New-York tribune., 1909-02-10
LOCK CANAL ATTACKED
DISCUSSION IN SENATE.
House Passes Bill Giving President
POzCers an Zone.
rErnm The Tribune Rur.au.l

TFrom The Tribune Bureau-l
Washington. Feb. 9-The Panama canal played
important part in both houses OF Congress TO-
day, The subject was brought UP in the Senate
by Senator Kittredge. who chairman Of the
Committee Interoceanc Canals, brought in an
unfavorabIe report the Hopkins bill authorizing
issue OF Panama bonds of not to exceed 800
Oo0G0O. instead Of S35Oo00OO. the present lrnita-
ton Mr.. Kittredge stoutly supported the sea
level opposed to the lock type OF canal ana
assisted by Senator Foraker and later by
Senator Teller
In the House the debate occurred over the Mann
bill which favorably reported from the Com
mittee Interstate and Foreign Commerce Ihe
purpose of this bill, which was passed aiteF con-
siderable debate. is simplify the administration
OF the affairs of the canal and of the canal zone
and TO give Congressional sanction TO the e1-
listing civil government OF the zone. 1t vests III
the President, person or persons oesls-
by him. all military. civil and judicial pow
for the government of the zone and the proteo-
ton Of its inhabitants. The committee Reports
that under the Of April 2. 1904 these powers
were conferred the President only for periOd
terminating with the expiration of the 6Sth Con-
gress and that since then the President has been
obliged to exercise them without executive aut'io
ity. in order 10 prevent governmental chaos.
The President with a high degree OF sIAIes-
Ynanship. undertook to continue the civil govern
ment on the Canal Zone says the report, ana
continued exercise the authority heretofore spe
cificaIly granted 10 him for limited period after
that period had expired. on the proper assumption
that Congress did not intend by the expiration OF
the limit set in the act OF April %. 1904 10 dis-
pense with proper government on the zone or 10
wipe out the government which had been creaIso
by the act OF Congress and leave nothing in Its
place"
The bill provides that the President shall cause
the canal to be constructed under the supervision
Of one Of the executive departments OF the gov
ernment and authorizs him to appoint. with the
the NOa
chief engineer and governor OF the Canal Aons'
the provision that the same person may De ap-
pointed TO any of the Offices The bill at
thorizes the President TO separate the engineering
work from the administrative work II IL shOuo oe-
come necessary.
The committee pays high tribute 20 Colonel
Goethals IN its report saying: Since the presef'l
administration Of Colonel Goethals is SO highly
satisfactory and worthy of great praise. the Dill
provides that the President may consolidate two
the principal offices named in order that ne may
be permitted to appoint Colonel Goethais as oo'h
director and chief engineer, X that should De CON
sidered desirable"
Other sections Of the bill provide FOR a circuit
court. to be presided by judge. and such
interior courts as the President may constitute
Trial BY jury in cases felony is provided for as
is the leasing of lands for period Of twenty-five
years.
More than Ave hours debate was required before
the measure could be passed. The Democrats, BY
numerous amendments sought 70 impede its prog
greatly expedited it. The only amendment which
received serious support that Of Representative
John Sharp williams, providing that the law II
enacted. should in force not more than two
years. Lis disagreed TO by q vote OF s6 10 30
Numerous clashes the subject OF constitutional
law occurred in the course Of the debate
In the Senate Mr. Kittredge declared that 1t was
obvious that the of the lock canal would be
not less than S40OOJ0Ooo, he believed it would
be $4,000 OO whereas the original estimate fo- the
sea level canal was $247 0O0.00O and he expressed
the view that as IL q simple question OF dig
R5nr the sea level canal could be completed for
even less than that amount. Senator Foraker oy
examination Of MI Kittredge. drew out some fur
+har arguments in support of the level type.
and the Senator from Ohio then expressed regret
that he had changed his vote from the sea level
- +be lock type Of canal when the latter vas
adopted
Senators Beverdge and Curtis defended the lock
tvne Some Senators suggested that the estimate
Of s2470COUO was wholly obsolete because II con-
+aired TO estimate for the sanitation and civil gov
arnrneut Of the zone and further, because i was
based on Il lower cost per unit of excavation man
experience has proved to De correct.
II is regarded highly improbable that even the
hin ,asse6 nv House to-day Will beSome law
al this session This belief is not due 20 the oppo-
that the past il has always been irTpossIpie ioE
fha ChairTnen O the committees which deal Win
s1Ires OF this character have been adopted by
both houses and have died in conference and It is
Senate the least alteration by the upper mouse
viii result IN a deadlock in conference Whlch VIII
ne fatal o the measure For this reason and IN
view Of the fact that theTe WIZ ne q CoIhPeNS
Organization Of the Senate committees IN the next
= difficult to arouse interest IN canal
legislation at this time