Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-31
OPPOSITION 70 CANAL
Panama Project May Be Used
to Delay Action on
the Bill.
---
Transcontinental Railroads Said
to Be Anxious to Defeat
the Measure.
Proposition to Leave Decision OF
Route TO Roosevelt Not
Favored.

Washington, Dec. 31.-Obstacles Will
be thrown DIN the way of Nicaraguan
canal legislation by the Panama canal
lobby and the trans-continental rail-
roads which may result in postponing
action at least until next session. The
railroads and Panama canal interests
are extremely active here, and strong
effort will be made to have the canal bill
favorably reported by Senator Morgans
committee sent back to that body for
further consideration. The Panama
company Is anxious to dispose of Its In
terest to the United States government
and is now willing to sell its property
for $40, O00, 900. Heretofore 1t DEMANDED
$11o,OOO,O00 for the property, but when
II was seen there was no chance OF It's
being accepted at that price 1t suddenly
determined to make big reduction.
This was made, it Is said, for the pur-
pose of delaying action or defeatlng al
together the Nicaraguan project rather
than disposing of the Panama interests
tn this government. During the last two
or three days the effect Of this influence
10 apparent. and q number OF senators
who were strongly in favor OF prompt
action by congress authorizing the con-
s,ruction Of a canal by the Nicarasuan
ro,,ta are nat so earnestly advocating
hat project. but are in favor of looking
into the Panama canal scheme more
closely than has been done before
This change Of heart is the result OF
the circulation of literature bearing on
this subject pointing out the advantages
Of the Panama route. Publications set
ting forth these alleged advantages
have appeared simultaneously with the
denarture of an agent of the Panama
company from Paris on his way TO this
country to offer the lowest terms.
interviews are appearing favoring the
Panama route. and 1t Is said Senator
Depew while In Paris will look Into the
Panama offer.
An effort VIII be made to secure an
amendment to the Nicaraguan canss OH
In the senate or house IL such a measure
is adopted, which will leave to the pres
ident the selection Of the route. me
Panama company is advocating this
scheme. but Is afraid 1t can not muster
enough votes to secure its adoption. 1t
is claimed Secretary Hay is favorable
to the Panama. route. and he may use
his influence with the president to SCI
cure the selection OF Panama route, II
the matter il left 70 the presidents dis
erection. It is known positively, howev-
-rfrut Seerctnrr Hay does not favor
this proposition.
II the matter is left to the decision OF
the president 1t is not believed he would
take the responsibility OF naming the
route, but would either follow the rec
OF the interoceanic COM
mission, which strongly recommended
the Nicaraguan route, or he may call
the commission together again to give
the matter further consideration.
Public sentiment is strongly In favor
Of the construction OF canal, and It Is
believed the renewed agitation In favor
Of the Panama project will cause Wig
orous protest from the people. Those
there will be enacted either law au-
thorizing the construction OF a Nicara-
guam canal, law providing for canal
giving the president authority to select
the route or there will be no canal leg
lslation at all.
Considerable surprise Is manifested
here over the renewed activity OF the
Panama concern, backed by the trans
continental railroads, as nearly every
one believed when a Nicaraguan canal
bill was reported favorably IN both
houses OF congress that the opponents
OF this great work had surrendered and
would not pursue the fight further.