The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-28
GOT ALL THEY ASKED.
Tawney Writes Letter Regarding tthe
Canal Appropriation.

Washington. Aug. 2s.-In a letter to
Acting Secretary of War Oliver made
public, Representative James A Taw-
ney of Minnesota, chairman of the
house committee on appropriations, re-
sents what he regards as imputatons
by Chairman Goethals of the 1sthmian
canal commission and Attorney Gen
eral Bonaparte that congress has fall
ed to appropriate sufficient money to
carry on the work of digging the Pan
anna canal to the full capacity OF the
force on the IsthInus. Mr.. Tawney says
he was greatly surprised at the state
ment of Colonel Goethals that in con-
sequence of the appropriation being IN
adequate to meet expenditures 1t mad
become necessary to lay off thousands
of men and even more surprised at
reported opinion by9the attorney gen
eral that under the amendment to the
urgent deficiency appropriation act COW
ering eight months the canal approprl-
alton must be apportioned to certain
periods, which apportionment could
mot be waived or modified except upon
the happening of some extraordinary
emergency or unusual circumstances
which could not be anticipated at the
time of making such apportionment.
Mr.. Tawney says: IF the attorney
general has given an opinion to this
effect it is evident that the opinion was
given without carefully reading the sec
ton referred to. The appropriation Tor
the canal expenditures for the hscal
estimates submitted by the Isthmian
canal commission through the secretary
of war and with the exception OF the
amount estimated for the administra-
tive purpose of the canal zone govern
ment the appropriations are equal IN
amount to the estimates submitted If,
therefore, this section did apply to the
canal expenditure s the committee on
appropriation in the last congress is in
no way responsible for the fact that
the appropriation for labor and equip
ment are inadequate
Mr.. Tawney insisted that the canal
appropriation fell within the excepted
class, in that the construction of the
canal was authorized by law and the
limit of cost fixed. The canal appro-
priations are excepted from the pro-
vision of law requiring the apportion-
ment of expenditures to certain periods
Mr. Tawney argued for the reason that
the appropriations made for this nscaL
year are not only within but far below
the limit of cost fixed by law.
Mr.. Tawney added:
It would suggest that Col. Goethals
be advised to continue the work as he
has been doing regardless of any ap-
portionment that has been made of the
appropriation for canal expenditures.
The APPROPRIATIONS for labor and equip
ment win certainly be adequate to
meet the requirement of the work as
he desires to carry it on until congress
convenes next December. He can then
submit with his estimates the addition
al amount necessary to continue the
work for the remainder of this fiscal
year and there will be no question
about congress making the additional
appropriation nor will there be any
question whatever of any one having
Violated the section of the statutes re-
ferred TO for even layman with
practical common sense can see upon
careful reading of the section that it
does not apply to appropriations of this
kind"
1t is said at the war department that
To &c rrT7d ,fC
apprehension as to the facts, for Col.
Goethals has never sought to place upon
congress any blame for the present
state of affairs but explicitly stated
that it has arisen through the unex-
pected progress made in the work of
construction.
Also it is stated that the attorney
general has not rendered any opinion
on the subject.