The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-02
STEVENS EXPLAINS HIS CANAL VIEWS Thinks Project Mecessitates Many Changes in Com mercial and Marine
 Policies.
  WITHOUT THEM FAILURE Hints at Ship ubsidlcs-Dlscusscs Conditions In Cuba and Sees u
 Big Future for the
 Island.
WITHOUT THEM FAILURE

general opinions as to the future of the Panama Canal, in spite of reported in- tcrViews to the contrary which came Havana on his recent trip. In an in- teryieW last night he said he thought some radical changes in the commer- cial policies of this country must be made. if the canal Is to become a fin- aneial and q commercial advantage to tEis country, He hnted al marine subsidies as a possible solution. Mir. stevens said he did moi leave the work because of any lack of sympathy in the project. He said he had never had any strained relations with present en- glneer-in-chicf at the canal, General Goethals. Mir. Stevens was also very optimistic about the future of Cuba as a result of his trip; he had tho highest praise for Governor Magoon. As for the Inventory of the New Haven system which he Is conducting he said 1t should be finished In about four months.
 T would not change anything that l was quoted as saying in The Journal Courier upon the canal before went down to Cuba" said Mir. Stevens last night As far as l know I was quoted correctly but trouble began to brew as soon as the editors began to draw conclusions from what 1 said. In the first place, did not say that l thought the canal would not be success"
 Mir, Stevens was asked to explain | just what he did say. Many papers have been under the impression that just that was his attitude. Tho vice. president of the New Haven system and former chief engineer of the great Panama canal project settled down comfortably in wcll-appointed. high backed chair In the old Woolsey house at 25O Church street, where he Is living and began his explanations.
 "lf remember correctly | said did not believe tho canal would he success, that Is a paying success and 2 benefit to us commercially. if Uni! country persisted ln It's present tarll regulations, commercial policies ant | general apathy toward foreign trnde."'
 What do you mean by our conner. cial policies Mir. stevens?" he wal asked
 T moan our policy of making use Q ships that sail under a foreign na) when we ship by water. The who'll question K allied to this ship suhsd, queetion that wc hear 80 much abou but about which so little is done. Tn, Panama canal. in my opinion. will h of the greatest benefit in the ordlnar, course of events to that country tha has the largest merchant marine. Tha country, as you are well aware, ls no the United States"
 And what do you moan by ou
 general apathy toward foreign trade z asked tho reporter. Mir Stevens sa up straighter In his chair and smilet little smile, How much trade arr
 VIC developing. he asked, with th
 west coast of South America. or witt the east coast. for that matter? Hoy do we get down to South America We go first to London and then re 2 embark"
 Ana so it is, he continued, "tha 1 say tho canal will not be q success ; unless we make some radical change in our commercial policies You as , me If think the canal will pay believe l said before that It wou have to get as much traffic through and as much in fees from that tram ' ns does tn. Suea canal at preFsat. [ expenses were to be met 1 did no $ say that thought the canal woul 9 not pay for itself What l did say
 and the Journal Courier quoted me { that effect, believe. was that th amount of money would be neede { and that l did not quite see where was coming from"
 "The inference has hocn made thf
 you severed your connections In tlI
 canal zone because you were not
 sympathy with tho canal project an
 did not think II would be an avallahl :, ono for inc iinited States said th
 reporter handing him few edltorI'
 tontinucd on Seventh pagn)