The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-14
The Canal situation as II Stands,

S0no -" ~ ~
The vote Of a majority of the Morgan
committee TO report the Hepburn bill
that Is to say, the Nicaragua route
In face Of the Isthmian Canal Commits
slon's recommendation Of Panama as the
most practicable and feasible route, no
more decides the question than does
the individual opinion Of Senator NOR
DAN or Mr.. HEPBURN or any other Of
the uncompromising partisans Of that
particular route.
Congress created by statute a body
Of specially qualified men to investi-
gate the whole subject Of an inter-
oceanic canal. While manifestly i'm
pressed with the superior advantages Of
Panama from every point Of view ex-
cept that Of cost, they were at first pre-
vented from recommending Panama
by the behavior of the representatives
OF the French owners of that uncom-
pleted enterprise. When the French
company made a definite offer of sale at
the reasonable valuation fixed by the
American Commission itself, Admiral
NAbh1h ~ lAb aCBotiattb uIiGililAloublN
reported as follows to the President:
After considering the changed conditions that
now exist and all the facts and circumstances
upon which Us present Judgment must be based.
the Commission Is OF the opinion that the mos,
practicable and feasible route for an rthmian
canal. to DO under the control. management and
ownership Of the United States Is that known
10 re Panama route
The TACT that the Isthmian Commits
sion had altered its conclusions to meet
changed conditions, far from weaken
ing its final judgment In the estimation
Of the people, strengthened that opinion
immensely. Its declaration for the
Panama route was recognized as the
verdict Of expert knowledge and business
common sense, uninfluenced by preju-
dice or p~artisanship. This is exactly
what the Isthmian Commission was con-
stituted for.
Now, the Senate Committee on Inter,
oceanic Canals is not a higher court OF
technical engineering knowledge, to
which the decisions Of the Isthmian
Commission go, as it were, on appeal.
Such has seemed to be Senator MoRGAN's
view, but 1t is very far from the truth.
The committee is the organ Of the Senate
for the facilitation Of business in its
special field, and although its majority
report may reject the recommendation
Of the Isthmian Commission IL does not
dispose of the same. If it could dispose
OF it, there would have been no need Of
the Commission. The six or seven
Senators OF the committee who agree
with Mr.. MORGAN merely set up their
W preconceived opinion and partisan
recommendation against the opinion
and recommendation Of the Isthmian
Commission, and it remains for the
Senate to decide which is entitled to the
greater weight.
There is another consideration which
Affects the case az il now stands. 1t was
referred to in the second or supple
mentary report Of the Isthmian Com
mission:
There Is. however. one important matter
. which may in the end control the action
OF the United States. Reference Is made TO the
" -" NuOHN
Is necessary for the construction and operation
Of an is,hmlan canal. It must be assumed by the
Commission that Colombia win exercise the same
fairness and lberality II the Panama route Is de-
termined upon that have been expected OF Mica
rsgua and Costa Rics should the Nicaragua route
be preferred"
Events since the French offer and the
final report OF the Isthmian Commission
diverted public attention TO some extent
from Nicaragua TO Panama justify the
apprehension here implied. 1t is by no
means clear that either Colombia, on
one side, or the Nicaragua and Costa
RIGA combination on the other, has
said plainly its last word regarding the
terms and advantages 1t is willing to
accord in return for the enormous boon
Of the canals location. To say that il
Colombia saw its chances improving
its disposition to make the most Of
these improved chances would increase,
Is only to attribute to the governing
authorities of that republic the Common
impulses of human nature in large
business transactions. The attitude of
Nicaragua has simultaneously become
less definite and satisfactory.
This situation calls attention TO the
plan ascribed TO Senator SPooNER, a
statesman who has shown on several
important occasions the genius which
solves large problems by the ordinary
rules OF common sense.
Suppose that a bill should be enacted
at this session authorizing the Execu-
tive 20 construct a canal either by way
Of Panama Dr. by way of Nicaragua,