Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-19
THE CANAL REPORT
Isthmian Commission Working on 1t
Daily.
PhEhMA'S PRESIDENTS ACTIVITY
May Be Well to Sell at a Bargain
Figure.
OPPOSITION TO PURCHASE

The isthmian canal commission Is working
Gaily upon the completion of its report to
the President Of the United States upon pro-
posed routes of an interoceanlc waterway.
1t is said that the final report will be I'm the
hands of President Roosevelt some time in
advance of the assembling Of Congress. so
that he may, is he chooses, use the lata
compiled by the commission in any message
To Congress that he may contemplate in
connection with the canal
1t will be remembered that in its preIim-
mary report, which was submitted to Con-
gress by President Mckinley last session
the commission reported against the Pana-
ma canal route, holding the Nicaragua
route to be more feasible. Whether the
commission has found In the meantime or
will find reason to alter this recommenda-
ton cannot be predicted.
The president Of the Panama Canal Co:l-
pany is holding daily conferences with the
commission, presumably upon the subject
of possible offer for the acquisition 4 the
Panama route b. this government. Upon
this point. however, great secrecy is being
maintained by all concerned. and il Is stated
that nothing will be made public until Presi-
dent Roosevelt communicates the result Of
the negotiations
French Governments Interest.
Ii is considered significant that NJ Jules
Boeufve, chancellor of the French en-
bassy, is taking part in the conferences as
an assistant to NJ. Hutin. the canal COM
panys president, indicating possible. in
terest that the French government may
have in the case. Representatives of the
Colombian government have recently talked
the subject over with State Department
officials
The undisEuised activity of all interests
concerned in the Panama canal at the time
when the Nicaraguan project is coming
prominently TO the fore is noted and COM
mented upon by the friends of the isthmian
canal, and the outcome of The supposed ne
gotiations of NJ. Hutin is awaited with
keen expectation.
AT no time within recent years have the
advocates OF AN isthmian canal been so
hopeful of the success of efforts to get the
great project under way as at present. On
every hand the outlook is Frightening for
removal of some of the principal obstacles
that have heretofore stood in the way of
the canal. As far as they know. however,
there has been no suggestion of cessation
Of the alleged hostility of the Panama peo-
pie: hence their anxiety to fathom the
present movement Of NJ Hutin.
willing to Sell at bargain Price.
In some quarters it is suggested that the
Panama Canal Company, realizing that the
construction of an interoceanic canal by
the United States is not only inevitable.
but is near at hand, is fastening to attempt
10 dispose OF its property to the govern
ment, lat a possible bargain figure. Set
against this is another opinion that the
Panama Canal Company despairs of selling
its property, but is continuing to put al
legged obstacles in the way of the consum-
nation of any canal project, by holding out
possibilities Of the sale OF the Panama
route. The actual purpose of the Panama
Company will probably only be exposed to
the public when President Roosevelt sub
mits to Congress the offer of NJ. Hutin, IL
he makes one.
1t is claimed that even the acceptance
b. this government of an offer from the
Panama Canal Company for the sale Of
the final beginning OF work The Senate
committee on interoceanic canals, in its re-
port last session. called attention to the al
legged profit to the Panama Canal Company
of delay in constructing an isthmian water
way. That company, the report said, owns
the Panama railroad, and is a party TO
the monopoly enjoyed on overl and freights
by the great American trans-continental
lines.
Would Delay Canal Completion.
The isthmian canal commissions report
of last session is quoted to bear out the
statement that delay in the final completion
of the canal would ensue by the acceptance
of any terms that the Panama Company
seemed able to offer.
"A new arrangement is necessary If the