Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-18
SHOULD DECIDE SOON
Duty of Congress Regarding
Type Of Canal.
SECRETARY TAFT'S REVIEW
Work May Have to Be Sus-
pended.
ADvICES FROM MR.. STEVENS
Statement Submitted to the Senate
Committee on Inter
oceanic Canals.

Secretary Taft today told the Senate COM
mittee on tnteroceanic canals that the ques-
ton OF the type OF canal must be deter
mined at once. or Chief Engineer Stevens
win be placed In q position where he will
be compelled to suspend work.
Secretary Taft said he was on record in
favor OF the lock type Of canal. and that he
would not attempt to discuss the engineer
ing and technical questions. With respect
to tho type, he urged that 1t was of the
highest importance that the question be de-
cided promptly. The policy of the admin
instration Is for a lock canal. he said. and
II the policy Is to be reversed the President
is anxious to know about 1t and begin work
at once. On this subJecs he said. further;
III Congress decides in favor of a lock
canal. or II 1t chooses not to make any de-
cision at all and is willing to leave the sit
uation an It is upon the law. the President
will not hesitate to adopt the plan recon-
mended by the minority with some posi-
BILE notifications. and proceed to the speedy
construction of the great waterway At an
the isthmus that Mr.. Stevens work has so
far progressed that he will soon be In a po
sition where he must delay all work. or
substantially all. until the decision Is
reached
In response to q question by Senator Nor
gan the Secretary said that he was con-
WINGED that the question OF type Of canal
should be declared In q separate canal bill.
entirely disconnected from bill prescrib-
ing the government OF the zone.
Secretary Taft's Review.
Secretary Taft appeared before the COM
u1dttee to give testimony on several sub
jects OF interest in connection with the type
Of canal to be constructed and the govern
ment OF the canal zone. His testimony
was prepared In tho form Of statement
covering these subjects:
Government Of the zone. its 5uddoa! sys-
tenn and additional legislation needed.
Political relations between tho United
States and Panama, the modus vivend OF
December 8. 1904. and treaty relations.
The currency and banking agreements OF
1904 and 1906 and legislation needed for
future financial operations on the isthmus
Executive authority to make. temporary
arrangements with Panama.
Retirement OF the old commission and
the work of the new commission.
The Panama railroad and its relations
with the Pacific mail.
William Nelson Cromwell's relation to
the construction OF the canal.
Retirement Of J. F. Wallace as chief en-
gtneer.
The Markell contract.
The labor question and whether the
canal shall be built by contract.
The statement unquestionably is the
greatest work OF administrative review
ever prepared by the Secretary. 1t is In
tended to be given to the committee over
a period Of three days and to be held In
confidence until delivered.
The Court System.
Discussing the court system on the 18TH
mus within the zone, Secretary Taft said
the zone, in its relation to the United
States, Is identical with the Philippine
Islands, and that 1t would be impractical
to provide for Jury trials for persons on
trial for life or liberty. The people would
make such a method farce, for there are
few Americans subject to jury service, ex-
cept canal employees, and the natives are
untitled to fill a panel.
The Secretary said that an American citi-
zen who goes to the zone must know that
If he Is charged with an offense he cannot
have jury trial.
He said he had no hesitancy in saying
that the order putting the Dingley tariff
in effect in the zone was a mistake, and
led to political irritation until arranged by
an executive order. Another source Of ir-
rtation had been the use of domestic pos
tage In the zone. He told how these trou-
bles had been arranged in order to show
the progress that had been made.
During today's session the Secretary dis
cussed the question outlined down to the
subject Of the retirement Of the old COM
mission and the creation of the present
commission. He will resume at 1920
O'clock tomorrow.