Evening star., 1902-01-20
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL
Supplemental Report a Topic Of
Discussion.
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSW Erred
Government Satisfied as to Suf-
ficiency Of Panama Title.
CONFERS WITH PRESIDENT

All interest In Congress upon the subject
of the isthmian canal centers about the
supplemental report of the canal commits
sion, which is a reversal of judgment in
its two former reports and a recommended
ton in favor of the Panama route. Senators
and representatives are solicitous to see,
which the first reading of the report does
not make clear how the commission dis
poses Of the other objections it has in the
past raised against the Panama route now
that the one difficulty as to the price of the
property has been overcome.
For upon the settlement of these questions
of validity OF the French title: of the dis
position of the interest of the French stock
holders in the old canal company; of the
possibility or unlikeIihood of litigation in
the French courts; of the handling of the
rights OF the Panama Railway Company
and. last, but not least of the attitude of
the Colombian government, will depend the
issue OF whether canal construction is at
hand or Is still glittering generality of the
indefinite future.
Commission Must Answer Questions.
1t is assumed that the commission will
answer all these questions specifically, for
1t is not credible that the commission would
yield the bird in hand for a possible but in
definite covey in the bush. At this point it
may be appropriate TO say that not a word
of criticism has been uttered in Congress
against the isthmian canal commission. The
motives of the commission will not Be i'm
pugneQ II II 1ndorSeS Panama. But Con-
gress expects and will demand very clear
exposition of the reasons which led the
commission to its new conclusion. in the
face of the widespread belief that con-
sideration of the Panama route means delay
construction canal
Politics May Enter the Question.
For the first time in the annals of canal
legislation of recent years there is a pos
sibility of politics entering into the ques-
ton. 1t is now said that if this Congress
adjourns without action on canal bill as
a result of the projection of the Panama
complication into the situation the demo-
cratic party will hold the republicans re-
sponsible for disappointing the countrys ex-
pectationS. Ii is notable fact that republl-
can senators of prominence have been and
are the foremost advocates of consideration
of the Panama route. On the other hand,
the democrats have stood to a man for the
Nicaragua route and quick action. Demo-
cratic leaders think that valuable political
capital may be made out of this situation
for the coming congressional elections.
The question has been raised whether the
Hay-PauncefOte treaty has any bearing on
the selection of the Panama route. 1t is not
referred to the construction of ship canal
by whatever route may be considered eX-
pedient."
Suffciency of Panama Title.
The administration has satisfied itself
fully as to the sufficieney of the title that
can be conveyed by the Panama Canal
Company in case Congress should accept
the report of the commission in favor Of
the purchase of that canal The Colom-
bian government, so far as 1t can be COM
mitted by it's minister resident here, has
given assurances that 1t will do all that is
necessary in the matter Of treaty making
to approve the transfer of the franchise or
the Panama Company, and to make any
desirable extensions of time, both in the
allowance for the completion of the canal
and in the life of the lease. The State De-
partment will proceed at once to arrange a
protocol with Minister Silva, engaging CO.
lombia to enter into such a treaty in case
Congress conveys the authority for the pur
chase of canal This will be precisely
the course followed as to Nicaragua and
Costa Rica where the projected Nicaragua
canal was concerned, the purpose being to
avoid any chance of extOrtion or yacillation
after Congress has acted. Concerning the
various franchises that are said to exist
conflicting with the main franchise to be
acquired by the United States, the execu-
tive takes the position that the holders or
they feel aggrieved: for with Colombia
alone will the United States deal in this
matter This same statement applies also
to the possible differences and rival CLAIMS
that may exist between the old and new
French corporations. The United States
government will deal with the de facto
owners of the Panama franchise, accepting
the title they convey as good, and turning
any parties that may feel aggrieved to The
company that transfers title for satis:a.-
tion.
Conference With the President.
Representative Hepburn, chairman of the
House committee that submitted to the
House the bill for the Nicaragua canal
recently passed by that body, had a con-
ference with President Roosevelt today re-
garding canal legislation and the report of
the isthmian canal commission, submitted
to the President late Saturday afternoon
The conference covered wide scope of af-
fairs relating to canals and the PROPOSE
uons pending The President informed
Mr.. Hepburn that he would transmit 10
Congress today the report of the isthmian
canal commission.
Il believe" said Representative Hull
who was at the White House for a few
minutes today, that Congress will pass a
measure before adjournment providing for
the beginning OF work on a canal. 1t is
possible that the question of which route
may eventually be left to the President"
oehatoi ielief anu NIX nun DeSan 10 0tS-
cuss the time needed to complete a canal of
any kind. "A most competent engineer told
me few days ago" said Senator Teller
that 1t would take not less than eighteen
years to build any kind of canal and that
probably twenty years would not see it's
completion.
1T won't take that long" said Mr. Hull.
Ten years will be long enough
Senator Teller also believes that $500 OOO =
OOo Will be necessary to do the work