Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-14

The fraudulent character ol SOASSA"
which expected 10 be pecuniarily bene-
cited by grant of 100000, made last
winter by Congress for the purchase OF
naval coaling stations on the lsthmus, is
now made so plain that there should De
no delay, when Congress meets, IN re-
pealing the enactment. The 'Chiriqul
Improvement Company, of whom the
proposed purchase was to be made, turns
out to be a complete fraud. 1t has no
title whatever to any lands on the 18th
mus. This was explicitly stated to the
Washington authorities, last winter, by
the Minister from Colombia. That Off
cial supported his statement by the pre-
sentation of documentary evidence. But,
strangely enough, Congress went on
under the influence of certain active lob
byists, as usual-and voted the $500, 600.
1t appears that the sharks are eager for
their prey. The humbug Improvement
company" are getting clamorous for the
money. But the Treasury officials
very properly refuse to pay out cent
of the amount, until the terms of the
law are complied with. The appropria-
ton was voted on this condition, name
w: "To enable the Secretary of the Navy
to establish at the Isthmus of Panama
naval stations and depots of coal for the
supply of steamships of war, 5000, 900,
to be available for expenditure as soon
as suitable arrangements can be made to
the proposed end" This ambiguous
phraseOlogy may mean much or little,
but the Treasury Department properly
declines to pay out money until Con
gress has had the matter returned for
more specific action. 1t is probable that
Congress will repeal the enactment
This certainly should be the course to be
taken. The wording of the enactment
makes it look as if the Secretary of the
Navy was not merely to purchase sites,
on the Atlantic and Pacific sides Of the
Isthmus, for projected coal depots, but
W buC uCCCoodAl 0OOhS uAN
buildings. However this may be, the law
provides that, before any of the money
can be drawn from the Treasury, the
written opinion of the Attorney General
shall be had in favor of the validity of
the title. The consent, also, of the Leg
islature of the State or country in which
the land is situated must first be obtain
ed. This, were the company's title
valid, would probably require the nego-
tiation of special treaty, for it involves
the surrender of jurisdiction by the
Colombian Government over the territory
to be occupied. But that government
emphatically denies the title of the COM
pany to the land grants which the com
panY is so anxious to sell. 1t is under
stood that the Colombian Government
will cheerfuly grant the United States
! suitable localities for coaling stations on
both sides of the Isthmus for the mere
| asking.
This so-called Chiriqui Improvement
| Com pany is one of the specimen bricks.
1t is said to have originated with one
Ambrose Thompson. relative of Hayes
Secretary of the Navy, who in 1866 Sc
cured from the Government of New
Grenada NOW the United States of Co
lOmbia) contract for the establishment
Of line of ocean steamers. Thompson
also contracted to construct a railroad
or a macadamized road across the
Isthmus, 10 be completed in 1867. He
was to receive, upon the perform
ance OF his contract, certain grants
of lands on the Isthmus, for
| colonization purposes, the same being
| dr1lu crNanifiaA IN tho nF
course the contract was duly annulled
for failure on the part Of Thompson &
| Co. to perform their part of it. To make
a passable road, of any kind, railroad or
macadam across the lsthmus would
bankrupt any company not provided
with the funds that were pocketed by
Grants whisky ring. The abrogstion
| Of the contract left the "Chiriqui I'm
provement Company fiat on its
| back, without a title to a rod of
/ land on the Isthmus. But it seems
the ''cheek" of the aforesaid company"
| is extensively induGated, and that it was
| calculating on getting hold of that $780,
600. If the company" had once got
| hold of the money, it is just possible
that it would have been difficult for the
government TO have recovered all of it, to
sixpence. Perhaps the worst feature Of
the entire proceeding is the evidence this
case affords of the ease with which Con-
gress can De got to cote considerable
sums to gangs OF robbers. Luckily, in
this case the Treasury does not show so
ready a tendency to favor the swindlers
as ex Marshal Dudley, of Indiana, seems
to do in his new capacity as Commits
sioner of Pensions.