Evening star., 1901-10-17
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL
President Of Panama Canal Company
Here.
MAY REOPEN NEGOTIATIONS
He Had an interview With Admiral
Walker Yesterday.
OPPOSITION TO PURCHASE

NJ. Maurice Hutin. president Of the new
Panama Canal Company, is in Washington
discussing with government officials ano
others questions relating to the isthmiar
canal project. 1t has been thought pos
sible that NJ. Hutin might make a prop
osition for the sale to the United States OF
the uncompleted Panama canal. M. Hutir
has tntimated. however. that his visit Is
mainly for the purpose of ascertaining the
disposition of officials and congressman to.
ward the Panama canal before making ar
offer Of sale.
There Is no doubt that proposition tc
buy the Panama canal, even If advanced
will meet with prompt and vigorous oppo-
sition from certain quarters in Congress
There is considerable hostile feeling against
that company, especially in the Senate.
Enemies of an Interoceanic Canal.
A member of the United States Senate
who is recognized as a notable advocate OF
an isthmian canal, said to a Star reporter
pie have been the consistent and persistent
enemies of an interoceanic canal; that they
have linked their interests with those of
the railways that have opposed canal.
For two years, continued this senator,
the Walker commission have tried to get
from the Panama people some kind Of a
proposition, but have thus far been I'M
able to do so. He said that the Panama
canal projectors are enemies to the pros
perity of this country for their efforts to
balk canal legislation; that they interfered
to the point of impertinence in negotiations
in the past and he had no doubt would
go still further.
1t is merely conjectural, of course what
figure M. Hutin Will offer, If he proposes
any. The Walker commission has reported
w to eft
Panama canal with a width of $50 feet.
The Panama Canal Company, in the past,
it is said. has valued its concession and
work done on the canal at $107 600, 900
which would bring the total cost up to
$249. .342, $40. The estimate of the Near
aguan canal is about $200,000.000
An Interview With Admiral Walker
M. Hutin had an informal interview with
Admiral Walker, chairman of the United
States isthmian commission, yesterday, and
arranged for another more extended con-
ference on the subject. Admiral Walker
declines to say anything in regard to the
matter and will not admit that any formal
proposition has been made for the trans
fer of the canal rights to the United States.
1t is said, however, that unless some such
proposition Is made by the Panama COM
pany the isthmian canal commission will
recommend the adoption Of the Nicaraguan
route.
The isthmian commission has endeavored
to obtain positive and definite statement
of exactly what the Panama company
would accept for it's interests, and Mr..
Hutin's visit to France this summer was
for the purpose of obtaining information
on that point. 1t Is therefore thought by
some officials that he may be authorized
to submit a definite and final proposition
In that event 1t is probable that formal
negotiations will be reopened by the gov
ernment. 1t Is said there are many diff
culties in the way of effecting a complete
transfer of the Panama property. One of
the principal of these is the requirement
under the French law that the stockhol-
ders shall receive 60 per cent Of the net in
come of the canal.
There is naturally great interest In the
latest developments In the situation, but
for reasons of diplomatic expediency it
is desired to withhold the details of the
negotiations from the public until there
is some prospect that a definite understand
ing will be reached
Mr.. Jules Boeufve, the chancellor of the
French embassy, returned to this city from
france In company with M Hutin, and
is acting In harmony with him in the ne
gOtiatious