New-York tribune., 1905-12-13
FUNDS FOR CANAL WORK.
SENATE BILL 81 100000.
Isthmian press agent" Defines His
Duties to Committee.

washington Dec. 1.-THE emergency appro-
priation bill. TO provide the Isthlnian CahaA
Commission with the funds TO carry on the con-
struction of the Panama Canal viii contain no
general legislation. This was decided 10y 'iie
senate Committee on Appropriations at meet
ing lasting all Of to-day, at which it was agreed
IN renort the measure appropriating $110O0Ooo'
che amount named by the House bill Ihe nrsI
section of the BILL in relation to the issuance
of bonds was stricken out. a bill containing
this section was introduced in the Senate by INr.
Teller and it VIII he dealt with by the F1naiice
Committee The bill was amended further 10
nroyide that in the future no expenditures shall
be made for the canal except by authority Oh
Congress and when appropriations have been
made by Congress.
Secretary Taft Of the War Department, Theo-
dore P Snonts chairman of the canal commits
sion: Joseph B. Bishop. secretary, and other
officials Of the commission. including the pur-
chasing agent and the assistant purchasing
agent. were before the committee and were sub
3ected TO pointed inquiries as to the manner of
making expenditures. Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Shonts
urged that the appropriation be increased to
s165OO 1000, the amount named in the bill before
It was amended in the House They admitted,
however, that S11, 10000 would be sufficient to
carry on the work. until April In view of the
fact that Congress viii have plenty Of oppor-
funity 10 legislate by that time it was deter
mined no. to restore the $5,5000O0 cut out by
The House.
Mr.. Bishop, who had been referred to in Houss
Hebates as a press agent" for the commission
was asked to define his duties. 1t was shown
that in addition to acting as secretary he is a
sort of diplomatic agent charged with meeting
any possible contingency that may arise In
the absence Of AIr Shonts and W. Leon Pepper
man. the assistant chief OF administration, Mr.
Bishop said he assumed their duties in Wash
sngton, even TO the extent OF signing checks, and
1hat he dealt directly with the Secretary of War
3n relation 10 canal matters.
Mr.. Bishop said he the historian for the
commission, and assembled data of, all kinds
that might be Of use for any purpose, He ad-
united that TO some extent this information was
used for the public press In his capacity of
literary secretary Mr.. Bishop said that he was
not expected to Great public sentiment, but 10
keep it normal In explanation he said that
there had been a determined effort the part
of the opposition interests to direct public feel
ing against the canal and that before he entered
the employ Of the government his services had
been sought by those interested at more liberal
compensation than he is receiving.
When asked 10 name the opposition interests,
Mr.. Bishop specified the Nicaragua, the Tehuan-
tepec and the Darien canals, and ventured the
surmise that the tranScontinentaI railroads were
also concerned in the opposition TO the canal In
roads, he said that he had positive informa-
ton that they were opposing the canal enter
prise.
Mr.. Shonts defended the action of the commits
sion in employing a literary secretary saying
that practically every railroad or corporation Of
any character found the services of such an
agent of inestimable value
The appropriation committee took up the
question of the making of reports by officials
of the canal commission and in that regard
the provisions Of a bill adopted by the Senate
Committee on Interoceanic Canals in the last
jSiO
We're placed in the House bill amendments
ouiring reports 10 be made 10 Congress. If the
Finance Committee reports promptly the Teller
bill in relation to the bonds ii is possible that
returned the bill as new section and the
other amendments decided upon by the APP
preparation Committee dropped temporarily, to
be dealt with later by the Isthmian Canal Com
mission The effect of this would be place
general legislation and to give the bond feature
of the House bill the endorsement Of the Finance
Committee and al the same time avoid
hond Dill in the House.
The bill. being a general deficiency measure,
was referred TO Senator Hale, who has charge
of all deficiency bills the floor of the Senate.
committees. which has not yet completed its
chairman Of the committee. therefore will have
charge of the bill the floor. It will be re-
ported to the Senate early tomorrow.