The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-16
PICKERING BLOCKS
WORK ON CANAL
Plan Afoot in House to Abolish
the Commission in Charge
rE- m+r.@ p 80.
of Project.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, Dec. l6.-A plan to
abolish the Panama canal commission
is rapidly taking shape in the house
of representatives. Chairman Hep
burn of the interstate commerce COM
mittee and Representative James r.
will later put their ideas into the
form of a bill. Mr., Mann says:
~ see no sense in maintaining a
$4,000 year, total of $4,000 a
year, for doing work which can be
done more expeditiously by an engi-
neer and simple administrative
From other members of the commit
the isthmus, it is learned that lack
Of harmony among members of the
commission is almost blocking the
canal work. The congressman found
that the commissioners were all pulling
different ways, and that there were as
many jealousies and chickering's among
the commissioners as in a sewing circle.
Engineer Wallace finds his hands
tied practically all the time. Theories
violent clash with the expert engineer
ing knowledge Of the chief executive
official Of the work, and the actual
labor is retarded at every step.
Another proposition which is being
urged is to reduce the membership
from seven to three members. The
matter was called to the attention Of
the president too late to have any rec
ommendation Incorporated In his
message.
New Stars for Flag.
The admission Of the remaining ter
ritories as states will be part Of the
history Of this congress, unless pres
ent plans are materially altered. The
sentatives last winter provides for the
admission of Arizona and New Mexico
as one state, and Of Oklahoma and In
dian Territory as another state. p.
At recent meeting of the senate
leaders it was determined that condi-
tions are favorable for winding up the
statehood matter, and that the simplest
solution is to jam thru the so,.called
two-state bill. The president is I'M
democratic senators were found to be
favorable.
The only possibility Of slip is that
some man may bob up who represents
the dissatisfaction Of the Arizona peo-
pie, and who will resort to the desperate
expedient Of talking the bill to death.
The Arizona. and southern California
people are frankly opposed to this par
ticular bill for the reason that Arizona
threatens to lose it's identity in the
larger proposition of New Mexico, which
gets the capitol Of the new state.
This statehood legislation will send
to the senate four new senator's, proba-
bly, all Of whom will be dem ocratic.
Half dozen representatives will come
from the Oklahoma Indian Territory
country while two will come from the
new southwestern state. The electoral
college will also be increased in mem
bership and the democrats will be the
gamers in that.
/ Peril at an Inaugural Ball.
The narrow escape from fire which
might have burned up the pension office
in this city and stampeded the Inaugural
} ton ball of four years ago, is revealed
j for the first time in letter to Senator
Callinger from the secretary Of the in
| terror, who says that three times small
blazes started in the big building while
it was being used for the fo~-;--~~o ."
casion of McKinley's inaug ss-.-. 7..s
fires were, fortunately, extins e.rs' '.'
fore they made any headwa 49, T..
thousands of people whose ...- s,= S.
l placed in danger never knew .- = H.
Mr.. Hitchcock points out t .'.a ~
struction Of the pension bui 49, ~
its contents would work i---.a -i&;.3 i
:. hardship to many thousands szae.,.5s
ers and applicants whose ev. "~3~a -7@
-, bo b,il.;