Evening star., 1902-01-20
4 Canal Decision, In Any Event.

The isthmian canal commission reports IN
favor of the Panama route In the light OF
the latest financial phase of the case, the
Panama company having reduced the price
for its property and franchises to s4oOoo0oo
The commission goes over the old ground,
covered at greater length in Its original
report and addresses In detail only the
financial and engineering aspects or the
canal situation. 1t touches only in mem
tion upon the need of securing new ccnces-
sions from Colombia, TO replace the limited
term grant now held by the Panama COM
pany. Therefore, in order to make the
showing in the case complete. and to per-
NIT fair comparison between the two
routes, there should be ascertained without
delay what concessions Colombia can
and will make in transfer Of control of
the canal strip. and what she proposes to
charge this government for its privileges
along the canal line, and likewise what
similar grants can be obtained from Mica
ragua and Costa Rica and what they would
cost were the Nicaragua route chosen.
Then can the two proposals be set side by,
side and measured squarely.
1t is incumbent upon those who are favor
ing the Panama route, who have been
under some degree of suspicion of having
an association with the railroad interests
which have worked for many years steadily
against all canal construction, to demon
strate their good faith now by putting the
case as soon as possible upon this desired
basis of fair comparison. They should
make clear the precise position of Colombia
with regard to the change in the prospective
ownership of the canal franchises and de-
velop the degree of responsibility which
this government will assume should it en-
gage to construct the canal along the
Panama line. They should furthermore
sweep away. If possible. all doubts which
may prevail now as to the validity of the
title TO the canal property which the pres
ent company can convey, and all doubts as
to the attitude which the stockholders in
the Panama railroad will assume toward
the proposition to sell outright TO the United
States.
Having made their offer of a sale for
s40OO0.OO0. the Panama people can now do
no less than to complete the proffer and
put the case in it's best shape for imme-
diate decision. The Senate will have the
case Well in hand. 1t can weigh the rela-
tive engineering, political and financial
merits of the two routes and decide ac-
cording to its best lights But some deci-
sion should be reached at this session Of
the Senate cannot vote affirmatiyely upon
one or the other of the alternative plans
within a few weeks. The details Of the two
propositions are all we'll known. save those
which have just been suggested as neces-
sary for the Panama people to adduce in
order TO clear away the last doubts. Should
the Senate decide that the Nicaragua route
everything considered. is preferable, the
commissions decision upon the basis of the
cost of canal itself to the contrary not
-withstanding, then the matter Is finally set
tied If the Senate, however. should vote in
favor of Panama, the House may decide to
concur i'm view of the Judgment of the COM
mission. rendered since it acted on the
original bill. But If the House should not
agree u such a vote by the Senate, the bill
can be thrown into conference, and there
worked out to a conclusion.
If this bin is allowed to remain unenacted
in either form. when the session closes
simply because of the rivalry between two
possible lines OF canal construction or be-
cause of the opposition to any form of canal
construction on the part of the trans-conti-
mental railroads, the clearly expressed will
Of the American people will have been de-
hberately disregarded by Congress.