The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-12-15
BILLS LIMIT MADE.
The Appropriations Committee Agrees,
on. $11,ooo,00o for lsthmian
Canal EXPENSES.

Washington, Dec. IA. - The emer-
gency appropriation bill t o provide the
tsthmian canal commission with the
funds to carry IN the construction of
the Panama canal will contain no gem
eral legislation. This was decided by
the senate committee on appropria-
lions at which 1t was agreed to report
the measure -appropriating $1,000, 900,
the amount named by the house bill.
The first section OF the bill in relation
to the issuance OF bonds was stricken
out. A bill containing this feature was
introduced in the senate by Senator
Teller and it will be dealt with by the
finance committee. The bill was amend
ed to provide that in the future no ex-
%penditures shall be made for the canal
except by authority of and
when appropriations have been made
by congress-.
Secretary Taft, of the war depart
ment; Theodore r. Shonts, chairman
of the canal commission;. Joseph b.
Bishop, secretary, and other officials
of the commission, including the pur-
chasing agent and assistant purchas-
ing agent, were before the committee
n were subjected to pointed inquiries
as to the manner of making expendi-
lures.
Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Shonts urged that
the appropriation be increased to $16,-
100000, the amount named in the bill
before it was amended in the house.
They admitted, however, that $11,OOO,-
900 would be sufficient to carry on the
work until April. In view of the fact
that congress will have plenty of OPP
portunity to legislate before that time,
1t was determined not to restore the
S. SOC, 900 cut out by the house.
The examination of MI. Bishop, who
has been referred to in house debates
as a press agent for the commission,
was of a personal nature in that he
was asked to define his duties. 1t was
shown that in addition to acting as Sec
getary he is sort of a diplomatic agent
charged with meeting any possible con-
tingency that may arise. In the abb
sence of Mr.. Shonts and w. Leon Pep
perman, the assistant chief of admin
istration, Mr.. Bishop says he assumes
their duties in Washington even to the
extent of signing checks and that he
deals directly with the secretary of
war in relation to canal matters.
He said he was the historian for the
commission and assembled data of all
kinds that might be of use for any pur-
pose. He admitted hat to some ex-
tent this information was used for the
public press.
Ia ills Capacity ol literary secretary
Nj. Bishop declared that he was not
expected to create public sentiment,
but to keep 1t normal. In explanation
he said that there had been a deter
mined attempt on the part Of the ioppo-
sition interests to direct public feeling
against the canal. and that before he
entered the employ Of the government
his services had been sought by those
interests at more liberal compensation
than he Is now receiving.
When asked to name the opposition
interests Mr.. Bishop specified the Mic
araguan n Tehuantepec and the Da-
rien canals, and ventured the surmise
that the transcontinental railroads also
were concerned in the opposition to the
canal.
In reply to questions as t. the activ-
ity of the railroad he said hat he had
no positive information that they We're
opposing h canal enterprise.
Mr.. Shonts defended the action of the
commission In employing a literary Sec
rotary. saying that practically every
railroad or corporation of any charac-
ter found the services of such agents
.of inestimable value"