Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-16
WILL FAVOR A LOCK CANAL
President Is Preparing Special Message to
Congress on This Subject
TIME AND COST ARE CONSIDERED
Executive Asks senate Committee
to Prevent Indiscrirntnste
Reductions of
Salaries.

WASHINGTON. Jan. l5-President Eoose- !
welt is preparing to send to congress |
message which will favor lock canal |
He had conferences today with several !
senate members of the inter-oceanic canal
committee. including Senators Lodge. Dry
den Hopkins and Ankeny. The committee
has in its possession advance copy OF
the report furnished by the president for
use in examining Chief Engineer SsoVens
when he appears before the committee to-
morrow at the opening OF the inveseisa-
ton ordered by the senate. Thfs report
contains the views expressed by the con-
suting board OF engineers. together with
their amendments made since, and to 'Shich
General Davis is now getting their endorse
ment The message of the president will
favor the construction of lock canal, on
the ground that 1t is in the interest OF
the present generation and not for pos
terity, and that 1t can be built az less cost
of time and money. 1t is said the president
incidentally asked the republican members
OF the committee to support the nominal
ton of Joseph B. Bishop TO be a member
of the canal commission and to use every
effort to prevent indiscriminate reductions
Of the salaries of canal officials. which ne
fears may be the result of the investiga-
ton.
Charges Against Southern Pacific.
Charges by Secretary Taft and Chief En-
gineer Stevens of the Isthmian Canal COM
mission that the Southern Pacific railway
is responsible for the freight congestion on
! the Isthmus of Panama formed the most in
teresting development of four hours hear
| ing today on canal affairs before the de-
hciency subcommittee OF the house COM
mttee appropriations.
| The Southern Pacific Railway company
| controls the Pacific Mail Steamship conf
pany. according to the statements of the
| secretary OF war and Mr.. Stevens, who say
| that since the abrogation of the freight
! agreement between the Panama railroad
! and the steamship company the latter has
/ been dila.ory in calling for San Francisco
| freight on the west side of the isthmus. II
is charged that steamers frequently refuse
to stop to take freight and even leave
port with only partial cargo while great
quantities of freight lie on the wharves.
! 1t was alleged that the apparent motive
for this course on the part of the steamship
company was to hinder materials intended
for the canal delivered at Colon by the
steamships operated by the government
from New York so that shipments would
he necessary over the lines OF the Pacific
ade had had this effect was asserted by
Chief Engineer Stevens. who said that sew
eral cargoes had been shipped via San
/ Francisco and over the Pacific Mail line for
this very reason. Other shipments will go
this way unless an end can be made TO the
blockade.
II was suggested by several members Of
the appropriations committee that the Pa
ciic Mail Steamship company might he in
duced TO act more promptly II the United
States were to threaten tn shut off mail con-
tracts with the company. and other meni-
bers urged that the coastwise shipping laws
are adequate to punish any neglect on the
part OF the company.
Taft Before Committee.
Secretary Taft was summoned before the
subcommittee to make explanations con-
cerning estimates for canal expenses in
cluded in additional appropriations Of So 500
600 sought in order TO continue the canal
work until the end Of the present fiscal
year on June 80 Secretary Taft was ac-
companied by Chairman Shonts OF the
Isthmian Canal commission. Chief Engineer
Stevens. E S. Benson, general auditor and
David w. Ross. the general purchasing
agent OF the commission.
Representative Tawney, chairman OF the
appropriations committee, and other mem
bers OF the deficiency subcommittee, said
after the hearing that they were convinced
, the estimates of the secretary Of war and
, his assistants have been made with great
care Mr.. Tawney also said the review al
the canal organization shows II is much
: more perfect than many other branches n,
, the government snd Is more econcmicall,
administered There Is little disposition
among the members OF the subcommittee n
shave the estimates. which the committe,
regard as very moderate.
Additional data will be supplied to tn,
, subcommittee by the War department to
. morrow, but IL is not likely that secretar,
Taft will be asked to appear again. Tn.
- canal appropriation is to be carried I'm IN.
: urgent deficiency bill now in preparation h,
: the committee and will doubtless be re
ported to the house the latter part of IN,
| week
, scott Succeeds PenneId.
y James Brown Scott of California pro
fessor OF law at Columbia university. New
York, has been appointed solicitor OF III
State department to succeed James Pen
field. resigned.
Prof. Scott is about Ss years of age an.
: Is a native of California. He graduate,
a from Harvard as a member of the clas
d of 1890. He received the degree of bachelo
a OF arts In lSsl ana took degree at Heidel
berg In 1894. Returning to California n
= took up the practice of Law In which n
+ engaged from 1894 until 1893. in which Yea
d he accepted the chair OF international la,
N at the University of Illinois. In 1908 he be
ie came professor of law at Columbia uni
is versity which position he now holds II
X is the author of a treatise on internationa
e law which is standard work of instruc
Is tion at several OF the leading universitie,
L IN the early days OF the SpanIsh-America
ie war. Prof. Scott enlisted as a priyat
. in the California volunteer regiment. bu
> was not required to leave the countr,
Prof Scott is a man Of private means.
Chanee Gives Place TO Bates.
Lieutenant General Chaffee today tendere
his resignation as chief OF stan, Unite
\ States army, to take effect today ana
was accepted
General Chaffee does not 90 on the r,
tired list until February l. but he .icsire
a fifteen days leave OF absence before r,
'e tiring. General Bates, assistant chief Z
:! stan. viii succeed him.
"a santa Fe Papers 10 Senate.
10 Attorney General Moody today sent
n the senate all papers relating 10 the 4,