Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-28
DISAGREE ON TYPE
OF PANAMA CANAL.
President May Take Bull by the
Horns and Decide the
Matter.
AUTHORITIES ARE DIVIDED.
Sentiment In Congress Believed to be
In Favor OF building Waterway
by Contract.

Washington, March 2s.--Caaal legis-
lation at the presen, session Of Con-
gress is regarded as extremely mprob-
able, even by the members OF the sem
ate committee. which for two months
has been meeting nearly every day to
investigate conditions on the isthmus
of Panama and prepare itself to report
bill. Several weeks ago 1t was decid-
ed to postpone temporarily the inves.
tigation of criticisms that had been
made against the management OF canal
affairs and 10 devote the time to n
discussion of the type OF canal TO be
constructed. The committee IL divid-
ed on this subject and there is no in
dication that the witnesses could and
the testimony taken have tended to-
ward harmoniZlng the views OF thu.
members. Advocates of the sea level
canal proposed by the minority Of the
board of consulting engineers are APP
parently confident that this plan will
be followed.
They have pointed out that, II no
agreement Is reached by Congress, the
president In his message transmitting
the reports OF the board has given no.
tice that the administration viii pro-
coed with the construction of the lock
canal
oEngineers who have been before the
senate committee have not agreed as
10 the feasibility Of constructing at
Gatun the flight of three locks propos-
ed by the minority plans and on this
has engaged In large part the exam
ination OF the engineers. All OF the
advocates of the sea level project were
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 sue
cess of the Ga.un locks. The testi-
mony given by Engineers Bates. Burr
and others TO the effect that the hill
In which II Is proposed to build these
locks is not long enough to provide for
three locks with useable lengths OF 800
feet, was cabled to Mr.. Stevens He
took steps to 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 I'm the
best position TO take a positive stand.
The witnesses who have testified be-
fore the committee have been about
evenly divided as TO the type Of canal
The next witness will be Gen. Davis.
formerly a member OF the canal com
mission, and governor Of the canal zone.
Secy Taft VIII appear some time next
week
In view OF the fact that the house
committee on interstate and foreigi.
commerce Is not inclined to accept the
testimony taken by the senate commit
tee, 1t is believed the house will not b.
ready for sesveral weeks TO take up
canal legislation.
This adds to the probability that very
little viii be done at the present ses-
sion. and that the president and the
canal commission will be left free to ex-
ercse their own judgment as to the
type OF canal to be built IN which
event the lock level type would be
adopted II is generally believed that
the sentiment IN Congress Is largely In
favor of building the water way by con-
tract. II has been suggested that Con-
gress, by joint resolution may take ac-
ton In this regard II canal bill is not
agreed upon.