Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-09
HAS FAITH IN NEW COMPANY
Admiral walker is Satisfied of Getting
Clean Title TO Canal
Property.

WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-Admiral Walker
continued his testimony before the senate
committee on inter-oceanic canals today,
and Colonel Haupt, another member of
the Isthmian Canal commission, is to be
heard Monday rext.
The examination today was with refer
enee to the reasons why the canal COM
mission changed its recommendation from
the Nicaragua to the Panama route. The
reasons given by the witness for this
change. summed up; are that the Panama
route is much shorter and it has fewer
curves and that those curves which do
exist are not so sharp as the curves in
the Nicaragua route. He also said he be-
lieved that with proper quarantine regula-
.tions the health conditions Of the region
along the Panama line could be much Inn
proved. He did not consider the present
condition from a health point OF view as
bad.
The questions bringing out these points
were asked largely by Senator Hanna, who
also made inquiries concerning the water
supply for the Panama canal and the dim
culties in the way Of constructing a dam
at Bohio. with reference to the dam Ad-
miral Walker said he has no doubt that
the engineering difficulties could be over
come and he also expressed the opinion
that the water supply would be ample.
He stated. in reply to questions by other
senators, that one Of the curves in the
Panama waterway would be quite sharp,
but he was of the opinion that steam yes
sells would be able to round it. He also
said that the harbor at Panama could be
maintained at a nominal cost.
Senator Morgan questioned the witness
at length with reference to the commits
| 49, - ~. 49,
new Panama company to transfer the prop
erty and give clear title. In reply to ali
the questions on this line Admiral Walker
said he had been satisfied in a general way
that the new Panama Canal company
would be capable Of passing the property
to the United States with acceptable title,
but that he was not q lawyer and that he
felt satisfied, in case the recommendation
Of the commission to accept the Panama
route should be favorably acted upon by
congress, the president would be assured
by competent legal advice OF the genuine
ness OF the title before accepting the
transfer.
eve only recommended the Panama
route as practicable and feasible" he said,
"by which we meant that we considered
the engineering proposition as practicable
and the diplomatic negotiation as feasible
He said he had no negotiations with NJ
Lampre, secretary general OF the new IA
anna company. beyond receiving the propO-
sition for sale Of that company from him
as had been published. He had. however
made many inquiries Of NJ. Lampre con-
corning his eompany's title and had beer
assured by that gentleman that II was coed
In reply to a question from Senator Nor
gan as to whether the government Of thu
United States had instituted any negotia,
lions with the government Of Colombia re-
llating to a transfer Of the property. Ad
miral Walker said that he would have Il
refer the senator to the State department
that II he had such information he woul.
not be at liberty to divulge II. He ex
pressed the opinion. however. that the Co
lombian government would be bound by an,
obligation assumed by the Panama com
pany. because hat government is a stock
holder In the Panama company.
The admiral was questioned concernini
the French lottery for the promotion Of tn
t interests OF the Panama canal. but he re
piled that he knew nothing about 1t ex
I cept what he had heard In Paris. He ha
understood there that such a lottery ha
, been authorized. but he knew nothing Q
the limitations placed upon 1t or the seop
allowed It by the French lAw.