The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-26
PEACE THEORISTS
LOSE THEIR FIGHT.
BY Decisive Vote, House De-
cidcs to Fortify Panama
Canal.
100000 is APPROPRIATED
Saunders, Of Virginia, and Keller,
Of Ohio, Protest i'll
Vain.
Especial to The Times-Dispa,cb


Washington, February 25.-Jndcr
bllsterlng fire OF condemnation from
House international peace theorists.
the preliminary appropriation for the
ratification OF the Panama Canal by
the United States. strongly advocated
by President Taft. tonight passed the
House by the decisive vote of ia to S.
The money allowed for this pur-
pose is s30oo.000 OF the total Of SILL
100000 which such Qualifications are to
cost under the revised plans OF tho
general army and navy board OF ex-
perts, appointed by President Taft
Both the President and Colonel Goe-
that's. engineer OF the canal. have an
nounced that the work of fertilization
shall be pushed to early completion.
1t Will begin as soon ms the money be-
comes available January /. Colonel
Goethals proposes TO have the canal
fortified by September I, 1915.
IF we have decided to fortify the
canal" said General Keller, OF Ohio
let's do it right. It will cost $780,
100000 to do this. but we must do It,
otherwise we Will lose the canal Let
as do no chipmuni work there Let
as build fortiflcations there that will
protect the canal. l oppose restrictions
IN expenditures for guns for sea coast
iefense.'
Loses His Amendment.
Chairman Tawney. of the Committee
on Appropriations, lost his amendment
"hich provided that no money for
Qualifications should be expended un-
I'll the President shall have ascertnined
that he cannot negotiate convention
OF neutraliZation-of the canal with all
nations guaranteeing the preservation
of the canal. II the President Is un-
able 10 do this he shall notify by
~. Ia k,i.,
success and then Fertilization shall be.
gin. the amendment provides.
Mr.. Tawney said tho question OF
policy, the future effect OF fortihca-
ton. has as much to do with the mat
ter as our right.
What we do tonight Will determine
for all time TO come our policy with
reference to the canal" he said. .'When
We authorized the construction or the
canal had we known we were saddling
ourselves with this annual charge Of
millions. the canal would not have
oecn authorized. We are building tho
aanal for the benefit of the commerce
,f the world. not for our selfish bene-
Mt Other nations have property
eight In the canal. y rough estimate
II the annual cost Of this canal for
construction Is S1l.0000OO interest;
maintenance. $7.000.000; fortifcati ton,
tlSUn,UuU, pay subsistence or troops.
100000 General Wood said 1000
men would be maintained on the canal
The aggregate expense is sS0,000,000 q
FEAR. Our revenue from the canal
estimated. is 3i,00O,00o. There will be
a net loss OF s26,000,ooo. II we want
lie nations of the world to destroy
the canal the best way is to fortify II.
Taft Could Not DO 1t.
Representative Sherley called atten-
ton to the fact that the amendment
would prevent the fertilization of the
anal. President Taft could not do
what is demanded before the canal is
completed he said. Colonel Coo
thals does not believe the expense OF
defending and policing the canal will
be anything like the extreme figures
given. No nation ever has been pun
ished for violating neutrality treaties
Naturalization means two fleets SELF,
urc Of that canal would hc OF wonder
urc OF that canal wiuld be won
drous advantage to an enemy, dis
astrous to our country"
General j. Warren ,FIeifcr and Rep
rcsentatives Saunders. OF Virginia. led
the fight against the fertilization APP
preparation. advocating It's ncutraliza-
ton by agreement In convention
among the nations They contended
that this government under Its treaty