The Washington times., 1905-11-21
TIDE WATER CANAL
NOT ACCEPTABLE
TO COMMISSION
Plan Also Opposed by
President and Sec
retary Taft.
STEVENS HURRlES HOME
Chief Engineer Determined
Opponent to Suggestions
Advanced BY Wallace.
STEVENS HURRlEs HOME

That the Panama Canal Commission
the Secretary OF War and the Presi-
dent are NOT going 20 accept the recon-
mendation OF sea-ievel canal WAS
made additionally apparent today by
The announcement that Chief Engineer
Stevens has been summoned. post haste,
from the isthnlus, 10 discuss this very
question OF canal plans with The com
mission and the Secretary.
Mr. Stevens is about as determined an
opponent OF the sea level idea as there
is connected with the work, according
10 reports which come from high author
ity. After he took charge or the work
he went over the rough estimates wh ch
had been made by his predecessor. John
T. Wallace, OF the cost and time %
construction of different types Of canals.
and came To the conclusion that Wallace
was hop.lessly wrong. lie. as well as
lis associates on the isthmus in tbs
engineers departInen(-aHd the number
81 these latter includes some very abe
and experienced men-concluded that
MIR. Wallace had tremendously under
estimated both the time anu ssSpSnss.
In this conclusion, IL can llc STAGED,
they are sustained By the opinion OF the
majority, # not all. the members 81 tie
Panama commission.
President Is Exasperated.
exasperated that the advisory ba2ld
should have added TO the difficulties Of
the situation at this time 5y making
such o report; especially is he reFle-
sented as displeased with the Auasi can
army engineer who joined With he
other advocates OF sea-Ievel canal.
However, II General Davis had taken
the other side the result would not have
been changed. The majority would stu
have been for the tidewater ditch.
It is made very plain now that the re-
port. OF the advisory board will aot be
given great weight. There is nothing
sacred about Il IN the view OF tae. peo-
pie who are confronted with the real re-
sponsiblnty for building a canal. In all
probability il viii be set aside and the
canal work pushed ahead on the lock
plan.
that the President has all the necessary
power under the Spooner act 10 decice
this question OF types. provided he de-
cides In favor Of lock ditch.
Can Follow SpOoner Act.
That was what the spooner act con-
templated He can proceed to build a
lock canal without any new law. but TO
change TO a tide level one will require
new legislation. This alone is urged as
potent reason why no serious atten-
ton viii be paid to the advisory report.
There Is excellent authority for the
statement today that the President is
determined 10 adopt such course as
viii enable him 10 push the canal with
the minimum OF new legislation. II is
only necessary for him to secure the
passage OF an act appropriating from
the funds provided under the bond Is
suing clause OF the Spooner act money
TO carry forward the work after Decem-
Der l. At present there are no funds
available for this purpose. but an esti-
mate asking sIsGO0O 600 mas been forward
ed 10 the Treasury Department. This
viii provide for the immediate needs,
and an estimate for the next fiscal year
Will be submitted later, II is stated.
II Is announced that the President is
satisfied with the work OF the commits
! sion, and that he viii ask neither its
| abolition nor it's reorganization.