Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-19
CANAL QUESTION DISPOSED or

CANAL QUESTION DISGUISED OF.
The ratification OF the treaty with
Colombia disposes OF the canal ques-
ton so far as the United States is con-
cerned. The convention has yet to be
ratified 10y the Colombian congress and
there is no doubt that his will be done,
although some opposition to the treaty
has recently beer shown in Colombia.
This. however, is not likely to prove at
all serious.
The act authorizing the president to
acquire the property of the Panama
Canal company and to negotiate with
Colombia for the acquisition of terri
tory and the concession to the United
States Of certain rights and privileges
in connection with the canal, provides
that when these things shall have been
accomplished the president shall then
cause to b. e~xcavated. constructed and
completed, utilizing to that end as far
as practicable the work heretofore done
by the new Panama Canal company of
France and it's predecessor company, Il
ship canal from the Caribbean sea to
the Pacific ocean" For this and other
specified purposes the president Is au-
thorized to employ such persons as he
may deem necessary. The act also
creates an isthmian canal commission
of seven members, "who shall he nomi-
mated and appointed by the president,
by and with the advice aud consent Of
the senate. and who shall serve during
the pleasure of the president" At
least four of the commissioners shall
be learned and skilled in the practice
of engineering and at least one must be
an officer of the army and one an Off
Ger of the navy. In addition 10 the
commission the president is authorized
to employ in the canal service any Of
the engineers of the army at his discre-
ton and likewise any engineers in civil
life, with any other persons necessary
for the proper and expeditions prosecu-
tion of the work.
1t is yet to be determined under what
conditions the canal shall be completed.
The president is to decide whether the
waterway shall be built under the
supervision of the government or
whether it shall be intrusted to private
capitalists and completed by contract.
1t is the impression that the project
will be taken care of by a number of
separate contractors, it being under
stood that the plan under consideration
4 &c 30 AgrriJa HNAo ro,,Na I.ko ..-I
sections and call for bids for the work
to be done in each division. This plan
Is proposed as a p%recaution against
jeopardizing the whole structure by Civ
ing the entire work to a single con-
tractor or syndicate of builders. 1t is
said that several syndicates have al
ready been formed with a view to OBJ
tanning the contract for the construc.
ton of the canal.
The Spooner act authorizes the secre.
tary of the treasury to borrow $780,.
100000, or so much thereof as NAV be
necessary, for canal expenditures, this
being outside the $40, 100000 to be paid
the French company and the $1C,OOO,OOC
ITO Colombia. which sums will come d.
rectly from the treasury. The act
provides that appropriations for the
construction of the canal shall not ex
coed in the aggregate $135, OO0,O 600, but
1t is very doubtful If that sum will bt
sufficient to complete the work. 1t 1.
more likely to reach $500. 900, 900, foI
undoubtedly difficulties will be me-
with the cost to overcome which can
not now be estimated with any degre,
OF accuracy. But once undertaken by
the United States the construction o
the canal will be completed at whateve
cost.