Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-14
OVANS FAV0RPANANA
Senators Allison and Dolliyer
Would Choose the Short
Canal Route.
Result of Action in Doubt =
House May Reject Straight
Canal Bill.
Spooner Compromise Likely to
Win-Hepburn Opposes
Panama.
Special to Times-Republican.


vor the Panama route for an inter
oceanic canal provided a clear It'll,
may be obtained.
Senator Dolliver believes the rout,
selected should be the shortest obtain
able. all things being equal AS be-
tween forty-odd miles over the Panama
route and nearly 200, including the
lake, thru the Nicaragua survey, Sen
ator Dolliver favors the Panama line
provided legal complications as to right
to deliver the goods shall not arise.
Senator Allison is disposed to be gov
recommendations of the commission
He says, what's the use paying num-
Der of expert engineers million dollars
to thoroughly investigate an engineer
ing proposition and then ignore their
advice.
Admiral Walker and his associates
We're delegated to go into the matter
| eXhaustively and report. Their rec
| omendation, printed at the commence
ment of this session of congress, were
favorable to the Nicaragua route, but
it was expressly noted that this action
was prompted by the then prohibitive
price placed upon the property of the
Panama canal company. The commits
sion was opposed to the paying of $780,
| 100000 for the unconpleted work of the
| Panama company, but after having in
vestigated the matter fully, taking into
account present conditions at Panama
and the work done which need not be
done again, made an appraisement in
which the statement was made that the
United Safes could afford to pay the
Panama company $40,000,000 for it's
franchises and the unfinished excava-
ton. 1t is not understood that at the
time this notation in the report was
made, that the Walker commission had
an idea the Panama company would
ever accept these figures as a basis for
negotiations; the figures We're offered as
representing about what it was conSid-
cred this government would actually
save; tina tbs. that to accomplish the
work already done that would be avail
able this government would be obliged
to expend S40,00O,000. Naturally when
the Panama company made bona fide
offer of the property at that figure the
situation changed. That occurred just
at the time the house was about to vote
upon the Nicaragua proposition and as
there was not time to verify reports and
consider the matter before the vote the
Panama advocates We're outvoted.
The Walker Commission went over.
the matter again and by unanimous
vote recommended the purchase
of the. Panama property. The only
weak point is said to be the question of
title. Senator Fairbanks asserts that
the title will be made good.
1t is simply impossible to find any one
willing to make guess as to final out
come of the canal problem. AT this
time it looks as if the Nicaragua route
was beaten and that either the Panama
proposition or the compromise bill of
Senator Spooner will prevail. Senator
Spooner proposes to construct the canal
at Panama provided time can be Sc
cured satisfactory to the United States
If this cannot be done the canal shall be
constructed via the Nicaragua route
The matter is to be left in the hands of
the president to determine the question
of title.
OF course the vital question is: What
will the house do with the senate bill,
provided one passes the senate? If it
should be the Spooner compromise it is
quite likely the house would agree to it.
Ii it should be the straight Panama line
several members of the Iowa delega-
ton interrogated on this point, say the
n 40
ate bill Naturally the matter will go to
conference and Col. Hepburn, as chair
man of the house committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce, would GER
tianly hold out against the Panama
route. He is dead against that propo-
sition. He says he has studied the
question for years and knows every de-
tail. He says the Panama business is
rotten. Under these conditions it is
difficult to figure out an agreement.
It's good many years since you and
l played base ball together. isn't it,
SENATOR" Yes, if you played ball with
me, it occurred good many years ago"
Such was the beginning of colloquy
between Senator Depew and Major
Fred Hope, of Mt. Pleasant, Ia, day
or two since. Major Hope happened to
sit next to the senator from New York.
in a street car, and introduced himself
to the latter in the manner described.
Then Senator Depew asked Major Hope
his name. and when the latter gave it,
the senator Immediately recognized the
Iowa man.
1t appears that Senator Depew and
Major Hope We're both born in Peeks-
kill, New York. AS boys they played
together. Senator Depew was four or
five years Mr.. Hopes senior, but when
game of base ball was on they all
on the common, chose sides and |
played in the old fashioned way. Sen
ator and Major Hope chatted unit, one
of them left the car. Senator Depew |
extending a most cordial invitation to |
Major Hope to call upon him at his |
home and talk over the good old times
when they We're boys together in Peeks-
kill. 1t goes without saying that Major
Hope is looking forward to his visit
with keen anticipation. After that con-
ference perhaps there will be another
story.
Earl palmer. Of Iyoloma was drowned