New-York tribune., 1905-05-20
FOUR MONTHS TOO LATE.

Congressional "stand-patters" have logically
no ground for criticism of the Presidents pol
icy in Panama; certainly none for challenging
his right TO adopt whatever policy seems TO
him best The logic of events has estopped
them from protesting consistently. Their pro-
tests are now four months too late. The mid
die Of last January was their time to speak
effectively. Then the Secretary OF war mace
a formal report to the President on Panama
Canal affairs. He recommended reorganization
Of the Canal Commission and various other
measures for simplifying the situation and for
expediting the work. He also raised this very
point concerning the purchase Of supplies ana
invited action by Congress which should posi-
lively determine whether such purchases
should be confined to tho American market or
should be made in that market which was most
advantageous Then was the time for Con-
gress TO act. But 1t did not act. 1t ignored
the matter altogether. 1t declined to give the
President or the Secretary any instructions
on the matter. It left them to do whatever
seemed best Now they are doing It. What
ground IS there for Congressional complaint?
Meantime, in the deliberate and studied alb
sence Of any Congressional directions upon that
subject, what were the President and Secretary
expected to do? They were expected to push
work on the canal as rapidly as possible and
at the lowest possible cost Some Of those
VINO arS low IuelC PURCHASE pOIIcy
have recently been equally insistent on the
completion OF the canal at an early date and
have deplored the prospective cost of It. What
would they say f they saw work at a stand
still for a year, and heard the President ex-
plain that he was waiting for supplies from
the American market which he might have got
at once IN some other market? What would
they say If the President reported that the
canal was costing so many millions more than
the estimate, but that it would have cost so
many millions less If he had purchased sup
plies IN the cheapest market? We are IN
ciined to think some Of them would say:
Then why didn't you get the things else
''where, and save all this time and money?
"Ihere was no law to prevent you. Congress
left you with free hand, to act according to
| "your own discretion" In such criticisms there
might be some logical force We can discern
none in any that are now directed against the
President for acting on his own Judgment In q
case IN which Congress so openly declined to
give him instructions,
Congress will, Of course, be competent at its
next session to repair its error Of omission, If
it was an error. It will be able then TO enact
law declaring in what market and under
what conditions supplies for the canal are to
be purchased That law will cover probably
nine-tenths Of the purchases which are to be
made for between the present and the date
On which Congress can thus legslate there
VIII be need for purchasing only a small
amount of supplies probably not 1.-THE of the
quantity which Congress has already ordered
to be purchased in foreign market namely,
the millions Of dollars worth of French ma
chinery hardware and what not already ex-
istng at Panama and included in the American
purchase Of the unfinished canal If next fall
Congress should order a reversal of the policy
it would of course itself assume the responsi
bility for al additional expense and delay and
no reproach would fall on the President or Sec
retary Of War for having acted according to
the discretion with which Congress had In
vested them, and according to the example
which Congress itself had set