The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-03-30
Roosevelt AlAY
GET cree HAND.
PANAMA IAN AZ LEelsL ALTON
NOT ExREcTEp4sEkATE5
COMMITTEES DIVIDED.

sEslif e 2 l7aggs5a ~ 80
WASHINGTON, March s0. Canal
Legislation at the present session Of
Congress Is regarded as extremely.
improbable even by the members Of
the Senate committee which for two
months has been meeting nearly every
day to investigate conditions On the
Isthmus Of Panama and prelaro itself
10 report a Bill. Several weeks ago
it was decided to postpone Temperate
Is the investigation Of criticisms that
lad been made age INST the manage
ment Of canal Alters and to devote
lie time to a t.ls. assion- Of tic type
Of canal to Sc constructed. Tue corn.
mittee is divided on this subject, and
there is no indication thai the Wit.
nesses called and the testimony taken
have tended toward Aarmonizing the
views Of the members.
Advocates OF the lockleyel canal
proposed by the minority Of the
board OF consulting engineers are ap-
parently confident that this plan will
be followed. They have pointed out
that If no agreement is reached by
Congress the President, in his mes.
sage transmitting the two reports Of
the board, has given notice that the
administration will proceed with the
construction Of the lock canal.
Engineers who have been before
the Senate committee have not agreed
as to the feasibility of constructing
at Gatun the flight of three locks pro
posed by the minority plans, and on
this has hinged in large part the ex-
animation Of the engineers. All Of
the advocates of the sealeyel project
we're outspoken against the safety Of
the locks at that point. but the friends
of the minority plan have been greatly
encouraged by 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
bill in which it is proposed to build
these locks is not long enough to pro
vide for three locks with disable
lengths of 900 feet was cabled to Mr..
stevens. He took steps 10 refute the
statements, and notified the Canal
| Commission to deny the testimony
upon his authority. Advocates 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 positive stand.
The witnesses who have testified
before the committee have been about
evenly divided as to the type Of canal.
The next witness will be General Da'
Wis, formerly member Of the CGnal
Commission and governor Of the Canal
Zone. Secretary Taft will appear
some time 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
| Committee, it is believed that the
House will not be ready for several
weeks to take up canal legislation
This adds to the probability that very
little will be done at the present ses'
sion Of Congress-, and that President
and Canal Committee 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,
1t is generally believed that the sen
timent in Congress is largely in favor
of building the waterway by contract,
1t has been suggested that Congress,
by joinst resolution, may take action
in this regard if a canal bill is not
agreed upon.
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