Evening journal., 1919-02-15
MAY ACT today
ON Canal PURCHASE
Senator Salisbury Again
Defends Bill in Discus
sion Before Senate
ANSWERS OBJECTION
FROM THE WEST
By The United Press.

By The United Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb. i5-The United
States Senate again had the River and
Harbor bill under consideration yes
terday and made slight progress on the
appropriations. The item providing
S3,000,O00 for deepening the Chesapeake
and Delaware canal was again under
fire last evening, when Senator Thomas,
Of Colorado Democrat) questioned the
necessity Of the appropriation.
Senator Salisbury, OF Delaware. dur
ing the debate, convinced the Senate
that the western Senator was not con-
versant with the situation about this
waterway. Mr.. Salisbury pointed out
that the canal company has not been
willing TO sell the canal, and II was
only after he had provision for con-
demnation proceedings inserted In the
rivers and harbors bill. that the COM
pany showed a disposition TO nesoti7
ate.
The item was still under discussion
when the Senate recessed until IL
o'clock this morning Action Is eX-
pected on the Delaware project today
Debate on the subject yesterday af-
ternOOn follows:
MIR. THOMAS-I know the Senator
from Delaware has been one OF the pro-
ponents OF this measure. Let me ask
who owns the Chesapeake and Della
ware Canal now.
MR.. SAULSBURY-The Chesapeake *
Delaware Canal Co.
MR.. THONfAS-Who owns the stock
Of the company?
MIR. SALISBURY have a complete
certified list Of the stockholders OF this
company here, which was obtained by
me in an investigation Of this very ques-
ton a few years ago. 1t has been
printed as a public document and ii
can be obtained by the Senator. Here
Is the original list obtained by me
and put in this record under sworn
testimony.
MR.. THONiAS-Is Il not a fact that
he Chesapeake & Delaware Canal has
been practically put out Of business
by the railroads?
MIR. SAULSBURY-Tha Is not the |
'act at all. Mr. President. The Della /
ware and Chesapeake Canal Is now pay I
ng out OF its net earnings and has ever /
since 1887. Before that Il made a great |
ieal Of money. II has been paying
per cent. on a bonded Indebtedness |
)f s2,6OO.OOO.
Mr.. THONfAS-What have the stock |
holders received7
Mr.. SAULSBURY-Not
MR.. THOMAS-Why does the COM |
'any want to sell 1t to the government
MR.. SAULSBURY.-The company
ioes not want 10 sell Il to the govern
nent and have had a great deal of
trouble In trying TO get the company
and government in accord on this very
question. II was not until the last
liver and ha-bor bill that obtained the
Insertion OF a power Of condemnation
by the government that they came any
Nhere near reaching an agreement.
Mr.. THONfAS.-Why does the gov
,rnment need it?
MIR. SALISBURY shall be very
dad TO furnish the Senator copies OF
lumber OF speeches have made on 4.
md with a great number Of reports
made by the engineers to the govern
nent. these reports running from as
ong ago as the early SOS.
MR.. THOMAS listened / think /
o two speeches Of the Senator or two
rguments, and my recollection OF the
Ominant note in the argument was
hat the acquisition OF the canal was
eslrable that IL might form a part OF
n inland waterway reaching, ! think,
rom New England to somewhere in the
otton States.
MR.. SAULSBURY-The Senator Is en-
rely wrong on that point.
MIR. THOMAS may be mistaken
bout it.
Mr.. SAULSBURY-The Senator is
rong. II the Senator viii permit me,
n the Sth day Of October, 1911. the
enate adopted a resolution directing
ie Secretary Of War TO furnish all in
and all recommendations Of
lilitary authorities regarding the ac-
uisitiOn OF this canal and its use to {
le government. On the iith day OF q
iarch, 1915, in response to that resO- T
ltion he transmitted TO the Senate the a
port which was made. IL Is collected 7
great deal from the various reports
lat had been made on this subject I
nd all. may say TO the Senator, fav-
rable TO the acquisition Of the canal
Y the government. This report was
gned by the chief of the War College s
vision. General Macomb, by General |
liss, who was the acting chief OF
aff and by the Secretary Of War. II {
lie Senator has not seen that report
e will find In II some light on this '
ibject.
Mr.. THoMAs-I will be very glad to
'ad IL.