The Washington times., 1906-06-22
LOCK CANAL TYPE
WINS IN SENATE
Notable Victory for White
House After Indications
of Defeat.
WORK WILL BE PUSHED
Sanitary Conditions Immensely In
proved and No Uneasiness Felt
Concerning Epidemics.

The cleanest and most distinct White
House victory of the session was won
when the Senate voted for 2 lock canal.
Two weeks ago IL would have been said
by any intelligent observer that Senator
kittredge had the Senate thoroughly
organized for the sea-level plan. SEN
ator Millard. chairman of the commit
tee. and leader of the light for the lock
plan. admitted defeat
Then the friends Of the Admiuistra
ton got busy. with the result of the de-
cisive declaration for the lock plan. The
President told Senators that he would
veto sea-leveI bill. The House over
whelmingly declared for the loci,
ditch The argument as it was pre-
sented in the Senate by Senators Knox
Hopkins, Millard, CuIlom, and others.
gave the decided preponderance of
merit TO the lock advocates. There are
stories Of the employment of the patron
age argument in its most effective form
at the White House, in order to con-
vince Senators of the error Of their
ways, and there is little doubt that the
solid front which the Democrats pre-
sented in favor Of the sea-level plan was
influential in driving Republicans to the
other side.
Voted 80 to 81 for Lock Canal.
The Senate committee had reported
a sea-level bill. To this Senator Hon
kins presented an amendment, in the
form Of substitute, providing that the
lock plan should be adopted. The test
vote came on this. Senator Kittredge
moved TO table II. and the vote was. for
tabling. 81, against &C. On the roll-caH
thirty-five Republicans and one lone
Democrat, Patterson OF Colorado. voted
for the lock ditch; twenty-one Demo-
Ciats ana ten Republicans, Ankeny,
Hale kittredge. Nelson. Plat. and Nc
Cumber. voted for the sea-level plan.
Ihe question Of type of canal is thus
conceded to be settled for all time. II
was the hope of the sea-level people that
the two houses would fail to agree. and
the question would 90 over to next ses-
sion. thus keeping IL alive.
IN administration circles great salts
faction was shown over the outcome
The uncertainty had had A demoralizing
effect on the isthmus and at commits
sion headquarters. The men who knew
most about the practical phases of the
work have for months taken for granted
that the real animus of the advocacy
Of the sea-level project is hostility TO
the canal project as a whole.
stevens wanted Lock Type.
Chief Engineer Stevens has been au-
thoritatively quoted as declaring he
would resign If the decision should be
for the sea-level ditch He was engaged
in the canal enterprise, not from a de-
sire to make money out of il. but be-
cause he was willing to have his name
associated with such a monumental en-
gineerinS work. But he wanted 10 see
IL finished in his own lifetime, and
didn't believe he would If the level ditch
were ordered.
The work Of construction will now be
pushed with all celerity- Sanitary con
oitipns in the zone have been immense
" improved There is confidence that
the summer now opening will bring no
rViVal OF the ScareS over disease and
epidemics. Things are organized and in
shape for a vigorous prosecution of the
work: only a plan has been needed. and
this is now provided