New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-29
banana Commission Divided as
10 The Policy To Be Adopted
in Flooding the Great
Waterway.
At ODDS ON EXCAVATION
nate of Establishing Permanent
Zone Government Also in Dis
pute-Colonel Goethals Com
ing to Discuss Affairs with
the Administration.

IRON The Tribune Rureau.1
Washington. May 2S.-The arrival OF
rolonel George W. Cocktails, who is
,Ypected in Washington about June 10.
e looked for with the utmost interest.
because he is expected TO shed authori-
ntye light on various reports which
have reached Washington from the
rspal Zone. and because his visit will
r-obably result in the federal admins
ration taking a stand on the policy of
canal administration.
The latest reported controversy con-
Germs the policy TO be adopted in flood
ng the canal According TO seeming
" trustworthy reports a decided differ
snce Of opinion has developed in the
Canal Commission regarding the adj
visibility Of taking out the rest Of the
earth to 2 excayated in the Culebra
Cut with steam shovels or steam
dredges. Colon-l Goethals is reported
10 prefer the latter method AS more
economical and expeditions. while some
Of his associates on the commission
favor dry excavation. The latter claim
that while there is one dredge avail
able for the work now two will not lie
ready until early next year.
That material differences of opinion
should develop in the Canal Commits
son is due TO the change Of the ma
tonal administration. and that is. per-
haps, from the popular standpoint, the
most interesting development in con-
nsction with the canal. The Republi-
can administration never favored the
commission and yielded TO the insist
snce of Senator Bacon. who proposed
its creation. only to avoid controversy.
The commission, however, soon proved
cumbersome and unwieldly affair
and resulted in the constant reference
to Washington of engineering prob
lsms which could far better be settled
on the isthmus.
II was not practicable, in the face Of
Democratic opposition, 10 abolish the
commission. and so President Roose-
welt carried out his conviction that
there should be a "one-man admins
ration" by gently but Enthusiastically
II. mating TO the members Of the COM
lion other than Colonel Goethals
, while they were expected TO OK
press their opinions at its sessions and
freely 10 discuss with Colonel Goethais
al problems, when he. as chairman. ex-
pressed his view the other members
d the commission were TO vote for II,
and that failure to do so would be con-
n5ered by the administration as suffi-
,fnt evidence of the unfitness of any
n,mber longer TO serve as a commits
sner
Democrats More AssertiVe.
This worked so admirably and Colo
nsl Goethals achieved such success
hat the policy was carried on by Pres
Eent Taft. and during his administra-
ton every member of the commission
realized the penalty Of voting against
the chairman. With the restoration to
power OF the Democrats, however,
other members OF the commission have
begun 10 assert their views in opposi-
Ton to the chief engineer. and as a re-
suit rumors of conflict are reaching
Washington by every mail.
The question Of flooding the canal
now or later involves an engineering
problem Of considerable magnitude. II
Is the view Of Colonel Goethals and
certain Of his assistants that the press
IRE OF the water on the sides OF the
cut will operate 10 prevent or diminish
sides The cost of excavation by
tredges is very small compared with
srcsvation by steam shovels, Of which
here are now thirty-four at work in
he Culebra Cut. as several of the
credges will simply pump the material
nom the bottom Of the cut to a safe
distance, where the earth Will be pre-
dpitated and the water will run on
INTO the streams.
Those who oppose flooding the canal
Until the last shovelful OF earth mas
been taken out believe. presumably
hat the ingress of the water VIII lie
attended with a softening Of the BANKS