The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-29


 and control that sole competitor of the Panama canal in respect of It's income from tolls upon the tonnage of vessels that will pass through 1t. These receipts give very heavy dividends on the stock of the Suez canal, which will be much re- duced when the Panama canal Is opened.
 This embarrassing attitude of the gen tlemen selected and appointed by Euro pean governments, while 1t may not in the least affect their opinions, will bring cloud over them that will lesson, If 1t does not destroy, their value in the es- timatlon of the American people.
 ''I deplore the introduction of such for eign questions, however 1t may occur, into subject that Is exclusively Ameri- can fin every aspect. Under existing cir cumstances, no person selected by the French government should participate In the decisions of any question connected with the location, construction or man agement of the Panama canal Yet two members of the advisory board are ap- pointed by France It requires only short memory to recall the astonishing revelations made by Assistant Secretary of state Mr. Loomis, In company with M. Bunau Varilla at the celebrated Quiil banquet, that foreign government, ev- idently France, was about to seize upon Panama, in defiance of the United states, when 1t was discovered from Columbia and made an indepnedent state through our intervention Ii is not well received by the people of the United States that France still has such prestige in our canal affairs as to be accorded the right to ap- point two members of the advisory board.
 Tn your telegram of the 22d inst you speak of large party who are 10 sail with the commission and the advisory board to Colon, and are to have comfort able facilities for making tours of inspec- tion and examination of the canal. In the Faa lar nf al afford much pleasure, which l regret am not prepared to enjoy; but l do not sup pose that such a surface inspection or the appearance of conditions in Panama would give me any data from which could form any judgment as to the prac-
 ticability of lock canal, or sea-level canal, or the preference due to either plan, or as to the cost, or the time re- quired for the completion of the canal on either plan.
 Could Not Answer.
 'I could not wisely, lnteligently or justly give an opinion to any commits sioner, or to any member of the advisory board as to the possibility of a dam at
 Bohio, 16S feet below the level of the sea, that would supply canal at 90 feet above sea level: or as to dam at or be- low Gatun that would supply canal at 30 feet above sea level; or as to dam at Gamboa that would control the waters of the Chagres river; or as to possible tunnel to either ocean to carry off those flood waters.
 'T could not inform the able, courageous and distinguished chief of the hygienic service in the canal zone whether If we should flood all the breeding places of the stegomyla fasciata with great lakes, we would not increase them a thousand fold along the margins of those great bodies or fresh water In the tropical undergrowth that would spring ID around them in a few hours. Indeed there Is no question among the many vital ones that concern this great inquiry, upon which any ra- tional mind could give any reliable infor- nation or form any correct judgment, from what one could see or hear in the | tours along the canal that this party Of visitors will have the opportunity to make 'Tf any member of Congress who Is one of this party of tourists should make up his opinion, or change his opinion, as to any great fact that will settle his vote. | by such an inspection. he will be expected l to furnish the grounds of his conclusions l to the country, as the engineers and ex- perts are required to do. l could not ven | ture to state an opinion on any of these questions to the Senate on the mere ba- | sis of a personal examination of the country at Panama, even after long and | patient study; to say nothing of the ob- | servations l might make within a few | days In company with an excursion party. "I must say that I distrust the ex- | pected advantages to Congress or to tho | country of such excursion, or the value of any opinions that may be ofrmed | on great engineering problems, by a body | of gentlemen who are professional, | and must form their conclusions from | surface appearances. Neither of these l important committees can derive any 1e- | gitimate conclusions upon vital facts that must control that vast subject. from the | opinions of those who are mere guests of an excursion party, and they will be men of extraordinary self-poise, if they | are not influenced by what may be prevailing sentiment among them.
 | It is scarcely worthy of the occasion, or properly respective to this great as- sembage of judges drawn together from this and foreign countries, to have them