trade"
He pointed out that under present con
ditlons il costs the United States from 20
to 50 per cert. more. principally in wages
and food. 10 operate It's ships than ].
costs Great Britain. and about - Per cent
more than il costs Norway. and Yet the
United States Is forced 10 compete under
such a handicap with the encouraged and
protected ships OF foreign countries. That
was one OF the reasons why the United
States was In humiliating position as -
its merchant marine.
Just before the adjournment Of the SEN
ate yesterday Senator Vest gave notice OF
an amendment he viii offer 10 the ship
subsidy bill. The amendment provides
for the repeal OF such existing laws ''as
either prohibit or restrict citizens OF the
United States from purchasing ships built
In other countries 20 be used In the for
eign carrying trade OF the United States
or which impose taxes, burdens, or re-
strictiOns on ssIch ships when owned by
Americas citizens. which are not imposed
on ships built In the United States" In
addition 70 she repeating provision the
amendment n nakes to lawful for all citi-
gems OF the United States to buy ships
built In whole or in part in any foreign
country and have them registered az ships