New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-01
FEARS CANAL OPENING
WILL Be DELAYED
Danuer of Panama Legislation
BEING SidetraCked Awakens
Anxiety of President.
TALK OF SPECIAL MESSAGE
Democrats Oppose Secretary
Stimson's Plan of Enacting
Various Phases of the
Bill Separately.
From The Tribune Bureau


Washington. July 31-Dsnger Of i'm
,ortant legislation in connection with the
MANS for putting the Panama Canal in
operation being sidetrackcd during the
n-e,ent session OF Congress is causing
considerable concern to the President
snd The Secretary of War. and there is
oossibility OF Presidential message on
the question.
Disputes over the questions OF tolls
and railroad control over steamships
constitute the principal obstruction 10
the urgent features of the legislation.
which include provisions for the pur-
chase OF machinery and the conversion
NJ the construction force into an operat-
,nr force The differences Of opinion on
these points are so diversified that it IS
feared they will retard the passing or
NIL the legislation and materially menace
,be opening of the canal on schedule.
Secretary Stimson is in favor OF sepa-
rating the various phases Of the bill and
enacting them one at time 20 expedite
matters. but to this plan there is stub
born opposition on the part OF the Dem
ocrgtic leaders in the House. although
Representative Adamson chairman or
the House Committee on Foreign and
Interstate Commerce, is said to favor
the plan. Mr.. Stimson has discussed
This question with the President and has
. tay
Congress.
REPRESENTATIVE Adamson @as at the
White House to-day. but did not talk
over with the President he said. ques-
tons relating 10 canal legislation Never
theless nc said that as in NINA
Joint resolution which not touch the
subject of tolls or railroad ownership but
will simply provide the machinery neces-
ssry 10 put the canal in operation. The
construction OF drydocks is also an i'm
no-,ant feature which requires immediate
attention. he declared.
MANY men are leaving the canal zone
according 10 Secretary Stimson. because
Of the prospects Of not being able TO get
rev 'obs. He believes this fact should
be taken into consideration when II II
remembered that much difficulty was en-
perienced in getting an efficient working
force FOR TIE construction Of the canal.
II is the opinion Of Secretary Stmso4
that the matter Of tolls and railroads
should have never been injected into the
vi providing for the operating prepare
.ous. bu: he believes there Is yet time 10
correct the mistake. The question or
tolls alone. re tainks will preclpitatc
eng controversy and Will no doubt. de-
lay the o, an.uS ~ &c canal unless ii IS
separated .... 90. .:.- r-@t-rcs Of the
legislation
President Tai; vas much concerned to
lay over the prospect OF delay In the
opening OF the canal, In many speeches
he has made since he became Presiden'
he has predicted that the Atlantic ana
the Pacific would be joined At Panama
in 1913. and at one time the President
believed that he would be able 70 steam
through the canal on the old battleship
oregon when the formal opening vas
celebrated, during his present term in the
White House
When ne broke ground at San Fran
csco last October, for the Panama-Pa-
clfc exposition, he practically promised
The people Of the slope country TO have
the canal ready next year. spoke or the
oregon as the ship that should first cleave
its waters, and made il clear that he
would like 10 be on her bridge when the
trip began.
60 far the President has refused 10
write a special message to Congress on
the subject Of the canal. he told visitors
recently that ne did not believe it was
necessary for him further TO advise Con-
gress Of his position. Within the last few
day. however. members Of the House
hsr notified him that they would oppose
an cgislation in regard 10 Panama that
did 0ot settle all the questions Involved.