Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-12-13
4 Of
NEED FOR A
PRESS AGENT
Senate Gets Look al Troubles
Of Canal Commission.
TRANSC0NTINENTAL ROADS
ALL HELPING TO LEAD PUBLIC
Committee Agrees to Pass Emer-
gency Appropriation Without Dis.
turbing Cut Made by House.

Washington, Dec. 12.-The emer-
isthmian canal commission with the
funds to carry on the construction of
the Panama canal will contain no
general legislation. This was decided
by the senate committee on appro-
prlations at meeting lasting all Of
today, and ut which II was agreed to
report the measure appropriating
$1l,O0O,0 900, the amount named by the
house bill. The first section of the
bill i'm relation To the issuance of
bonds, was stricken out A bill con-
tanning this feature was introduced in
the senate by Mr.. Teller and II will be
dealt with by the finance committee.
The bill was amended further TO pro-
vide that in the future no expendi-
lures shall be made for the canal ex-
cept by the authority of congress and
when appropriations have been made
by congress.
Secretary Taft of the war depart
ment, Theodore =. Shonts, chairman
of the canal commission; Josehp B.
Bishop, secretary. and other officials
of the commission, including the pur-
chasing agent and assistant purchase
ing agent were before the commit
tee and were subjected to pointed in
quiries as to the manner OF making
expenditures.
Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Shonts urged that
the appropriation be increased to
$l6,500,000. the amount named In the
bill. before Il was amended in the
house. They admitted, however, that
Sl1 900. 600 would be sufficient TO CAR
ry on the work until April. In view of
the fact that congress viii have plenty
of opportunity to legislate by that
time It was determined not to restore
the S5 500 600 cut ont by the house.
"pIcss agents Duties.
The examination of Bishop, who
had tceu referred TO In the house de-
bates as a press agent for the com
mission was Of a personal nature, In
that he was asked to define his duties.
II was shown that in addition to act
ing as secretary he is a sort of dip
lomatic agent charged with meeting
any possible contingency that may
arise. In the. absence of Mr.. Shonts
and w. Leon Pepperman. the assistant
chief of administration, Mr.. Bishop
says he assumes their duties in Wash
ington, even to the extent of signing
checks. and that he deals directly
with the secretary Of war in relation
to canal matters. He said he was the
historian for the commission and as
sembled data Of all kinds that might
be of use for any purpose. He ad-
mitted that to some extent this infor-
nation was used for the public press
In his capacity OF literary secretary.
Mr.. Bishop explained that he was not
expected to create public sentiment,
but to keep II normal. In explanation
he said that there had been a deter
mined effort ON the part of the oppo-
stlon to direct public feeling against
the canal. and that before he entered
the employ OF the government his SER
vices had been sought by those inter-
ests at a more liberal compensation
than he Is now receiving. When ask
ed to name the opposition interests.
Mr.. Bishop specified the Nicaragua,
the Tehuantepec and the Darlen ca
nails and ventured the surmlse that
the transcontinental railroads also
were concerned in the opposition. In
renly to questions as to the activity OF
the railroads he said that he had no
positive Information that they were
opposing the canal elnerpise.
Railroads Need "Tsress Agent"
Mr. Shonts defended the action OF
the commission In employing a llter-
rv secretary. saying that practically
every railroad or corporation OF any
character found the services of such
an agent or 'ineStimaDle value.
The appropriation committee took
up the question of the making Of the
reports by officials of the canal COM
mission. and that regarding the pro-
visions of a bill adopted by the sem
ate committee on inter-oceanic canals
In the last congress, was agreed
upon. These provisions were placed
In the house bill as amendments and
enter into details as to the manner OF
requiring reports to be made to con-
gress.
II the finance committee reports
promptly the Teller bill In relation to
bonds, IL Is possible that In the inter-
est OF saving time this may be return
ed TO the bill as a new section and
the other amendments decided upon
by the appropriation committee
dropped temporarily 10 be dealt
with later by the isthmlan canal
com mission. The effect of this would
be to place the appropriation commit
tee on record against general legls-
lation and give the bond feature OF
the house bill the endorsement OF the
committee and at the same time
avoid a new bond bill In the house.
The hill viii be reported to the SEN
ate early tomorrow.