New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-16
FAVORS NICARAGUA ROUTE
lSTHMIAN CANAL COMMISSIONS RE
PORT NEARLY COMPLETED
THE PANAMA ROUTE. HOWEVER. GAINING
FAVOR AMONG MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
NICARAGUA BILL NOT LIKELY TO PASS.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE rnrRuxEl


IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUxEl
Washington. May 15.-AdmiraI Walker chair
man OF the Isthmian Canal Commission has re-
turned to Washington TO prepare his final re-
port on the engineering feasibility of a shin
channel across Central America to connect the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans II is thought that
the report will be completed in detail by July
!, although il is not expected that it will be
made public until Congress meets in December
Under Admiral Walkers personal supervision
careful surveys have been made OF both the
Nicaragua and Panama routes and the en-
gineers. the most Of whom came back 10 Wash
ington with Admiral Walker and the remainder
will return soon have brought with them the
most elaborate field notes. The compilation and
comparison Of these notes and the deductions
OF conclusions therefrom will occupy the experts
OF the commission for the next six weeks
While. in the absence OF Admiral Walker in
Baltimore, none OF the members OF the commits
sion any OF its employees will talk about the
conclusions that will be contained In the forth
coming report enough is known reasonably 10
warrant the assertion that the commission will
recommend the Nicaragua route in strong terms.
This part Of the report, OF course. will not deal
with the political questions involved. 1t viii
merely present the engineering features. and
from that point OF view will attempt TO show
that the Nicaragua route offers more advantages
and fewer difficult engineering problems than
the Panama route As the highest engineering
skill Of France many years ago pronounced in
favor OF the Panama route over all other sug-
gested routes the Walker report will thus arouse
a lively discussion among eminent engineers in
both Europe and the United States. and it is OF
course expected that this dispute will have an
effect on the members OF Congress. The French
concessionaires IN Panama. It is known. are al
ready preparing TO meet the advantages OF the
Nicaragua route that will be pointed out by the
Walker report with offsets OF a scientific nature.
and pending the debate that will rage between
the engineers OF this country and OF Europe IL
is expected that Congress will find a reasonable
excuse to suspend all definite action with regard
TO the matter.
1t is said on good authority, that President
Hutin of the Panama Canal Company. now has
reduced TO practical form the proposition for the
transfer Of the French concession. together with
all the costly work and expensive machinery
that absorbed so many millions OF French
money to the United States. and that before
Congress assemblies the necessary legal steps
for the transfer will have been taken both in
France and in Colombia. II this is done the
Panama people viii have advantage which
may counteract the influence even of the Walker
report.
THE SITUATION IN CONGRESS.
1t is undenabIe that, as the case now stands
there is likelihood of getting a Nicaragua
canal bill through Congress. Mr.. Hepburn, of
Iowa. the leader OF canal legislation in the
House. reiterates all possible occasions his
unaterable determination to kill any measure
which accOrds TO- Great Britain any recognition
IN the Nicaragua enterprise. BY its vote last
year the Morgan-Hepburn bin the House
has shown that il will have out-and-out
American canal in Nicaragua or no canal at all
the British pretensions based on the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty. While the Senate rejected the
original Hay Pauncefote Treaty and modified
that document so as meet the views OF the
majority OF Senators. nevertheless, the Senate
is committed by that very act TO official
acknowledgment Of Great Britain's right to be
consulted about the management as well as con-
struction OF a ship waterway across Nicaraguan
territory.
The leaders Of the Senate were not surprised
by the curt refusal Of the Salisbury government
20 accept the amended Hay-Pauncefote Treaty,
and they realize that, no matter what further
understanding may be arrived at by Secretary
Hay and Lord Pauncefote. the Senate cannot
now recede from the position taken in the
amended Hay-Pauncefote convention. At the
same time there Is no likelihood OF the Senate
ruthlessly disregarding the Clayton Bulwer
treat, in order TO pass the Nicaragua Canal bill
as the House already has done. If the Senate
,-are inclined 10 take this radical course IL
would have adopted at its last session the
Morgan resolution. which adroitly
phrased as merely administer a warning
buke 10 Great Britain without declaring the
CLAYTON Buwer Treaty abrogated. Thus il is
evident that the two houses OF Congress are
hopelessly divided TO the method by which
this country can construct the Nicaragua Canal.
IL is true that neither Secretary Hay nor Am
hassador Pauncefote has abandoned hope of
Matching up an agreement that viii be approved
bv the American Senate and the British Foreign
Office. but until Mr.. Hepburn and his large fol-
lowing in the House over canal
legislation in accord with such an agreement
would be likely TO get through Congress.
HOW PANAMA MAY GAIN STRENGTH.
With a perfect understanding OF this situa-
ton the French owners of the Panama con- /
cession have great hopes of unloading their en- |
terprise on this government They also 1