The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-01


The acquisition Of the Philippines by
the United States operates in two ways
upon the prospects OF an intercceanic
canal across ths isthmus Of Panama. 1t
increases the probability that such an.
undertaking wtll be carried through In
the not remote future. and It dimin-
ishes the chances Of action by con-
gress At the present session. The new
outlook is evidenced by the formation
OF new canal company. backed by
some Of the strongest financial houses
In the country. which proposes to take
over the assets Of the French Panama
concern ana complete the work that It
began.
This means that there will be two
candidates for Federal recognition. and
that they viii he rivals for any en-
couragement or support that may be
extended by the government to the
canal enterprise. Favorable opinion in
this country has not concerned itself
particularly with the question of route,
for the Maritime Canal Company. with
its Nicaragua project. was the only one
that proposed to work under American
auspices. With another American cor
poration presenting a prospectus and
asking for at least equal favor. a new
element enters into the situation. Con-
gressmen hostile to the whole scheme
will not be disturbed by It. But among
those who have given 1t hearty support
there will be q natural division Of
opinion and favor. II there was con-
siderable doubt in the first instance
whether the Nicaragua plan, with a
clear field and no organized opposition.
could secure the legislation that It
asked, that IL vastly increased by the
presence Of another company which
will necessarily attempt to block those
plans in order to advance its own.
Differences Of opinion as to the feasi-
bility of the enterprise. the probable
cost. the most favorable route. the con-
cessions required from Central Ameri-
can states and the amount Of Federal
assistance. IL any. which should be
given. are radical and sincere. Men
wish to know, very properly. before
they commit the nation to something
that may involve an immense outlay
and possibly enter into international re-
lations. all the facts upon which they
can found an intelligent Judgment.
Those facts are now In process Of coll
lection and collation.. The last congress
made provision for the appointment Of
commission to study the field exhaus-
lively. 1t appropriated 100000 for that
purpose. That commission, with Rear
Admiral Walker at its head, is now at
work. 1t has employees In all parts Of
Central America where canal routes
have been projected. The information
that 1t is gathering will be complete.
One million dollars is a large sum Of
money; and the average member of con-
gress will feel that it ought not to be
expended to no purpose; that it would
not be right to take action now which
would be final or in any way binding
upon the country. with the chance that
the forthcoming report might show It
to have been ill-advised and necessi-
tate going about the matter in a diff
ferent way and upon another basis. 1t
was not at any time probable that the
Nicaragua project could go forward in
advance of the completion of this COM
MISSIONS work. 1t Is still less probable
that anything will be done when two
companies are opposing each other. and
each resting its case on a prospectus
and statement OF facts whose accuracy
and reasonableness must be Judged by
information not accessible in complete
and reliable form until the commission
has reported. There will not be any ac-
ton on the isthmian canal question at
the present session.