Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-20
AN ISTHMIAh CANAL
Entire Subject Will Come Up
in Congress.
LAPSE OF THE OPTION
THE PANAMA COMPANIES OFFER
GOOD ONLY TO MARCH 4.
Report Of Attorney General on Title to
Be Submitted-More Authority
Proposed for the President.

There is now little doubt that the entire
| subject of the building of an interoceanic
| canal will come up in Congress during the
session that meets December l.
The only thing that can prevent the mat
ter being discussed In Congress will be an
early conclusion Of all negotiations for the
purchase of the canal property belonging
to the New Panama Canal Company, and
the ratification Of the treaty with Colombia
granting all extensions and guarantees that
are being. sought by the United States as
necessary requisites for undertaking to
build a canal at Panama.
AS the Colombian congress has not been
III session for four years, and as there Is no
present prospect that 1t can be called to-
gether in the near future, 1t is not regarded
as likely that any treaty will be ratified
before March 4. If the entire transaction is
not concluded on that date the agT cement
for the sale OF the canal will fail, as the
new Panama Canal Company stipulated in
making the agreement to sell Its property
that>it should hold until that date
Panama Company's Offer.
Rear Admiral W alker, testifying on Feb
ruary last, presented to the Senate COM
mittee on interoceanic canals a copy of the
cablegram he had received from the new
Panama Canal Company. This cablegram
was dated Paris, January 9, and read as fol-
lows:
The new Panama Canal Company de-
| clares that it is ready to accept for the
totality. without exception, Of its property
and rights on the isthmus, the amount of
$40, O,0O0 the above offer to remain in
force up to March 4, 1909
Many senators regard 1t as essential that,
If this offer Is to have any effect, it should
be renewed by the new Panama canal COM
in diva fo-,, 10
again empowered to accept it under certain
conditions to be stipulated done
last winter. That act authorized the Pres
ident to accept the offer of the canal COM
papy If In his Judgment a clear title could
be secured. He was given a reasonable
time" to do this. While a reasonable
time" might be Interpreted under some con-
ditions to extend OVERTIME or three years.
in this case many leading senators are
convinced that no Interpretation would be
warranted to extend 1t beyond the time for
which the offer was made
They are also as fully convinced that the
authority to accept the offer under certain
| conditions given the President by Congress
related to the offer with its time limitation,
| and that If a new offer is made extending
| the time 1t will be necessary to treat it as
an entirely separate proposition.
Action on Attorney Generals Report.
1t is believed the President will transmit
to Congress the report Of the Attorney
General on the title of the canal without
| recommendations, as he did in the case Of
| the report of the isthrpian canal commits
! sion. That report will be before Congress
| very shortly after meets.
1t will doubtless be referred in the Sen
| ate to the committee on interoceanic canals
| and that committee dill discuss 1T and in
! due time report TO the Senate. 1t Is possible
that the committee will take additional
testimony in relation to the mater. But
| it is assured that report will not be made
IN ia q ha hes in
| teres.ing line of discussion in the commit
| tee.
| When 1t comes to granting the President
| a continuation of authority to act in the
| matter the discussion will go beyond the
| mere question of title. The new PROPOSE
| ton to be made will relate to the advis-
ability of empowering the President to call
! for bids for canals along both routes In
| order, in this practical way, to receive ad-
ditonal information as to their relative
! cost
| 1t is understood that several contractors
will be willing to bid and to give bond of
| one or even two hundred millions of dol
| lars, If necessary, TO complete the work.
| By this method 1t is thought by those who
| approve such a proceeding that there will
| be a double assurance that the canal will
| be built in given time. 1t might be that
| the main features of the Spooner amend
| ment would be entirely consistent with this
suggestion, with some additional provisions
| that the President should secure bids and
| under certain conditions should contract
| for the building of the canal at Panama
| and under others should proceed in. the
| same way for a canal at Nicaragua
| The chief objection now being spoken of
| In relation to this proposition is that too
| long time might be consumed by contrac-
| tors in making their bids. With the data
| on hand it is still a question how much ad-
| dtional Information contractors might
| want before bidding on such an enormous
| piece of engineering work.
Lapse of Appropriation.
| The views of Senator Harris as published
| In The Star a few days ago. show that he
| Is convinced that under the appropriation
| as made by Congress for the purchase of
the Panama canal property the money
would be covered back into the treasury
| upon the conclusion Of the present Con-
| gress If any Of 1t has not then been cx-
| pended.
| This view is not accepted by many of
the best informed men in Congress who say
| the appropriation will remain available for
| disbursement until 1t is covered back into
| the treasury by legitimate enactment
1t is regarded by many as unfortunate
| for other legislation that the canal question
should threaten to take up a part of the
already short time available for doing bus
iress in the short session but no way Is
known to prevent It, Debate on the uues-
ton in the Senate cannot be prevented, and
as the whole question will be open the
| or, 4Rx ~ b.