The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-05-07
SQUADbLES OVER
PANAMA CANAL
tMan Special to the Advertl.er.l }

1
political fuses and squalblcs incident
to isthmian canal construction are
equally frequent in Washington. There
have been more canal squabbles In re.
cent days, although, fortunately, none
of them materially affects the progress
of the digging.
First came Speaker Cannon, Repre-
sentative Tawney, who is chairman of
the Appropriations committee, and sew
eral others who were of the Mckinley
party on the Bluechcr visiting the West
Indies. They returned with a crouch.
1t was one of those quiet grouches that
settled deep into the soul but that the
possessor would not discuss in public,
and would in fact deny. The Speaker,
Chairman Tawney and others who went
as the guests of Representative McKin-
ley to Illinois, were ignored on the
isthmus. They say in private they were
ignored and that it was an outrage for
the leaders of the Congress which ap-
propriates funds for the canal to be
paid no more attention than ordinary
tourists would have received.
These distinguished visitors think it
was a big blunder that they should
have been kept in quarantine at Colon.
They also think it strange that no mem-
Der of the Commission appeared to give
them a welcome at the wharf. They
do not understand why they should
have been allowed to travel across the
isthmus without receiving any atten-
tions. Chief Engineer Stevens private
car was attached to the train on which
these visitors travelled. Speaker Can
non went back to Mr.. Stevens ear and
had chat with him but Mr.. Stevens
displayed little interest in the fact
that Speaker Cannon was aboard and
did not even ask about the Congress
sional members Of the party.
The Speaker was very hot under the
collar and the other Congressman were
likewise hot under their collars. They
held an indignation meeting and de-
cided to boycott the Canal hotels, but
were unable to execute their program
When they departed from the government
hotel at Panama there was tossing
of money back and forth across the
counter. The Congressman thought
they could express their Indignation by
paying for their keep. 1t has been
the custom to feed and lodge the Con-
gressmen on the isthmus free of charge.
Finally the Speakers money and the
money of his fellow-travelers were left
with the hotel but the hotel sent a
man back to their steamer and the
cash was left there. So the Congress-
men-some twelve in all-did not pay
for their keep on the isthmus. Muir
murs, not loud but deep, have been
heard in Washington these last few
days about what Congress is likely to
| do next winter. AS Chief Engineer
Stevens is regarded as the principal Of
fender it is difficult to understand how
the Congressman can administer con-
dign punishment. For Mr.. Stevens has
closed his career with the canal and
has arrived in Washington with his
family
He, too, has had blast. Capable
resents the impression that he "talked
up' to the President and handed in
his resignation as bluff which he
did not expect the President to ac-
cept. Now that he is out of the gov
ernment service, Mr.. Stevens is pay
ing his respects to the newspapers that
ly for the assuagement of Mr.. Stevens ,
anger, the articles came from the
White House offices. Letters and cable
grams in the President possession
show that the former chief engineer
did "write some of the most imper-
tinent stuff the President ever re-
ceived," to quote an official of the
Canal who has seen this correspondence.
However, Mr.. Stevens is getting the
benefit of his denial, which he makes
as sweeping as possible, probably be-
ing well aware that the President will
not contradict him. For the Presi-
dent is not desirous of another con
troversy such as he and Secretary
Taft had with former Chief Engineer
John +. Wallace. There is widespread
regret that Mr.. Stevens resigned.
Every observing person who has been
TO the isthmus testiGes TO his efficient
work. lie insists that he resigned
simply because he was "tired out, !"
and denounces the "ridieulous reasons -
ascrlbed 20 the sudden and unexpected
termination Of his services, Further
more Mr.. Stevens, ON arriving In Wash
ington, paid his respects 10 W. j.
oliver, the contractor who expected 70
secnre the award for digging The ditch.
llo says he never opposed Tbs eonsIpe'
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