Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-17
SENATE PASSES CANAL BILL
Emergency Appropriation for Sill 100000
Approved by Upper house
CONDEMN EMPLOYMENT OF PRESS AGENT
Bill Amended 20 Require submits
sion 20 Congress Estimates
for All salaries save
Lrborers.

WASHINGTON, Dec 16-The senate to-
day passed the Panama canal emergency
appropriation bill. but that result was not
attained until the debate on the bill had
been continued the greater part Of the
day TO the exclusion of practically all other
business. Set speeches we're made by MI,
Bacon in advocacy OF his amendment re-
qurinE estimates for canal commission
salaries: by Mr. Allison who devoted him
self largely TO the details OF the bill; by
Mr.. Culberson. who criticised the employ
ment of MIR. Bishop as a press agent" by
Mr.. Stone, who criticised the purchase OF
American ships to carry Panama supplies
in face of the announced determination
to go abroad for vessels under the condi-
lions existing and by Mr.. Newlands, who
expressed the opinion that the construction
of the canal should have been entrusted
to the gulf survey.
A substitute for Mr.. Bacon's amendment
offered by Mr.. Hale was accepted. II
specifically requires that congress shall be
supplied with regular estimates Of all
salaries except those paid to laborers,
skilled and unsklled, Otherwise tho bill
was passed as reported from committee.
During the day MIR. Hale made the
authorized announcement that MIR. Bishops
duties as press agent would be dispensed
with.
Bacon Offers Amendment.
When the Panama canal appropriation
bill was taken up by the senate today Mi
Bacon took the floor in support OF his
amendment requiring quarterly estimates
of the salaries and other expenses of Tho
canal commission
He said that under the present systcr
| Of 40 ri n \
for proper scrutiny OF the salaries paid &c
the commission employees. Although there
| was really stronger reason for such estt
mates in the case OF the canal employe:
| than in the regular departments of th'
! government he said such a course would
! go far toward preventing the extravaganza
| now practiced in the commission work
| He commented on the fact that Mr.. Shonts
salary was more than twice as much al
! that paid TO the chief justice of the SUI
/ preme court and said that 1t was not tn
| policy of the government to emulate tn
high salaries paid by private corporations
| Even the auditor of the commission get
$1,000 while the man who passes upon hi
work receives only $4,000, and the executive
| head OF the department the secretary o
war, only $500.
An Impossible Capacity.
! I'm my humble judgment" he said. 9TH
man doesn't live whose personal service
are worth $4,000"
| He said in reply to Mr.. Spooner that n
thought the 10000 paid the chief enginee
Of the commission too great. II would no
pay any of them more than the chief jus
tice is paid" the Georgia senator declared
Mr.. Spooner expressed the opinion tina
the president should be given latitude Il
| the matter of salary 10 secure the hes
possible engineering talent. saying that tn
competition among railroads for such talen
, was such that II could not be procured 70
small pay.
Mr.. Bacon, referring to the payment o
$4,000 to the canal commission auditor
said: .... ,...... ...
1T is perfectly monstrous that this sub
ordinate officer should be paid % per cen
! more than is paid TO the secretary Of wa
or the secretary of the treasury, the hea
OF the financial system OF the entire gov
| eminent"
One Indirect Answer.
He expressed the opinion that not sinRl
senator would say that the salaries shoul
not be reduced, and he paused to hea
from any one who might think otherwis,
No one responded directly, but Mr.. Calm
ger expressed the opinion that Mr.. Taft
testimony before the committe OF apprc
priations supplied good reasons for tn
payment of a high salary to the commits
sion's auditor
Mr.. Allison replied TO Mr.. Bacon. Speak
ing in general of the canal salaries, Nj
Allison said:
81 do not think the canal can be con
structed upon the basis suggested by tn
senator from Georgia, at least as respect
the higher places"
He said that he had had personal know
edge OF two refusals on the part of er
gineers to engage in the canal work an
he had understood that Mr. Stevens ha
refused to take the place for less tina
$4,000.
1t was contended by Mr.. Teller that wha
was needed in the construction of III
canal was man OF executive ability.
Mr.. Allison agreed that business ma
was needed and said he believed that WI