The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-18
CANAL LITERARY
BUREAU SCORED
BY CUlbERs0M

Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Culber-
son charged at lively hearing before
the senate committee on inter-oceanic
canals yesterday tina, u premise made to
him two years ago to abolish the canal
literary bureau had not been kept.
Z The question OF the propriety OF the
canal commissions issuing an official
newspaper for tle dissemination OF infor-
maticn about the progress or the work
at Panama caused warm ard somewhat
pointed discussion.
The clash was an echo OF the debate IN
the senate two years ago when the liter
ary bureau. conducted by James BucJslin
Bishop. the present editor OF the Canal
Record, was roundly scored as governs
ment institution which had no right to
exist.
The senate fight over the matter tor
minated In a promise TO cease pucilca-
tion when Senator Culberson threatened
To offer an amendment to abolish ths
bureau.
Senator Culberson claimed that the
pledge had not been fulfilled.
While Col Goethals was being qucs-
toned as TO the canal work by various
members OF the commission, Senator Cul-
berson asked that the remarks he made
In the senate in 1906 concerning the liter
airy bureau be placed I'm the record OF
his remarks for that purpose.
After reading them Col Goethals exc
planned why the paper was established
and said that IL was now being run TO
show the men all along the line what
was being done.
''It does good" said the colonel ''ba-
cause u keeps the men informed or of
ficial orders and fosters n spirit OF RI
valry as to the amount of work that 10
daily accomplished at different points
why should not oil branches OF the
government get out newspapers to show
what they are doing?" asked Senator Nc.
Cumber.
Other members OF the commission an
swered that practically all The bureaus
did issue information about themselves
through their regular reports.
| Col Goethals asserted that there was
scarcely "A branch OF the government, in
Guiding the army and navy. that did nor
have its means OF getting press publicity
and keeping It's own members informed
as to what they were doing.
| Senator Blackburn. a member OF the
commission who was waiting to testify.
here entered the discussion at the invita-
! tion OF Col Goethais and asserted that
the canal was being constructed 1000 miles
| from home and that IL was quite fitting
| that there should be some means OF ac-
quanting its employees and even congress
men as TO what was going on in regard
to the work.
! Senator Flint took similar view oe
the matter and inquired with some an-
| nation. How about the state depar'-
ment and its daily consular reports? is
any fault found with the Department.
He directed his query TO Senator Culber-
son. who Immediately replied:
This proceeding in Panama Is an in-
novation. and assurances were made in
the open senate that the publication
would not be continued"
rhc senator Is assuming that the Canal
Record IL of the same character as what
he terms "the literary bureau that for
lmcrly existed" interjected Senator Black
burn.
1T Is far worse" replied Culberson ''It
Is many times worse than the original iu-
stitution that was condemned in the sem
ate by the COMMITTEES on appropriations.
At this time Bishop simply made week.
lly report and gave information TO the
press. for which he was paid an annual
salary OF $1,000 Now he gives II out ny
publishing a weekly paper
THAT is where ! dissent from the sen.
ator." said Mr.. Blackburn.
Senator Flint expressed himself as be-
ing in entire sympathy with the Canal
Record.
Col Goethals promised to deliver to
the committee some figures concerning
it's cost
Senator Brandegee questioned Col Goe-
fhals closely as to the price OF the canal.
and II developed that in the opinion oe
the colonel 1t may be built at a triie less
than s3co0o0.0oo