The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-09-08
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Cen
eral Topics from
the Capital.
September 2. 1905

ton today and commenced the de-
alterations that will determine
the recommendation to Congress
whether the canal shall be built
at sea level or made a lock canal
which some engineers claim is
more practicable and will suffice
for all the needs of commerce for
the next century. The board
contains great many distin-
guished names, the chief engi-
neer officers of the army, promi
nent engineers from civil life and
foreign engineers nominated by
England, France, Germany and
the Netherlands, at the request of
this government. What will
come of their deliberations it is
too early of course, to state. But
it is said that they will have
some sort of report ready for
Congress by the time it meets in
December, and that this will be
forwarded by the President &C.
cOmpanied by avigorous message
that will settle the question Of a
lock or sea level water way so
long open. 1t is a question,
however, how much time the
board will take in deliberation,
for some of them today suggested
the necessity of another trip to
Panama at the governments ex-
pense, though the most of them
have been over the ground before
with various commissions and
they will have at their disposal
i'll Washington all the maps and
plans of the many commissions
and surveys that have visited
the lsthmus without definite re-
suit heretofore. There is already
whispered talk in Washington
that the canal never will be built,
but in all probability this is mere
ill-natured gossip. 1t Is said that
the project is lmpracticable from
an engineering standpoint for
lack of canal foundations. 1t is
also said that definite informa-
ton to this effect is already on
file in the War Department.
However, every one knows that
nothing is going to be done until
the question of whether the one
or the other sort If canal shall
be built and that is what the
consulting engineers are here to
determine.
They are having "A lot of
trouble with the canal project
anyhow, and the determination
of the government to go into the
general bookkeeping business TO
furnish the laborers in the zone
with enoug" to eat, has aroused
vigorous protests from the ''lead-
ing merchants" of Panama. These
protests brought out a vigorous
letter from Governor Magoon. in
which he makes some sensational
statements in justification of the
governments proposed step. He
says that the labOrers in the
canal zone have been living prin
cipally upon sugar cane. This
was the only thing that they
had money enough to Guy at pre-
valling prices, and in spite of all
the efforts of the government to
furnish them with decent food.
the local store keepers had kept
up prices so that the laborers
could not buy. The men were so
weak from improper nourishment
that their labor was very scanty
and consequently expensive.
Therefore the only thing was to
give them food at reasonable
prices, and this the government
promises to do. II the men are
fed and the houses and
features of the situation
are attended to, which Chairman
Shonts says is a problem now
overshadOwing the actual dig.
ging of the canal, there is some
hope that the canal may be done
In the course of years.
There has been much third
term talk in Washington in the
past few days as a result of the
shower of congratulations re-
ceived by the President for his
part IN the peace agreement. 1t
would be chHrlish to want TO
take from the President any of
the honor due him for his great
work In the cause of peace. But
the third term talk is very in.
opportune at this time and prob
ably strongly against the Pres.
ldent's wishes. 1t will be remem-
Dered that when the announce.
ment of the result of the last
presidential election was made
to him one of the first things he
did was to make a statement in
the plainest and most unmistak.
able English, such as he can use
at need, saying that the unwrit-
ten law against a third term was
a wise one and that he proposed
to observe the spirit and sub