The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-01-13
Senate Investigation
e Panama Affairs.

This IS the age al investigation and
Eke-Bnioed States senate, not be in the
rear Of the van has decided to investi-
gate everything in any way connected
with the Panama Canal and Panama
Railroad. All KINDS Of stories have
been waited northward from the canal
tone and many Of them indicate a con-
ditiOn Of affairs anything but cOmpli-
mentary to the great nation upon
whose shoulders has fallen then mantle
Of DeLesseps. The Savannah News
reviews the matter as follows:
Notwithstanding the fact that the
President in his letter transmitting to
congress the reports OF the Panama
Cana Commission and the Panama
Railroad Company. said he had inves-
tigsted all the charges of jObbery and
immortality connected with the Panama
canal and found them TO be without
foundation. the senate committee on
InJerOceanic Canal has decided to I'M
vesrigate all matters connected with
the canal and the railroad. No doubt
the committee arrived at this decision
after considering the subject thorough
y. And from about every point of
view the decision is a wise one. While
the country has the utmost confidence
n the President and is satisfied that
he has endesvOred TO get at the truth
Of the sensational reports bearing upon
canal affairs. there is no doubt a wide
spread impression that there has been
q vast amount of money wasted on the
isthmUs in connection with the canal,
and that very little has been accom-
plished either towards its construction I
or IN preparation for work upon II.
A recent well-known correspondent
in one Of the magazines asserts from
observation that neither Mr.. ShOnts. 1
the president Of the canal commission, |
nor Mr.. Taft. the Secretary Of War, /
found ont the real condition of affairs /
on the isthmus on their comparatively l
recent visit there. They found out
only what the officials told them. so 4
the correspondent asserts. and the Of 4
hcisls saw the situation from the very /
best point Of view. What he saws isn't 1
Of course to be accepted without Ques-
ton. he may be a sensational writer /
that makes mountains out of mole 4
hills. There are others. however. who
write In the same strain. Therefore \
the public mind is in doubt as TO the
actual situation on the isthmus.
The Senate Committee on Interoce-
Hnic Canal viii have as witnesses ev-
eFybOdy who can throw light on the
subject Even the correspondents who I
have been writing letters which the
President calls sensational and dis
appointed place hunters will be given
q chance 10 tell and substantiate their
stories.
The committee has of course under
taken a big task. because the witness
90 are widely separated. and doubtless 4
there are many having grievances Of
one kind and another that will want to
testify. Much Of the testimony that
wiz be given will be open to eXplana-
ton and that Will prOlong the investi-
CATION.
There is one thing. however. that
congress should decide at this time.
u Is that II the the investigation shows
that the money appropriated for the
use Of the commission has been wisely
and economically spent. that the work
has been conducted intelligently and 4
that as much progress has been made h
a. the situation would permit. there
viii be no more investigations except i
4 is shown that there is ample reason
for them-that there will not be an in
vestigatiOn every time there are sen
sstiOnsl reports that no progress is be-
ing made with the canal. that the DeO-
pies money is being wasted and that
there is favOritism and iobberv. There
Is bound TO be such reports whether
there is foundation for them or not
The effect Of frequent investigations
Is 10 hinder the work and dishearten
the oficials In charge OF It.
that the Miami Netropo1is is per-