The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-19
Special to The Globe.

NASdIN0IO-N, II. -, MdTcn 10
simultaneously with the ratification of
the Panama treaty by the senate word
comes to Washington that the initial
steps are being taken in the organiza-
ton of the worlds largest construction
syndicate which will bid for the con-
tract for building the canal. Accord
ing to information received here, finan-
cial leaders of the country are uniting
in this syndicate, which Will be nearly
four times as large as any organization
for a similar purpose. 1t is estimated
that between $135, 100000 and S145, ,00O,-
600 will be expended before the canal
is completed and the syndicate expects
TO make a proposal to hand over to the
government the canal completed to the
smallest details.
At the offices of the isthmian canal
commission it was said that the work
Of construction undoubtedly would be
done by contract and that while this
matter will have to be settled by a
commission yet to be appointed by the
president, investigation by the present
commission has resulted in finding
such overwhelming argument in favor
Of contract work as distinguished from
that done under the direct supervision
Of the government that there is no
doubt of the decision of the new COM
mission in this respect.
Concentration Thought Desirable.
According to w. H. Burr, of the
commission, this question was gone
into extensively and all investigation
pointed to the desirability of concal-
trating the responsibility for the COM
pletion of the canal as soon ats possi-
bic. The only way to do this, he
says, is to award a contract for it's
construction to one responsible COM
pany which will be able to safeguard
the government from loss in case 1t
fails to perform the task it assumes.
The feasibility of dividing the contract
Into sections has been discussed, but
the general sentiment of the experts is
against such a disvision of RESPONSE
bility.
1T may be-" said Mr.. Burr, "that the
committee will see fit to award sep
arate contracts for the construction Of
the Bahia dam and the terminals at
Colon and Panama, but I am confident
that the great work of the canal will
be given. to a single syndicate Of
course, the government will take every
precaution to see that the peoples in
terests are properly guarded. Although
the syndicate is said to be now organ
lzing, it is doubtful If there will be any
move made toward letting the contract
for the next two years."
Samuel PaSco, another member of
f1n old fr,r.f<N
the formation of so immense a syndt-
cate. He said that it would be of such
tremendous influence and wealth that
1t may entirely overshadow the COM
mission of seven which is to supervise
the work for the government and that
great danger lies in the chance that
the syndicate will become stronger
with congress than the commission and
thus become the master Of the situa-
ton.
According to the latest information
at the White house, President Roose-
velt will move slowly in naming tn.
commission after the treaty has been
ratified by Colombia. Today he told a
senator that it would probably be five
months before he made a move in the
matter The only votes cast against
Morgan and Pettus, of Alabama; Dan
lei and Martin, Of Virginia, and Teller,
of Colorado.
Opposition in Colombia.
COLON, March 1S.-The ratification
of the Panama canal convention bv the
United States senate yesterday has
caused much jubilation among the
isthmian supporters Of the Panama
route. There are, however, many clear
indications from the department of
Bolivar and other points in the Colom-
bian republic that the ratification Of
the convention will certainly meet
with strong opposition in the colom-
bian congress.
Mr.. CIeveIand's Opinion.
PRINCETON, N. J., March 1S-
Former President Grover Cleveland
was sixty-five years old today. He
passed the day with his family at his
residence on Bayard Lane. He was
the recipient of many congratulatory
kilograms and his intimate Princeton
friends called and extended their best
wishes. In response to a request for
his opinion on the passage of the Pan
ANA canal bill by the senate, Mr.. CIeve-
land dictated the following statement.
1T is very gratifying that the bill
has passed the senate and hope there
will be no further delay with the be-
ginning of the work, which, l believe
is going to mark an epoch in the COM