The Washington times., 1906-01-16
Chief Engineer Stevens
First Witness
Cal ed.
PRESIDENT IS ANXIOUS
Wants Canal Work Pushed
as Expedihously as Posi-
bic, Conference Learns.

Ihe Senate investigation into the 18TH
mlan canal affairs was begun at 1885
oclock today. when Chief Engineer
Johh r Stevens appeared to testify be-
iofe the Interoceanic Committee as to
the character of the canal. tho methods
IN vogue on the isthmus in perfectil O
the preliminary details for the constr1,c-
tlon OF the big ditch. and in general
way 10 point out or recommend To the
investigation committee what irorr,,-.-
ments, If any should be made To CARR.
the work on 10 completion.
Representative Hepburn chairman If
the House Committee on Tnters+sta
commerce and Foreign Relations took
part In today's investigation Tr Is ia
ne VIII attend al meetings so as -o ,..
aoie 70 report the character Of The in
EeStIeatlon TO his associates in tb. lo,,-e-
house. ~ the 'o"er
Drawing Stevens Out.
This mornings meeting vas 4o,-,..s
chiefly 10 drawing Mr.. Stevens ,,,t 20
90 the character of the canal ba f,,-,r-
II was intimated that I'm The f7,s 80
Lie majority report OF the Rosrd %
C0''saltins Engineers fav5ring a se.
E'eI ditch, Mr.. Stevens favored q tool-
eaI-"l -' OF medium height. In this conner-
'.oil IL Is reported that ave members
- .s-e Ilie.oceanic w Canals C0mnfsef,.4
,-f--,.reu 9-Ii - eu with President Roosay-ir
y.,-, lay afternoon. and thar at fErr
f1 Us 49, 49, me president pointed out
~. --g'1eIs why he was in favor ~
lAT plans OF Mr. Stevens. 0' VA
7. -9 -li~ei STOOD that the Presldcur
HS5siIouS OF building The canal ss
IrpVIit9usly as possible. that In rna,
be OF value % this e.r,.r4ff --,,4 10!
Ia tioW or Jnls she lock project was tbe
. ne question OF empl0vfu~ Frrafg-,,
iabor on the canal was also feu-b.5 T..
81 - srnefal way. Alr Stevens suppartf4e
.-'S 'aildl commission iu their r,ur-f,rs5
~. -, --l- toi' iabererS from spain. The
.'il'l.ltt tTr. however ala u1f 60 deeplv
l-to thlS feature of the plans OF ma
oiillliSslon- IS 90 viii hear the Canal
commission ON that subject
Reports Eot Changed.
From what could be learned outside
the committee room. the majority and
minority reports Of the Board Of CON
sulting Engineers was not changed Iv
the conference Brigadier General Davis
had Win The foreign members "a Rrl5a-
scis last week. The foreigners favored
a sea-leVeI ditch. while the American
members favored the lock project nv
stevens was quite emphatic if is said
on recommending the minority renorf
and viii so into 1t In more detail al the
next hearing
Health Declared Good.
The allegation that immoral yvop,e,
had ben imported from Martinique was
emphatically denied by Ma. Stevens. ana
or the sanitary conditions on the 18th
mus he gave the bsst reports He ey
plalned that taken as a whole. the con-
dltlons or the lahoring element could
not be materially improved
The inyegffea rfcTe -o~rfr,7..4 -s-.------r.
out the day, with only a short interrnis-
sion for lunch. The testimony of NTr
stevens VIII probably be concluded to-
All members Of the Interoceanic Canals
committee. excepting Senators Carn1acIc
ana Flatt, were present at today's meet
ing. Thursday POultney Rlgeiow is
scheduled 10 appear 10 Corr0b0rata his
statements I'm magazine article The
taxing Of MT Stevens testimony will he
iFSuined FRIDAY. as he Is anxious 10 re-
urn 10 the canal zone on Monday
Major Gallagher. assistant DII--Lasir, J
agent OF the Canal Commission VIZ (
has been relieved of that duty and Is
under orders 10 relOin his regimen. in I,
Tic philippines. VIII be called r,yt /!
ihe inquiry VIII be long and thorone5 {
senator Mlllald. chairman of the com
,Tfitier. said this morning that he hard /.
" expected IL TO be concluded bafcra !
the middle of March. Ii is intenlIeJ /
10 lnquir into everything that has ,eer,
done on the canal since il was mn
chase. from the French C0mDanv and /
Il II proposed to investigate cyerv
charge that has been made.