The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-04-29
DELAY ABOUT A

Congressional delay in regard to
legislation for the Panama canal has
Disguised a lot of people and The New
York Journal of Commerce voices a
popular sentiment in the following:
Apparently by way Of further m
phasizing the delay that has occurred
with reference to Panama canal legis-
lation comes the statement that there
is so much ~antagonism between the
house and senate on the subject that it
may be necessary to put throut the
supposed legislation as a rider to the
sundry civil appropriation bill. This
would not only put off the legislation a
good while longer, put would make it
impossible, practically, to do anything
in the way Of amending it except in
conference committee. The situation
is most unfortunate and should be rec
titled.
Secretary Nagel in his address before
the delegates to the commercial con-
gress which met in Washington at the
opening of this week referred to the
embarrassment that grows out Of the
inability of the government to inform
shipowners under what conditions they
will be able to send vessels through the
canal. The embarrassment is real and
has already made itself felt in many
ways That it will materially increase,
probably in geometric ratio, as the de-
lay continues, is probable. Shipowners
must know something about the terms
on which they are to use the canal if
they are to make their preparations for
engaging in the business with n de-
gree Of comfort or success. If they do
not, they will he at a disadvantage at
the start, and the public will probably
be Inconvenience in like measure.
This, however, is only one of the mani
fold reasons why the canal question
should be settled as soon as possible.
The great change in transportation
conditions that will be produced by
the opening Of the canal will exert its
influence upon many phases of busi-
ness life, and cannot help modifying,
in some cases profoundly, those COM
mercial relationships which depend
upon transportation adjustments. AL
though the house committee on inter-
state and foreign has re-
ported a canal bill, many cliques and
groups have been formed in the COM
mittee since the report was made, and
there is no certainty what will happen
when the measure is brought UP on
the floor. So far as can be learned,
the leaders have o adopted any con-
sistent policy with reference to it.
The whole subject is left to the
chances Of more or less casual and un-
Informed action, without any strong
n definite backing for a concrete
measure based upon the known data
81 the case as they present themselves
TO the party leaders. This is not an
argument in favor of the adoption of
an autocratic attitude, but merely a
statement of the obvious fact that
some distinct policy must be followed
II any measure of success is to be had
in intelligently disposing Of the issue.
But, bad as things are in the house,
the senate is if anything worse in its
attitude toward the canal question,
Nc bin has even been reported, and
non is likely to be for at least a
couple of weeks longer. The. domestic
shipping interests are far stronger in
the senate than they are in the house
and the bill to be put forward will all
most certainly be largely at variance
with the measure now nominally ready
for discussion in the lower chamber
Moreover, there are almost as many
cliuues and groups and differences OF
opinion in the senate as there are in
the house. and far less prospect OF rec
onciling them, owing to the unlimited
chances nf nhgfrIfpffou v,hirI. fhaYa av
list. Very few senators can be found
who are willing to assert that they
have devoted much Investigation to the
canal question. They expect TO gel
their education on the floor. This ex-
plains the scheme to put through the
proposed measure BY a machine meth
cd which will obviate the necessity Oh
placing much dependence upon actual
discussion.
Congress ought to be called upon tc
rake this question In hand at once