The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-28
National Legislature Seems
Little Inclined to Act
In the Natter Of Constructing
the Isthmian Canal.
TO DECIDE.
Will Be Followed by Building OF
Lock Waterway.
Responsibility viii Be Shifted
to the President.

Washington. March 2S.-Canal lezis-
lation at the present session Of c0n~
gress IS regarded as extremely impro%
babIs, even by the members Of the sen-
tie committee which for two months
has been meeting nearly every day 20
investigate conditions on the isthmun
Of Panama and prepare itself to report
a bill. Several weeks ago It was ds-
cided TO postpone temporarily the II.
vestigation OF criticisms that had besn
made against the management OF canal
affairs and to devote the time to a
discussion Of the type Of canal TO be
constructed. The committee Is divided
on this subject and there IS no indI-
cation that the witnesses called and
the testimony taken have tended tow
ara haTmonizing the views OF the mems
bers.
Advocates of the lock Level canal
proposed by the minority OF the beard
OF consulting engineers are apparently
confident that this plan VIII be eol-
lowed. They have pointed out thai ff
no agreement Is reached By congress
the president in his message transmit
ting the two reports Of the beard has
given notice that the administration
Will proceed with the construction Of
lock canals. Engineers who have been
before the senate committee have not
agreed as to the feasibility OF con
strueting at Gatun the flight OF three
and on this has hinged In large part
the examination OF the engineers.
All Of the advocates Of the sea level
project were outspolzen against tbs
safety Of the locks at that pc3nt but
the friends Of the minority plan have
been greatly encouraged by a cable
gram from Chief Engineer Stevens de-
elaring that there could be no doubt
concerning the success of the Gatun
locks. The testimony given BY Ens1-
neers Bates. Burr and others to the
effect that the hill in which Il is pro-
posed to build these locks is not lonR
enough to provide for three locks xftn
usable lengths of 900 fet was cablsd
to Mr. Stevens. He took steps to re-
fute the statements and notified the
canal commission to deny the tssti-
mony upon his authority. Advocates
Of the lock canal declared today that
in view af the fact that Mr.. Stevens
had examined the site since the testl-
mony was given ne IS in the best pos
tion TO take a positive stand.
The witnesses who have testified be-
fore the committee have been about
evenly divided IS to type Of canal. The
next witness will be General Davis for
merly a member of the canal commits
sion and governor of the canal zole-
Secretary Taft Will appear sometime
next week
In view of the fact that the house
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce is not inclined to accept the
testimony taken by the senate commit
tee 1t is believed the house viii not be
ready for several weeks to take up
canal legislation. This adds to .he
proba bility that very little VIII be done
at the present session Of congress and
that the president and the canal COM
mission will be left free to exercise
their own judgment as to the type OF
canal to be built, in which event the
lock level type would be adopted
It is generally believed that the sen
timent in congress is largely in favor
Of building the waterway by contract
It has been suggested that congress by
Joint resolution may take action la
this regard if a canal bill is not agreed