Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-28
LOCK CANAL PROBABLE
LEGISLATION AT THE PRESENT
SESSION SEEMS UNLIKELY.
President and Commission Will Be
Left Free to Exercise Their Own
Judgment in the Matter.

Canal legisla don at the present session of
Congress is regarded as extremely improb-
able, even by the members of the Senate
committee which for two months has been
meeting nearly every day to investigate con-
ditions on the Isthmus of Panama and pre-
pare itself to report a bill Several weeks
ago ii was decided to postpone temporarily
the investigation of criticisms that had been
made against the management of canal at
fairs and to devote the time to a discussion
of the type of canal to be constructed. The
committee is divided this subject and
there is indication that the witnesses
called and the testimony taken have tended
toward harmonizing the views of the mem
bers
Advocates of the lock-level canal proposed
by the minority of the board of consulting
engineers are apparently confident that this
plan will be followed. They have pointed
out that if no agreement is reached by Con-
gress the President. in his message trans
hitting the two reports of the board, has
given notice that the administration Will
proceed with the construction of the lock
canal.
Disagreement of Engineers.
Engineers who have been before the Sem
ate committee have not agreed as to the
feasibility of constructing at Gatun the
flight of three locks proposed by the min
GRITTY plans, and on this has hinged in large
part the examination of the engineers. All
of the advocates of the sea-level project
Were outsroken against the safety of the
locks at that point, but the friends OF the
minority plan have been greatly encour-
aged by a cablegram from Chief Engineer
Stevens declaring that there could be no
doubt concerning the success OF the Gatun
locks The testimony given by Engineers
Bates. Burr and others to the effect that the
hill in which it is puIposed to build these
locks IS not long enough to provide Tor three
locks with disable length of 8o feet was
cabled to Mr. Stevens
He took steps to refute the statements
and notified the canal commission to Geny
the testimony upon his authority. AdVo-
Gates of the lock canal declared today that
in view of the fact that Mr.. Stevens had
examined the site since the testimony was
given, he is in the best position to take a
positive stand
the committee have been about evenly d.
vided to the type Of canal. The next
witness will be Gen. Davis. formerly
member of the canal commission and gov
ernor of the canal zone. Secretary TAFT
will appear some time next week.
No Legislation Probable.
In view of the fact that the House COM
mittee on interstate and foreign commerce
Is not inclined to accept the testimony
taken by the Senate committee it is be-
neved that the House will not be ready for
several weeks to take up canal legislation
This adds to the probability that very lit
tie will be done at the present session or
Congress and that the President and the
canal commission will be left free to eXer-
else their own judgment as to the type of
canal to be built. in which event the lock
level type would be adopted.
1t is generally believed that the sent-
ment in Congress is largely In favor of
building the waterway by contract 1t has
been suggested that Congress by joint reso-
luton may take action in this regard II a
canal bin is not agreed upon.