Morris tribune., 1906-01-20
LEGISL A TIVE
President Defends Canal Work.

III a message to congress accompany
ing the report of the isthmian canal
commission President Roosevelt strikes
out from the shoulder at the various ca
nal critics in and out Of congress and
declares unhesitatingly that '.the work
on the isthmus is being admirably
done" and that great progress has been
made during the last nine months. He
says that what has been done gives
good reason '.to believe that the canal
81 ai Be aug IN Il shorter time than had
been anticipated and at an expenditure
within the estimated amount" He says
he has examined into various charges
Of jobbery or inefficiency or immoral
ity or misery obtaining on the isthmus
and that in every case they have proved
to be without foundation. He believes
these reports originated from desire
for notoriety or with individuals having
some grievance. AS to the matter of
salaries OF the officers of the commits
sion or of their subordinates, he Insists
that any attempt to cut down would
be ruinous from the standpoint Of ac-
complishing the work effectively" To
try to get men for this work on insult
ficient salaries would amount to put
ting premium upon inefficiency and
corruption"
Secretary Taft's letter Of transmittal
sharply criticises the Panama railroad
officers for issuing bonds without con-
sulting the department and for paying
the claim of J. e. Markell of Omaha to
the amount of $4,000 for submitting
his plan of feeding employees.
The entire matter. was referred to the
committee on interoceanic canals of the
senate, and it was notable that both
Senator German, the Democratic lead
er, and Senator Hale, the coming Re-
publican leader, agreed in opposing the
policy of intrusting the expenditure of
vast sums to the president. which was
begun during the Spanish-American
war
Without dissenting vote the senate
ordered a thorough investigation into
all matters relating to the management
of the Panama canal, the government
of the zone and the Panama railway.
Bacon's Morocco Resolution.
What the administration regarded as
an effort to encroach upon the preroga-
tives Of the president and interfere with
his diplomatic functions was the SEN
ate's consideration of the resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Bacon of Georgia, Dem
ocrat, calling for correspondence relat-
ing to the coming Moroccan interna-
tional conference on that subject. The
purpose was to limit the authority OF
the American delegates to considera
ton of our commerce with Morocco. In
the course of the sharp debate which
followed behind closed doors Senator
Spooner asserted that the delegates
were not to vote at all on any question
involved.
Rayner's Attack on Roosevelt.
The new Democratic senator from
Maryland. Mr.. Rayner. made bitter
attack upon the DOMINICAN policy Of the
administration. He declared that the
president had wandered far from the
traditions of his predecessors and was
plunging the country into new and dam
gerous complications and tried to show
that the president had usurped the
functions of congress.
The Revolt Against Cannon.
The announcement of Leader Will
Jams of the house minority that the
Democratic policy would be to support
he Philippines bill because it reduces
luties and promises a better condition. !
hough not altogether satisfactory, was
to undermine the insurrection