Evening star., 1902-01-07
No Delay in Canal Legislation.

Delay taDaI
Before the Panama proposal should be
permitted to impede in the slightest degree
the course of canal legislation its terms
should be made explicit in other respects
than the matter of price.
The canal commissions report is far from
saving that if the price were made accept
able it would favor the Panama route. 1t
compared in detail the merits and dement's
of the two projects before deciding in favor
of Nicaragua, and finally refused to con-
slider seriously the Panama proposal on ac-
count of the prohibitive price that was
asked The only inference to be derived
from the report is that if the price asked
by the Panama company had been reason
able serious consideration would have been
given to the chances of removing the other
objections to the Panama proposal, and the
vote would probably not have been unani-
nous for Nicaragua. The decision in favor
of Nicaragua was expressly made in con-
sideratiOn of ''all the facts developed by
the Investigations made by the commits
SION as well as in view of 1.-The terms
offered by the new Panama Canal Com
pany."
The report indicates that on account of
the engineering difficulties of the Bohio
dam and the Culebra cut a longer time
would probably be taken to complete the
canal under the Panama than under the
Nicaraguan proposal. 1t also points out
that while the cost of maintenance of the
Panama canal will be less, from one to two
days longer than by way of Nicaragua will
be required by ships using the Panama
route to pass from North American or Eu-
ropean ports TO other North American or
Asiatic ports. These are by far the most
important lines of travel and especially to
the United States. since they include what
may be called the domestic communications
of the United States for commercial and
military purposes between our Atlantic and
gulf ports and the ports of our Pacific coast
and of our appurtenant territory in the Pa
cific ocean.
The report also indicates the doubts to
be quieted in respect to the title of the
Panama company and to it's ability to
sell to the United States in view of the
prohibition against its sale to any foreign
power. 1t is also made clear that we cam
not afford to hold the railroad or the canal
(which at a future date become the prop
erty of Co,Ombia) under the terms of the
concessions from Colombia to the canal
company. We must have genuine and per-
manent control of the canal strip.
The price of the Panama property is now
so reduced that the cost of building the
Panama canal will it is estimated be slight
ly less than that of the Nicaraguan. An
equally satisfactory showing must be i'm
mediately made in respect to title, ability
to convey. and the purposes of Colombia,
both to the confirmation of the sale by
the canal company and as to enlarged con-
cessions to the United States and the price
thereof Colombia must at once outbid
Nicaragua and Costa Rica in the degree of
control over the canal strip to be granted
to the United States.
II the labor of getting into satisfa ctory
shape the matter of Panama title and
Coiombia's concessions is as difficult and
vexatious and prOtracted as the process OF
pinning down the Panama company to a
reasonable price. as set forth in the canal
commissions correspondence. We may post
pone until the next generation all idea of
an isthmian canal.
The Panama offer cannot be considered
wholly its merits. for it Is inseparably
associated in the public mind with the in
fuences which are working to defeat the
entire canal enterprise. If it is not to be
used for the purposes of delay and dead
lock with resulting inactiOn, it's advocates
should promptly demonstrate good faith by
refraining from suggestions of postpone
ment and further investigation and by
bringing Colombia squarely and immediate
ly TO the mark with definite statement of
its policy and purposes.
The Hepburn bill should be passed by the
House without delay. This action will
cause the Panama company ''to step lively"
and Colombia to declare itself at once
Then if Colombia outbids Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, the Senate can if it will. sub
stitute Panama for Nicaragua in the bill,
and conference will give US one or the other
of the routes. There are some. 1t is to be
remembered. who would have the United
States lose both canals. like the ass in the
fable between the two punches of hay
The dividends aarpad b1y eor,o