Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-21
.PESS|M|ST|C FEELING
Among Friends Of the Canal
in Congress.
DELAY IN RESULTS
MAY COME FROM SEA Level
-RECoMMENDAT1oN. 80 e
Malign Influences Will Lose No OPP
portunity to Further Hang
Up the Project.

1t Is not oyerstating the case to say that
a feeling of profound pessimism exists
among friends in Congress of the isthmian
canal project as to the probability of MAX
ing dirt fly at an early date. To many of
these men the way seems to be opening to
another long period of talk IN Congress, in
vestigation, wranglng and consequent de-
lay In results.
Their pesslmism has been increased by
the report of the board of consulting engt-
neers recommending change of plan in
the type of canal to be constructed Not
that they are for or against, a sea-level
canal in itself, but that the pending pro-
ceedngs create limitless opportunity for
delay. The change to a sea-level canal re-
quires congressional sanction.
Malign Influences Will Continue
Now. IL any one thinks that the malign
influences which have worked against the
isthmian waterway for quarter of CEN
tury will lose this opportunity to further
hang up the project, he'd better take an
other guess, say the friends of the canal.
They can see now the secret enemies of tfe
isthmian waterway coming forward with
bland faces and Ingenious smiles and say
ing, well, really, this is too serious
question to be settled offhand. We are not
some more information about sea-level
canals. Moreover, this is new PROPOSE
tion and quite startling. Let's take some
expert testimony We might run 1t along
during the summer and then in the winter
of 1907 we could act with our eyes OPEN
Charming program, yet how the legisla-
tive history repeats Itself Every one re-
members that four or. five years ago Con-
gress was In white heat of action on the
isthmian canal project. There was an over
whelming majority for it. and the prospect
Of something tangible was bright. But Just
when the metal was ready to be struck 1t
was chilled by q proposition to investigate
the different routes. The sum of one mil
lion dollars was appropriated for COM
mission to investigate and report and that
took time, but finally resulted in the ac-
ceptance of the Panama route.
Since then the government has spent
$e0,C0o.C00 getting ready for preliminaries
for that is the shape 1t Is left in today,
and now the whole thing seems likely to be
up in the air again. The Panama canal has
wrecked political administrations in France
before now, but there Is no intimation that
political considerations enter into the pres
ent situation.
Actual Construction to Be Embarrassed
None of these friends in Congress Of the
canal go to the length OF saying that the
taint of suspicion should be found In the
decision of the board of engineers to make
sea level canal They win say however,
and are not easily to be convinced to the
contrary, that the decision will be utilized
eagerly by the enemies of the canal to en-
tangle and embarrass the efforts for actual
construction OF a transcontinental water
way
II Is said to be certain that no decision
will be reached by Congress- until late In
this session. There win be wrangle over
expenditures, probably. Congress viii give
the commission ten or fifteen millions for
market money. so TO speak, and withhold
final action until the problem can be de-
bated in the Senate No friends Of the
canal are feeling at ali confident at this
time that real progress Will be made for
many months to come