The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-18
GOVERNMENT
 NEWSPAPERS Question of Propriety Is
 Discussed. cULBERsoN TAXES FIRM STAND Charges That Promises Have Not
 been Kept. The senate Committee on Inter-ocesnic Canals Has Somewhat Live Iy Discussion at Hts Meet
 ing Yesterday.

Washington, Jan. 1.-The question of the propriety of the Isthmian Canal Commission issuing an oficiai newspa- per for the dissemination of informa- tion about the progress Of the work at panana. caused a somewhat lively dis cussiof in the hearing before senate Committee on Inter Oceanic Canals to- day.
 the Senate two years ago when the lit- erary bureau conducted by James Bucklin Bishop. the present editor or The Canal Record, was roundly scored as government institution that nad no right to exist and which eventually resulted in a promise to cease pubii- cation in the face of amendment by Senator cuiberson to abolish the bu- reau.
 Senator cuiberson today intimated that the promise had not been kept. While Colonel Goethals was being questioned as to the canal work by various members of the Committee. Senator Cuiberson asked to have the remarks he had made in the Senate in 1905 concernins the literary bureau of Bfahop, placed in the record of the hearings and he handed up Q copy of his remarks for that purpose. After reading them Colonel Goethais told why the paper had been established and said that it was now being run to show the men on all parts of the line what was being done at other points.
 "It does good" said the Colonel, "be- cause 1t keeps the men Informed of of ficial orders and fosters a spirit of ri- valry as to the amount of work that is daily accomplished at different points" Why do not all branches of the men get out newspapers to show what they are doing7" asked Senator Mccumber.
 Press Publicity. Other members of the Committee an- swered to the effect that practically all the bureaus did get out information about themselves through their regular reports. Colonel Goethals asserted that there waa scarcely branch Of the government. including the army and navy. that did lot have its means of getting press publicity and keeping its own members Informed as to what they were doing.
 Former Senator Blackburn. a mem Der of the Commission, who was weit- ing to testify. here entered the discus sion at the, invitation of Colonel Goe- thais and asserted that tho canal was being constructed 1000 miles from home and that it. was quite fitting that quaiuting it's employees, and even Con- gressmen as to what was going on in regard to the work.
 Senator Flint took . similar view of the matter and inquired with some an- imation:
 How about the State Department and its, daily consular reports? Is any fault found with the department?'
 He directed his query to Senator Gull person. who replied:
 This proceeding in Panama is an inc novation and assurances were made in the open Senate that the publication would not be continued"
 'srhe Senator is assuming that the Canal Record is Of the same character as what we term the literary bureau that formerly existed" interjected Sem
 Tt is far worse" replied Senator Culberson.
 Condemned In Senate. K Tt is many times worse than the original institution that was condemn ed In the Senate by the Committee on Appropriations. At that time Bishop simply made a weekly report and gave information to the press. for whlcn he was paid an annual salary of SlO,OOO Now he gives it out by publishing a weekly paper"
 That is where I dissent from the Senator" said Mr. Blackburn.
 Senator Flint expressed himself as being in entire accord with the canal record proposition. Colonel GoethaIs promised to deliver to the committee some figures concerning its cost. Senator Brandegee questioned Colonel Goethals closely as to the price of the canal and 1t developed in the opinion or Goethals 1t may possibly be built at a figure a trifle less than S300.000. .U00. He simply said that he was in the habit of estimating the cost of projects at a hfoh ennnOh ffQtIra f0 fnatfPa thair being accomplished within the price. He said that the Gatun dam and locks wer being constructed two or three times better than necessary. This was due to public opinion. which demanded all proper precautions in the building of the canal
 The hearing will continue tomorrow.