Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-11-19
Congress Must Make EIneP.
geRcyAppPOpPiatiONatORCe
DELAY TO GOVERNMENTS
CREDITORS UNCALLED FOR
Secretary of War Says Object Is to
Get the Big Canal Built Without
Delay or Useless Red Tape.

st, Louis Mo-, Nov. 1S.-Secretary
Of War Taft was the guest Of honor
at the monthly banquet tonight Of the
ST. Louis Commercial club and spoke
on the subject of Panama. He was
met al the Union Station this after
noon by a delegation from the Com
mercial club
In his address he spoke Of the inn
provements effected in sanitation,
transportation Of supplies, housing of
employees and general confidence.
/Seeretary Taft said that the ten
millions of dollars voted by congress
to begin the preliminary work on the
canal is about exhausted and that
there Is not enough money on hand
after payment of the bills to meet the
December pay rolL which amounts to
something like 100000 month. Ho
continued
There are bills unpaid for mate
rial and supplies which should be
paid at once. The delay is quite on
Pressive and unjust TO the creditors
of the government It will he neces-
sary, therefore for congress to make
an emergency appropriation to carry
on the work without oalamltous in
terruption,
Nothing could be more disastrous
than to have the pay rolls go unpaid
for even few weeks. This was the
trouble with the New French Canal
Co, and with the old French Pana-
ma Canal Co. Certainly there Is MOTH
ing in the credit Of the United states
iustlfying suspension OF payments. II
know there is disposition In some
and possibly among some
members of congress. to investigate
everything connected with the canal.
But while this desire to know all
about the canal and its construction
is most commendable, 1t will hardly
he allowed to delay the current ap-
proprations for the daily work by Ia
600 laborers that is now being so sue
cessfully carried n. II MAY be asked
why have the conditions been allowed
to arise under which an emergency
must be asked. The
answer Is that those responsible DEEM
ed 1t their chief duty To push the
work to buy the needed plant and ma
terial as rapidly as possible. and to in
crease the pay roll as far as possible
provision could be made for the hous-
ing and comfort OF the additional la
borers and employees II was supposed
that an extra session OF eosRress would
be called In October when ample time
would have been given for deliber-
alton in making all necessary prepar-
ations.
Now II will be necessary to make
partial appropriations to pay current
bills and meet ehe necessary pay rolls
until definite estimates for each fiscal
years work can be submitted to con-
gress, as In case of all other general
appropriations of congress. Assuming
that the type OF the canal is properly
fixed. the faster the work Is done the
better every one will like 1t. II Is Inn
portant only that the money shall not
be wasted by haste and that the coun-
try shall receive the worth OF it's
money.
Subject to this limitation the great
er the amount We saend in a year Is
building the canal therefore, the bet
ter"
Stubborn Opposition Met
Secretary Taft said that one OF the
great obstacles to success in building
the canal is the opposition of power
full persons and interests 20 its con-
struction. Some OF this opposition. he
said. comes from those who are sin
cerely convinced that the Panama
route Is not a practicable route. Ho
said II was not to be expected that the
great trans-contlnental lines should
become enthusiastic over an enter
prise whieh. II carried to completion,
must certainly affect the rates Of
freight between the Atlantic aud Pa
cifc coasts Even now, he said. there
Is some question as to whether low
rates and equality Of service to all on
the Panama railway may not reduce
rates Secretary Taft
said that opposition 10 the building of
the canal was found In misrepresen-
tations OF conditions In the canal zone,
In unfounded reports concerning fr!c-
ton between those having authority In
the canal work. lntimatlons of Irregu.
larities and frauds and favoritIsm In
contracts Without any evidence what
ever to Justify suspicion" and generally
In the constant suggestion OF A pre-
that the expenditure OF mill
lions In building the canal must In
volve graft" Doubtless. he said,
congressional Investigations will be
held from time TO time. Doubtless
they ought to be held to assure the
public; butt II they are to be per-
to delay the work on the canal
and to paraIyze the energy OF those
upon whom the burden Of pushing the
work must fall they viii be product
I've Of evil and VIII become exactly
what the many private interest would
be glad TO have them become. the
grave Of All the high hopes for
trans-lsthmlan canal. The American
people viii pot permit such catas-
trophe."