Evening star., 1901-11-07
Commission to Meet in This City
Next Week.
INTEREST In FORTHCOMING REPORT
Conferences With Panama Com
pany's President Not Admitted.
Nj UGH SPECU ALTON

The isthnian canal commission will meet
In this city next Tuesday in full session,
and Will pass upon it's final report, which
is to be presented to President Roosevelt
within the next two weeks. The commits
sion will probably hold meetings extending
over several days. and will give thorough
attention to the various sections of the re-
port now approaching completion. The
members of the commission are Rear ADJ
miral Walker, ex-senator Pasco, Mr.. AL
fred Noble, Mr.. George S. Morrison, Col.
P. c.. Hams Mr. William H. Burr Col. O..
II. Ernst, Mr.. Lewis NJ. Haupt and Mr..
Emory r. Johnson.
1t was said at the commissions headuuar-
ters today that no information can be
given in advance of the report of the con-
ferences pending between President Hutin
OF the new Panama Canal Company and
members of the commission, and in fact 1t
is not admitted officially that such confer
enceS are In progress.
Interest in the Report.
Great interest is felt in the forthcoming
report of the Isthmian canal commission
by senators and representatives who are
concerned for the early completion of an
interoceanic canal, and there is much spec
ulation as to whether the commission will
preliminary report and indorse the Panama
project.
The question under discussion now is one
or terms of sale of portion of the Panama
canal to this government. Last year the
commission pointed out that there were
other questions involving the transaction
equally as important as the one of terms
1t was shown that the canal company,
by the terms of its concession from CO.
lombia, was absolutely prohibited to cede
or mortgage Its rights under any consid-
Grafton whatever to any foreign nation or
government under penalty of forfeiture.
AT the time of making that report the sit
uat1on was described as peculiar" mas
much 'as the United States can enter into
no agreement with Colombia that does
not nave the approval of the company and
the concessions do not permit the comDany
to attempt to transfer its rights 20 a for
e1gn government
Evidently, however the Colombian gov
ernment Is not enforcing or threatening to
enforce the forfeiture, and the negotiations
are not being hampered from that source.
status of Panama Company Explained
But the point raised by some senators and
representatives is that the status of sthe
Panama Canal Company is so complicated
that great delay must ensue before sa tis-
factory arrangements can be made, and in
the meantime no canal work will be done
Senator Morgan openly asserts that the
pany is designed solely to hamper the eff
forts OF this government in securing an
isthmian canal and that it is a part and
parcel Of the existing monopoly of trade by
the railroads, of which the Panama Canal
Companys railroad Is beneficiary
If the Isthmian canal commission should
recommend giving serious consideration to
the Panama canal project there is no doubt
a lively fight will occur in Congress upon
the proposition. On one side will he the
transcontinental railway interests, aided,
Senator Morgan says, by the Panama peo-
pie and on the other the public sentiment
in favor of the early completion Of canal.