Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-16
Secretary Taft Talks to
Senate Committee
About Panama.
FINISH IN SIX YEARS
Says Boats Now Building Would
Test Capacity of 100
Foot Locks.

Washington, Jan. 1G.-Secretary
Taft appeared before the senate COM
mittee on interoceanic canals today
and gave the committee information
concerning the project and offered
suggestions for legislation.
He expressed the opinion that the
canal should be completed within six
years from next July and the ultimate
cost would be approximately $780,
100000. including the purchase price.
WOuId Try Canals Capacity Now.
The proposed widening of the locks
was carefully examined by Secretary
Taft He asserted if the locks were
widened to 10 feet a steamer of lOS
feet beam could easily pass through.
The largest ship this government is
planning to build will have Il beam of
% feet. The increased cost Taft es-
timated would be about $5,000,O00
Tells of Difficulties.
I'm the talk to the committee Secre-
tary Taft at various points brought
out the difficulties that beset the COM
mission and in administration. Those
range all the way from trouble with
the Pacific Mail Steamship line be-
cause of its failure to furnish enough
steamers, to labor difficulties.
Mny start Pacific Line.
Taft said the inadequacy of steam
boat transportation on the west coast
had caused the business of the Pana-
MA railroad to fall off one-half since
the government got possession of it
and it was the question in his mind
whether the government should not
engage in the steamship business on
the Pacific in order to save the income
of the ships on the east and that of
the railroad.
House Sees Lively Time.
Washington, Jan. 16.-The house had
a lively time yesterday when efforts
were made to amend, by increasing its
severity section 112 of the penal code
relating to the soliciting or acceptance
of bribes by senators or representa-
tives
Mr.. Randell of Texas offered two
amendments. The first made it an of
fense for any public service corpora
tion to give to any senator or member
or Judge of a United States court an!
free transportation of person or prop
erty, frank or franking privilege
money. or anything of value, maxim:
il high misdemeanor for such person
to receive the same under penalty o
a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment TO
one year or both.
Restricts Congressmcr.
The second made it a high misde
meanor for any senator or member o
senator or member-elect to hold an
employment or receive any pay as al
officer, representative, or attorney o
any bank or public service corporation
and providing a fine of not more tha
$4,000 or Imprisonment for not les
than one year and ineligibility to hol
any public office.
Consideration of the Randell amend
ments was deferred until today.
Section 113 also was strengthene
by an amendment which Furnishes tn
bribe giver when the bribe is given {
offered with the consent, cOnnivanc
or concurrence" of any senator or men
ber.
Wants Nation 10 own Bank.
The establishment of "The Unite
States National Bank of America"
provided for in a bill introduced in tt
house yesterday by Mr. Fornes of Ne
York
The bank. as conceived, is to be |
Gated in Washington. 1t is to have
capital stock of $1O0,000,000, divide
into 100000 shares of the par value
$1,000.
Three-fifths of these shares are to
purchased by the United States trea
urer at par, the purchase money to
raised by the sale of S60,000,00U VI
ted States gold bonds, payable in
years and bearing per cent intere:
the same to be designated Unit
States currency bonds"
Offer shares 10 Banks.
Two-fifths of the shares are to be
fered at not less than par to the 7
tional banks of the country, to be pa
for in gold coin.
The bank may issue additional not
of The United States National Ba
of America" in amounts not eXceedi
$4CO.O00OOO, and such notes shall
available for general national ba
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