The Washington times., 1905-12-27
MAY BUILD CANAL
BY CONTRACT PLAN
Senator Millard Decii$ S
for This Method.
THE COMMITTEE IS DIVIDED
Would Enable Old Senatorial Leaders
to Put Their Fingers in
the Pie.
THE COMMITTEE Is DIVIDED

The policy of building the Panama
canal by contract instead OF directly by
the Government, may be adopted by
Congress. through the medium of new
legislatiOn soon after the hnl.dav+
Senator Millard. chairman Of the SEN
ate Canal Committee. a thoroughly
practical business man. who has visited
the istbmus. declares for this method.
AMI whi!e he says the comm = se Is di-
vided on the proposition. il is under
stood he has strong hope ;he nlan VIII
be adopted There is a general feeling
on and out or Congress that this plan
would secure earliest completion of the
work. though it is admitted by those
favoring it that IT is open to some OBJ
jcctions
The relationship which the Senate
Committee on Isthmian Canals will bear
10 the conduce of the great work of
building canal is, according to cur-
rent Senatorial gossip. decidedly uncer-
tain. This uncertainty is said TO have
an Intimate relationship to the reports.
current before Congress met, that there
was sharp contest for the leadership
OF the committee. Senators NIillard of
Nebraska and Ilittredge of South Dako-
"a were Doth candidates for the chair
manship of the committee. which then
had every prospect of becoming one OF
the highest rank and greatest power.
May Trim Powers.
The conflict Of ambitions was settled
by giving the chairmanship TO Senator
Millard, which was in line with Sena-
torial tradition, he being higher in rank
on the committee in the last Congress
than Senator Kittredge. But between
this disagreement about the organiza-
tion and the troubles that have arisen
over canal affairs in general. there is
prospect that the powers of the com
mittee Will be decidedly trimmed. and
that, instead of having charge, on be-
half of the Senate. of that body's rela-
tions to the huge enterprise, the com
mittee will have to divide its preroga-
tive with two or three others
1t rs pointed out that when the first
canal legislation OF tie session reached
the upper house, and the 4uSstion
arose as to its reference, there was a
sharp conflict. The Canal Committee
wanted charge OF the business, because
IL related 20 the canal. Senator Alt
son wanted his Committee on Appro-
prlatlons TO have charge of that part
which related TO appropriations and
after sharp contest he got 1t. Then
Senator Aidrich, head OF the Commit
lee on Finance. got interested in the
features which related to the use Of
lsthmian canal bonds as a basis of
bank circulation, and insisted that those
matters were proper for the considera-
ton OF his committee. He, likewise.
IL was not realized al the time how
much significance attached to these
preliminaries. But 1t is now pointed
cut that this sets a precedent under
which business relating 10 the canal
VIII be divided hereafter, and the re-
suit VIII be that such committees as f.
nance, appropriations. foreign relations
and, perhaps, Interstate commerce will
get the most important features of
canal legislation There will be left
for the consideration OF the Canal Com
mittee chiefly the details relatinR 10
conduct of the digging operations, the
making OF inspections OF the work oc-
casional visits to the isthmus. and the
manufacture of a report 10 Congress
on which will be based the action that
other committees may recommend con-
cerninB appropriations, etc.
Would Clip Its Wings.
This plan would enable The old Sen
storial leaders 10 keep their fingers on
the conduct Of the great business OF
the canal The Isthmian Canal Com
mittee doesn't represent very strongly
the dominating element of elder states
men who usually aim TO control things
of real significance. This is given as
the reason why they propose to clip its
wings and SO divide its powers and re-
sponsibilties as to make II rather a
flgurehead than a real force I'm direct
ing canal matters
The arrangement naturally will not
pc very gratifying to members OF the
committee IL II is finally put into ef-
,ect- The point is made that the origi-
al purpose was 10 give this committee
ubStantfal powers in connection with
ne direction Of canal business, and
1at heretofore the committee has cx-
>cised Ihese IN liberal measure This
sss4on the committee has not even
zen able. thus far 20 secure the as
gnment OF a committee room OF size