Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-01
THE PANAMA. CANAL
Substance of Report on the
Mann Bill.
CANAL ZONE BOUNDARY
RESPONSIBILITY OF CoNSTHUC.
TIoN ON PRESIDENT.
Complete Ownership of the Panama
Railroad Deemed Necessary and
Condemnation Provided For.

mitted the report on the bill for the govern
ment of the canal zone. The report says
in part:
The provisions of section 1 of the bill are
those of delimita ton and designation. The
section provides that the ten-mile strip
extending five miles on each side of the
canal as we'll as the group of islands in the
Bay of Panama, and all of the lands and
waters in addition, necessary for the con-
struction operation. sanitation and protec-
ton of the canal, or of any of the auxiliary
works, which the United States are author
lied to use, occupy and control under the
treaty with the republic of Panama, shall
be hereafter known and described as the
canal zone. and the canal itself shall be
known and described as the Panama canal
Section Two.
BY act of Congress. approved April Is,
1904, it was provided that until the ex-
piration of the Fifty-eighth Congress, I'M
less provision for the temporary govern
ment of the canal zone be sooner made pF
Congress, all the military, civil and judicial
powers. as well as the power to make all
rules and regulations necessary for the
government of the canal zone, and all
the rights, powers and authority granted
by the terms of the treaty with Panama,
shall be vested in such person or persons.
and shall be exercised in such manner as
the President shall direct, for the govern
ment of said zone and maintaining and
protecting the Inhabitants thereof in the
free enjoyment of their liberty, property
and religion. Section of the bill simply
extends this grant of power untll the eN-
piration of the Fifty-ninth Congress. unless
other provision be sooner made by Congress.
except that the bill provides that such
power shall be vested in the President OF
the United States and may be by him
tn1 in,
be exercised in such manner as the Presl-
dent shall direct etc.
Section Three.
Section 8 of the canal act directed the
President to cause the canal to be con-
structed through the Isthmian canal COM
mission. Section of the pending bill
leaves the responsibility upon the President
to construct the canal, but removes the
limitation upon his authority expressed in
the former act which requires that he
should do the work of construction through
the canal commission The present Dill
provides that the President shall cause
the canal to be eXcavated, constructed ana
completed, through one of the departments
of the government to be designated by him.
or otherwise, in his discretion, leaving to
the President not only the choice of agents,
but the choice of methods by which such
agents shall operate. The whole respon-
sibility Is placed upon the President anu
he is given the widest latitude OF author
ity in doing the work of construction thus
imposed upon him.
Section 3 of the bill also authorizes the
President to appoint and employ such per-
sons as he may deem necessary from time
to time for the government of the canal
zone the construction of the canal and the
operation OF the Panama railroad, and to
fix the compensation Of such persons until
such time as Congress may, by law, regu-
: late the same. -e
Section Four.
Section of the bill provides that the
officers appointed by the President in
charge of the government Of the canal
zone the construction of the canal and the
operation of the Panama railroad shall an
nually, and oftener at his will, report to
him, which reports shall include an item
lied account of all moneys received and
expended and shall be transmitted to Con-
gress: that in addition to the report to the
President. Congress. or either house of Con-
greSS, shall at any time receive from the
persons appointed or employed by the
President such information as may be ask
{ ed for by an act of Congress or by the or
der of either house.
Section 5 of the original canal act ap-
propriated the sum of $4,000 900 toward
the work of the construction of the canal.
That appropriation is not disturbed. 1t is
believed that appropriations hereafter
should be made specifically SO far as may
be practicable.
Remaining Sections.
The corporate stock of the Panama Rail-
road Company is divided into 10000 shares
of 800 each. The United States now owns
6s,964 shares. leaving outstanding in the
hands of private owners ,036 shares of the
thai the United States acquire the title to
these shares now the subject of private
ownership. If the present owners of the
outstanding shares refuse to sell them to
the government, the easiest and the natural
method of acquiring such shares is by pro-
cess Of condemnation.
The amendment offered to the bill as Sec
ton and the following sections gives to
the government the right to commence con-
demnation proceedings in the southern dis
trct of New York to condemn the shares
of stock of the railroad not now owned by
the government. The bill provides for due
notice and other safeguards to protect the
rights of owners of property. and directs
the appointment of three appraisers by the
court to appraise the value of the stock and
provides the necessary details of the pro-
ceeding.
Complete Ownership of Railroad Neces-
sary.
The principal work in the construction of
the Panama canal is the excavation of the
ton will require depends largely upon flu
ture plans and provisions. The estimates
which have been made In the past have cal
culated upon ten years time to excayate
the Culebra cut for 80 foot level canal,
twelve years time for 60-foot level canal
fifteen years for a 30-fOot canal and &c
years for a sea-leyel canal. The length OF
time for the completion of the canal de-
ponds upon the length of time required to
make this excavation. The principal diff
Guilty in making the excavation Of the Guile
bra cut is in disposing Of the material or
spoil. All of this must be carried away
from the cut by railroad. Much of it will
undoubtedly be required to be carried a
considerable distance. This must be done
either over the Panama railroad or else over
a new railroad TO he constructed. 1t is not
practicable to carry away the excavated
material over the Panama railroad unless
that road is under the control of the same
person or persons In charge of the work
of excavation.
The condemnation of the outstanding
shares of stock in private hands is there
fore rendered necessary. While the con-
defnnation of shares of railroad stock Is
unusual. there is nothing In principle to
prevent it and We, believe 1t to be perfectly
proper
Your committee recommend the adoption
of the amendments suggested herewith, and
that the bill as thus amended do pass