Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-13
MAY REOPEN DISPUTE
Senators Doubt Advisability of
Canal Locks.
REGRET TAFT'S ASSERTION
Growing Sentiment Favorable to
Sea-Level Type.
ARRIVAL OF COL. COCKTAILS
Refuses to Express Opinion Regard
ing Matter in Controversy-Win
Be Asked to Testify.
ARRIVAL OF COL. COCKTAILS

There are great many senators-per-
haps a majority-who are very sorry that
President-eect Taft felt called upon to
declare positively in favor of the lock
type of Panama canal when he arrived
at New Orleans this week, returning from
the isthmus.
The reason is that these senator's have
begun TO have very tserior>s doubts in
deed about the lock canal being better.
all things considered, than a sea-level
canal
1t can be stated on the highest author
ity that the question Of the type of the
canal is almost certain to be brought To
the attention of the Senate again before
the present session ends. Senator Kit
tredge, chairman Of the committee
interoceanic canals, is responsible for
stirring things UP once more. When he
told the Senate early this week that al
ready Congress had appropriated about
s17o.eOO.OOO for a lock canal. and the pres
ent estimates made 1t certain that at
least $40O0O0.0OO would be necessary to
build it, while the original estimate was
only about $135. 900 900, every senator sat
up and took notice.
Mr.. Kittredge, however, will not dis
cuss the question further at this time.
He has especially refrained from com
menting upon Mr.. Taft's statements
about the canal
Another fact which he brought forth
in his unfavorable report upon Senator
Hopkins administration bill for $500
600. 900 Panama bond issue hit home.
This was that the cost of Sea-feVel
canal had been estimated at $247. .000, 900.
and the chief argument against building
that type had been that it would cost so
much more than the lock canal, and take
so much longer. Mr.. Kittredge asserted
as his opinion. that the sea-level canal
n1lI Il r,1x, ho h.li1 fny hat
but for less, and would not take any
longer than the lock canal, either. This
he held. had been made conclusive by ex-
perience in the work already done on the
isthmuS.
Senatorial Sentiment Changes.
1t is admitted that the lock canal would
never have been favored by the Senate in
the nrst place had it not been for the
fact that senators were led to believe it
would cost much less and take much less
time in the building than the sea-level
waterway. Now that q grave doubt has
been raised in their minds about both OF
these statements by the light Of recent
experiences, the sentiment has largely
changed.
The big stick is no longer a potent
force said one senator this morning.
land | would not be a bit surprised TO
see the whoe matter thrashed out again,
and the debate begun very soon, too"
Arrival of Col. Goethals.
Col. Goethals. who is in charge of the
work of construction on the isthmus.
rived here this morning, and his presence
became known to members of both
branches of Congress Immediately. There
are certain to be some very important
conferences in the next two weeks, and
he will be present. He expects to appear
before the House committee on appropri-
ations and the Senate committees on ap-
propratio and interoceanic canals to
give advice about next years approprl-
alton for the canal.
In the executive sessions OF the COM
mittees it is practically certain that he
will be asked to express some opinions
that he might not express for puDllca-
ton.
When seen this morning at the War De
partment Col A1oethals declared he would
express no opinion at this time In regard
to the type of the canal. The work there
is progressing in highly satisfactory
manner. he said. and Mr.. Tafts visit ac-
complshcd wonders in the way OF arous-
ing the spirits and patriotism of the men
He was particularly glad that Mr. Iatt
had gone to the isthmus because he
thought that would give the administra-
ton for the next four years real SYM
nathy with what is being done there
Awaiting Engineers Report.
Senators ana representatives die wall
ing with no little eagerness to see just
exactly what the engineers whom Mr..
Taft took to the isthmus will report as TO
the type of canal and the probable cost
and time OF completion. They believe
there will be meat for discussion In that
report
In the meantime, the adverse report or
the Senate interoceanc canals committee
on the Hopkins bill rests on the table.
which means that the whole subject is
continually before the Senate and may
be called up for discussion at any time
by any senator. Senator Kittredge rec
commended that ii be referred with the
bill to the committee on finance, so that
the question of issuing bonds in small
er amount than S.fbND tNt-Say Just
enough to cover next years appropriation
for the canal-might he passed upon.
The fact that objection was made to
this move and the report kept before the
Senate means. it is said. that something
is in the wind and likely to break out
al any time.
ENGINEER DAVIS HERE.