The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-15
THE CANAL OUTLOOK
THE PROSPECT NOW NOT VERY EN-
COURAGING.
Mr.. MORGAN is DISGUsTED.
WILL RESIGN AS CHAIRMAN OF
CANAL COMMITTEE.

err and influence of the Railroads
and Their Allied Corporations
with Congress-They May Choke
on the Bill in "a Dozen Ways-The
Panama Canal Route Now at the
Front Again and BEING Actively
Pushed.
Washington, March 14.-Simultaneously
with the receipt of Great Britain's an
sWer relative to the Senate amendments
10 the -Pauncefote treaty, there comes
the very positive announcement from sig
piicant quarters that we are farther
away from an inter-oceanic canal than
we have been at any time in a great many
years.
To those who have studied the trend of
events during the past two or three years
the question very naturally arises, will
the much-talked of canal to connect this
Atlantic and Pacific ever be built on any
route.
Senator Morgan who is naturally opti-
mistic, says he believes that the next
Congress will clear the way and pass a
Nicaragua Canal bill. At the same time
he speaks so optimistically, he does not
ure of the measure up to date, is due 20
the hostility of influence which control
the Republican party and administration
So strongly does he feel this that he has
announced desire to be relieved from the
craftsmanship of the Inter-Oceanic Canal
Committee, which position heretofore it
has been his greatest delight to hold
While that committee, made up as it is
of a majority of Republicans has ostensi-
bly, been in favor of a canal project, Sen
ator Morgan has known that Republican
senators, who voted with him in the COM
mittee. have outside the committee room.
been influential in helping create the
different obstacles which have stood in
the way of canal legislation.
This sort of half-hearted or moderated
support has completely disguested Sena-
tor Morgan and he has accordingly an
nounced it as his desire that he be not
continued in a position where he was
practically Inundated.
Power of the Corporation.
Whether Senator Morgan persists in this
position or not will probably make very
little difference SO far as the ultimate re-
suits in canal legislation are concerned
The new Senate is more strongly Repub-
HSdh IMAM Ine Olu one, ana Whatever steps
are taken toward canal construction
whether they be positive or negative-wilI
be absolutely dictated by the administra-
ton and the influences which control it.
1t is not Misrepresentation in any sense
to state that the great railroad corpora
tons of this country and the
greater interests allied with them
are very powerful, not only at the White
House, but in both branches of Congress-
This can be asserted without leaving one
open to the charge of anarchy or pessi-
mism. 1t is a fact which everybody must
recognize.
Now it is also a fact that the enact
ment of legislation providing for the con-
struction of the Nicaragua canal was for
a good many years prevented by the in
fuence of one man as the head of a great
railroad system. That was, of course, the
late Mr.. Huntington, who was absolute
master of the Southern Pacific and Union
Pacific lines. and in that capacity had a
practical. il not absolute, monopoly of
transcontinental traffic. Theorists are
able to show very clearly how the Pacific
railroads would not be injured, but in the
end would be helped by the construction
of a canal between the oceans, but the
practical men who have been in charge
of these railroad enterprises have never
seemed to see it in that light. Mr.. Hunt
ington was openly and frankly opposed
u the COuS VI d CdAdis dtFO Willie
in his argument against it he very nat
uraly refrained from saying that the
reason for his opposition was that he be-
lieved his railroad properties would be in
jured by canal competition, that was his
real reason.
HuntingtOn's Power i'm Congress.
Mr.. Huntington was a wonderful old
man who had made his fortune through
his ability to make the majority in Con-
gress do what he wanted in the matter
of Pacific Railroad legislation, and It IL
doubtful if any other man, occupying the
same position in a business sense, could
do as much; but in considering what these
Pacific Railroad interests are able to ac-
complish, it must be born in mind that
we have now to deal with not one man or
one system, but the greatest railroad
combination that this country has ever
known.
And if George Gould who is on the in
side, knows what he is talking about,
even greater combinations can be expect
ed in the near future.
If then, Mr.. Huntington was able, prac-
tically single handed and alone to bring
such powerful influences to bear upon
Congress as to prevent the necessary
steps being taken for the construction of
canal, what can not this vaster combi-
nation which includes not only Pacific
nhes' but lines reaching into all parts of
the country, accomplish?
1t has been demonstrated very clearly
mat the old saw about there being more
ways TO kill cat than to choke it to
ueath, applies to legislation as well as
anythlng else. 1t is not necessary for the
Allieu railroad interests to announce to
me world that they would like to keep
"ll indefinitely the construction of a
canal IL has already been demonstrated
that the Injection of a commission idea
at the right time or the insincere support
VI sincerely conceived treaty amendments
at another time, furnished just as effec-
I'VE means of staving Off action as
could be desired
Outlook for Canal ominous.
between now. and the regular session
VI congress. good deal of quiet work
can De done by those who oppose the
destruction of canal. In my humble
opInIon, the Nicaragua canal project
pame nearer reaching a successful Gull
lhauon when the Hay-Pauncefote
ieaty was negotiated and the way was
pa'eu Tor the construction of the canal
thls government than it will reach
any tme In the near future-if ever.
WIN the non-acceptance of the Sen
'e amendments to the treaty which was
,eVilaole and with the necessity of be-
NHHluB all over again go far az IoOfe-