New-York tribune., 1895-10-17
MINISTER JENNER'S CASE.
INTENSE FEELING AGAINST HIM IN
BOGOTA.

FEAR THAT IF HE BE SENT OUT OF THE CO'NiHh
ENGLAND WILL. DEMAND AN INDEMNITY
WHAT LED TO THE TROUBLE
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. Oct . 16--The .unconcern win
which the State Department views the report
from Bogota that there is popular oemaho
in that capital for the prompt recall OF 'he
English Minister George Jenner. Is by no means
shared by we-informed persons here. IL 10
the custom of the State Department 'o eA
hibit' calmness under all circumstances Ihis
practice Is one Of long usage, and presumaoiy
It ts thought by the officials to be dipiomatic
II the rule is being followed In the Jenner case
conformably to precedent. and Secretary oihes
is really alive to the possibilities. nothing III
the way OF criticism Is In order H. on 'he
other hand, unconcern is due to lack OF trus'-
worthy intelligence another and different view
is justifable Letters received from boso'a oy
private individuals here go to show that the
demand that Minister Jenner should leave Co
lombfa is made in earnest and that the ADMIN
istratior of President Caro- is seriously con-
cerned at the clamor of the people
Inst what course will be followed by the CO.
1ombian authorities is not pointed out, nothing
definite in the case having been determined
The speculation, however. is to the erect that
President Caro- cannot overlook popular opih-
ion and that 1t is among the possibiiities tha'
Mr. Jenner may receive his passports at an
early date. Bogota correspondents say that
Mr. Jenner's recent course has been arbitrary
and dictatorial in the extreme and that CO.
lombians generally urge that he leave their
capital The correspondents further say that
Jenner has already made number of threats
as to what would occur in case he leaves Bo-
gotta at present Among other things he assert
x,n.,ll haar frnr
ment in the event of his dismissal BY this the
writer's intimate he means 10 create the I'M
pression that Great Britain stands ready to
demand an indemnity from Colombia for indg-
mites heaped upon her diplomatic representa-
tive. and they seem to fear that repetition OF
the recent Nicaraguan incident might come
about in the event of summary measures being
adopted.
Apparently the threats Of the English Minister
have had some effect on the Colombian author-
Ties and President Caro's hesitancy in reaching
a conclusion may be due to the thought OF dis
pute with Great Britain with the possibility OF
demands backed up by ships and marines. Co
ionibia like most Of the Central and South Ameri-
can States. is in no position to court quarrei
with Great Britain Neither is she prepared to
pay any money indemnity in case one or any
considerable amount is exacted. Jenner has been
miiar with the Colombian character and per-
cons who have written here on the subject say
that he is trading this knowledge. In the
mean time he continues to boast and to pursue
his dictatorial and arbitrary course In all rela-
tions with the Colombian Government. The State
Department may not be aware of the facts in the
case but the foregoing briefly describes the stua-
tion.
Jenner got into his present difficulty on ac-
count of too great zeal displayed in the interests
Of an English railroad company the agent OF
which was recently detected in gross conspiracy
with some Of the subordinate officials at Bogota
The agents house was raided by the Govern
ment representatives, and papers OF seriously
compromising nature were discovered. Jenner
has sought to befriend the agent and has made
outrageous demands upon Colombia on the al
legged score Of securing redress for subjects Of his
country. The story Of the conspiracy is interest
ing. although the connection of Jenner Herewith
Is by no means creditable.
1t appears that some time ago Santiago Perez,
son Of a banished ex-President of Colombia Of
the same name, went to Bogota as the agent OF
an English railroad company. After much zeal
his part and the liberal use Of money, he Sc
cured for the company valuable concession
which authorized the construction of a railroad
from the Magdalena River to Medellin, next to
Bogota the most important city in Colombia At
the time the concession was granted it was quiet
ly whispered about the capital that improper
means had been employed to secure the same
There was no definite proof of the fact, however,
and no official attention was given TO the report
Later on. only recently stories were again started
to the effect that Santiago Perez had bribed CO.
lombian officials. and scandal OF serious char
acter soon got about
Perez had the proposed route surveyed by en-
gineers who placed the cost Of construction OF the
railroad at S4,00o,o00 In god. The estimate made
At clear that the road could be completed within
this sum and within reasonable time Never
theless. Perez secured a contract from the Gov
eminent to build the road at a cost of $1,000 600
gold. Again stories of gross fraud and corrup-
ton were circulated in Bogota, and 1t was openly
alleged that II was owing to the improper use OF
money that contract to construct the road was
secured. Having completed the drawing up OF his
agreement. Perez began the work Of construct
ing Based on the estimates Of engineers, he had
not spent more than 100000 gold when detected
IN his fraudulent transaction
When the execution of the contract had reached
this early stage. the Government Of Colombia. for
political reasons, found 1t necessary to enter the
residence of exPresdent Santiago Perez. Con-
elusive proof Of the guilt Of Perez. jr. was found
then by the police. Papers were discovered which
made it clear that the contract to build the rail-
road had been obtained by means Of bribery. No
doubt in the case was left, and upon the facts be-
ing presented 10 President Caro-, one OF the most
honest and fearless chief executives Colombia has
ever had he promptly Issued a proclamation re-
scinding the agreement with the English COM
pany.
In declaring his course President Caro- said that
ne regarded the agreement IS fraudulent and
therefore not binding on his Government. Evil
dence was made public showing who were impli-
Gated in the frauds and the amount Of money
which the company had spent to secure the con-
cession. Among the wrongdoers was relative
of President Caro- himself. This fact did not de-
ter the President from issuing his proclamation,
however
After the executive announcement was made,
Minister Jenner became aggressively and often
sively jealous in behalf Of the railroad company.
His demands were frequent and emphatic. lie
called for immediate redress for his country $
subjects, and. in a manner most irritating TO the
sensitive Colombans, he threatened all kinds OF
msfortunes for their country in case they did not
nccede 10 his demands. President Caro-, after pa