The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-04-29
mail Special to the Advertiser.)


WASHINGTON, D. c., April 15.-Bis
political fuses and s~quabbles 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 anne Speaker Cannon, Repre-.
sentative Tawney, who is chairman of
the Appropriations committee, and sew.
eral others who were of the Mckinley
party on the Bluecher 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 APP
propriates funds for the canal to be
paid no more attention than ordinary
tourists would have received.
These distinguished visitors think it
a big blunder that they should
have been kept in quarantine at Colon.
They also think it strange that no men,
Der of the Commission appeared to give
them a welcome at the wharf. They
do not understand why they should
been allowed to travel across the
isthmus without receiving any atten-
tions. Chief Engineer Stevens private
was attached to the train on which
visitors travelled. Speaker Can
non went back to Mr.. Stevens car and
had a chat with him but Mr.. Stevens
displayed little interest in the fact
that Speaker Cannon was aboard and
lid not even ask about the Congress |
,ional members of the party.
The Speaker was very hot under the
collar and the other Congressman were
likewise hot under their collars. They |
leld an indignation meeting and de-
'ided to boycott the Canal hotels, but
we're unable to execute their program.
When they departed from the government
lotel at Panama there was a tossing
# money back and forth across the
The Congressman thought
hey could express their Indignation by
for their keep. It has been
he custom to feed and lodge the Con
.ressmen on the isthnlus free of charge.
the Speakers money and the
money of his fellow-travelers were left
With the hotel but the hotel sent a
nan back to their steamer and the
ash was left there. So the Congress
nen-some twelve in all-did not pay
or their keep on the isthmus. Muir
not loud but deep, have been
card in Washington these last few
avs abort what Congress is likely to
O nexf winter. As Chief Engineer
tevens is regarded as the principal of
.nder it is difficult to understand how
he Congreszmen can administer con-
ign punishment. For MI. Stevens has
Iosed his career with thu canal and
as arrived in Washington with his
He, too, las had a blast. Capable
fetal that he has been, Mr.. Stevens
scents the impression that he "talked
D" to the President and handed in
is resignation as a bluff which he
id not expect the President to ac-
,pt. Now that he is out of the gov
.nment service. MI. Stevens is pay
o his respects to the newspapers that
lblished those articles. Unfortunate
for the Arrangement of Mr.. Stevens
lger. the articles came from the :
'hite House offices. Letters and cable
ans in the Presidents possession
ow that the former chief engineer
4 .swrite some of the most imper-
nent stuff the President ever re-
to quote an official of the
NAL who has seer this correspondence :.
Mr.. Stevens is getting the :.
neft of his denial, which he makes .
sweeping as possible, probably be- =
O well aware that the President Will b
+ contradict him. For the Presl- :,
mt is not DESTROYS of another CON =
oversy such as he and Secretary il
fl had with former Chief Engineer y
hn F. Wallace. There is widespread f.
pret that Mr.. Stevens resigned. b
-erv observing person who has been n
the isthmus t~estiies to his efficient f,
Il IT, ;nsists that he resigned W