The Topeka state journal., 1900-01-31
THE CANAL IS SAFE.
Senator Harris Discusses the
Niearaguan Project.

Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Nor
gan, chairman of the senate committee
on interoceanic canals. will return from
Alabama the latter part of this week.
when a meeting of the committee Will
be called to arrange a programme in
the senate for the bill for the construc-
tion of the Nicaragua canal.
Senator Harris, of Kansas, the second
member of the committee, looks for the
prompt passage of the bill Discussing
the subject, Mr.. Harris said:
Il notice that some of the friends of
the canal have taken alarm at the ac-
tion of the house committee in reducing
the appropriation for the prosecution
of this work to SO, ,000 900. No man who
knows anything. Of my record on this
question can doubt my friendship for
the isthnian canal, and I wish to say
through the Journal that the reduction
of this appropriation does not neces-
sarily initiate against the rapid pros
ecution of this great work.
LAS a matter of fact, it would be
impossible during the first year or two
to expend more than ten millions an
nually- The appropriation is to be
made under the continuing contract
system as in river and harbor appro-
priations.
"Of course, it would be within the
power of a future congress to stop the
expenditure Of what remained of the
total appropriation if we appropriated
it all outright.
'On that subject, however, wish to
emphasize this point. Let this bill be
enacted into law. and the United States
government once turn over the first
spadeful of earth and the American
people could not tolerate anything that
looked like a cessation of the work OF
any delay that postponed the compile
tiOn of the task, which is to open to the
world, under American supervision and
control, another great waterway, cut
ting in two a, continent and joining two
great oceans to the commercial advan-
tageS of the whole world and the mill
tary advantage and necessity of the
people who will build and maintain it.
There need be no alarm about the
appropriations; they will be made as
regular as are the annual appropria-
tions for the improvement of the Mis-
sissippi river. which is under this same
continuing contract system
rs it true the senator was asked,
that the Huntington interests which
fought the bill SO bitterly in the past
are now favOra Bile to the construction
of the canal, as reported by some men,
bers of congress-
''AlI 1 know of that" replied Senator
Harris, lis what I have seen in the pa
pers- have personally witnessed no
evidences of a change of heart on the
part of the interests that represent the
Southern Pacific railroad.
THAT road and the people who con-
troll it have fought the canal PROPOSE
ton so bitterly that I should be inclin-
ed to view this announced change of at
tftude with some suspicion. 1t would
be pleasant to know that these people
realize that they cannot stem the cur
rent of popular demand. but I am not
prepared to believe all hear in that
direction.
GREATEST OF ALL SHIP SUBSIDIES
There has been a great deal of talk
in congress recently about ship Subsi-
dies, continued Senator Harris. THE
American people ought to know that
one of the greatest ship subsidies that
can be granted and one Of the best in
ducements to the building up of a great
merchant marine is the construction of
wise trade enormously. The canal will
simply extend our coast line.
with that canal cut through, Ameri-
can lines of coastwise steamers can be-
sin at San Juan. Porto Rico, work over
to New York and Boston, ply down the
coast through the Gulf ports, pass
through the canal, up the Pacific coast
to San Francisco, Oregon and Wash
ington ports and then to Honolulu
rs not that a stretch of territory
dotted with populous cities and impor-
tant commercial centers, sufficient to
open up field for a merchant marine
that must be expanded to meet the re-
Quirem entS2
gagged in the building of vessels, every
seaman, every workman in our ship
yards, every business man who has
to pay transportation charges, and
every consumer in the whole United
States is vitality interested in this ques-
ton for it means to him increased bust
ness, more work and cheaper commodi-
ties
eff this government is to maintain
the Philippines as poSsession-and
that seems to be the governments pol
icy-then the canal becomes a military
necessity for reasons that did not, pos
sibly exist four years ago Where there
was one reason then for the construc-
ton of the canal there are fifty now.
They are apparent to everybody, and ]
look for a vote Overwhelmingly in IA
vor of it's construction in both houses
of congress-
When asked if he thought objections
would be interposed by either Great