Evening star., 1902-01-17
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL
Sessions of the Commission Held
Today.
WILL SURELY REACH A VOTE
Likely That There VIII Be Two
Reports Presented.
SENATE COMMITTEES ACTION

There Is every reason to believe that
President Roosevelt will receive a majority
and minority report from the isthmian
canal commission. This opinion is based
not only upon the fact that the special ses-
sion called by the President has extended
over two days, but from little points that
I have been dropped by members
The members of the commission were on
hand promptly at 10 o'clock in their room
in the Corcoran building. and they at once
resumed the discussion. No witnesses were
examined at today's sessions
Got Down to business.
Admiral Walker was among the last TO
arrive. and 1t was not long until the mem
bers got down to business. Col. Hains OF
| the Corps of Engineers, L. S. A, led in the
discussion.
Senator Pasco left the room for few
minutes about u o'clock. On his return
he said that 1t was likely that the COM
mission would reach final vote this af-
ternoon. In any event the commission. he
said. would remain I'm session until an
| agreement was reached.
| Members of the commission have refused
| to talk about the work before them, but
there is feeling prevalent among those
| who have given the canal question atten-
| tion that the majority report, IL there is
|
| of the commission, will be in favor of the
! Panama route.
Today's sessions were the most important
| that have been held by the commission.
| Maps and plans of the two routes were
| brought before the members and they were
scanned and discussed with rare interest.
Admiral Walkers Statement.
| Admiral Walker, when adjournment was
taken for luncheon, said that anything to
be given out for publication must come
| through the President
I'VE shall remain in session throughout
the afternoon and Will likely reach con-
| clusion before adjournment" he said.
| AS on yesterday a guard was stationed
| at the door leading to the room where the
| commission was in session.
Meeting of senate Committee.
The Senate committee on interoceanic
canals met this morning and for an hour
discussed the general subject of the canal.
| There were present Senators Morgan,
chairman: Hanna. Pritchard, Mitchell.
| Kittredge, Harris, Turner and Foster OF
Louisiana. The members of the commits
tee who were absent were Senators Hag-
ley Millard and Platt of New York Vari-
Gus phases of the canal situation were
| talked over, being chiefly matters that
were testified TO by Mr. Edouard Lampre,
representative of the Panama Canal Com
pany.
Presenting the Darien Route.
This afternoon a subcommittee. consist
| ing of Senators Harris, chairman; Foster
of Louisiana and Kittredge, will hear the
testimony of Mr. Serrell. the civil engi-
neer who built the Hoosac tunnel. Mr..
| Serrell represents company that contem-
| plates a project of building a sea-level
canal at Dorien by means of a tunnel un-
| der the mountain. with height Of 40 feet.
| 1t is understood that this company, the
| Mandano Canal Company, proposes TO
| allow the United States government to use
| the canal for its ships without charge in
, Exchange for its guarantee of their bonds.
! rr Serrell, whose reputation as the ensi-
| naar no built the Hoosac tunnel has be-
| come vo, d wide. will explain fully to the
| suhcommitteN the manner in which he pro-
noses 70 carry cut his project which has
been under discuss, IN for many years.
Against Pana ma Route.
/ 1t is underst ood today IL. IT Whatever or
fer may be made by the Fa, mama Cahai
| Company, and even should the FIR non soN-
| ernment itself approve the sale of the ran
| anna Canal Company to the United StaeSs'
| there will be change of front on the
| part OF those who support Senator Nor
| gan's view, which is against the acquire
| ment of the Panama canal under any CIR
| cumstances. This attitude is not assumed
| because of any pride Of opinion or lack or
| inclination to take any good oner that
| should be presented in order TO achieve
4
| isthmian canal. They express themselves
| as willing to make any compromise in or
! der to get canal, but they are convinced
| that the discussion and practical experience
| In relation to canal building the 18th.
| mus for half q century, and in view OF
| legal obstacles /. would be impracticable
| to accept any offer from those who speak
| for the Panama Canal Company.
Various Estimates of Stockholders.
There are various estimates of s5e num-
-. -loll l.or kofl 10
Panama Canal Company, one Of which Is
| that they aggregate 10000. Senator Nor
gan and other constitutional lawyers ex-
| press no doubt that even were the French
government to approve the sale of the
| Panama canal property to the United
States, the bondholders and stockholders
| of that company would be able to institute
| proceedings in the courts of this country
| and to recover the loss they sustained by
the sale of their property.
Rights of Bondhoiders.
No action on the part of the French gov
ernment CT any other power could deprive
them Of their rights, unless they should
themselves individually assign their rights
and give up their bonds stock. IL the
United States Congress should secure the
Panama canal and pass an act declaring
that the stockholders in that concern have
no claim because OF their interest and
should the title be passed to the United
States under the approval of the French
government, the situation would not in the
least be changed. The decisions of the
United States Supreme Court are declared
to be perfectly clear in maintaining the
rights Of a stockholder or bondholder under
such circumstances. There are in France
S00.0o0,000 francs of Panama bonds and
800, 100000 francs of interest-bearing stock
scattered among half million small hold
ers. and II would be a question, Senator
Morgan is convinced, Of settling with these
people.