The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-12-13
PANAMA COMPANY
OPPOSING BILL
Hopes TO Defeat Acceptance Of
Nicaragua Route for the
Great Canal.
LOBBYISTS IN WASHINGTON
.Senatv Committee on lsthmian
Canal Authorized Favorable
Report ON Morgan's
Nicaragua Bill.
LOBBYISTS IN WASHINGTON

NAhlilNtlbN, DOC, l%--lhc hchht"
committee on isthminn canal today au-
thorIzcd a favorable report on Senator
Morgan's bill providing for the acqui-
sitlon " Nicaragua and Costa Rica Of
the right Of way via the Ncaruguan
route. Senator Morgan later presented
this report 90 the senate. accompany
Ing the return Of the bill with re-
port on the subject of Il canal across
the ialhmus Action on the bill pro-
yidlng Tor the construction Of the canal
| was deferred,
Senator Morgans report deals With
many questions connected with the
construction OF the canal, including a
thorough inquiry into the attitude OF
Great Britain upon the subject and the
different canal routes He also dis
cuas,d the relationship OF the Panama
Canal Company 20 the construction by
the United States OF waterway across
the iihmus. and while he makes refer
rncc 10 n letter written by President
Hutln. Of the Panama Canal Company,
10 Secretary OF State Hay. h. does not
give the text OF the communication.
Mr. Morgan says the letter to Secre-
tary Hay was dated November o. and
that II was written after Admiral Wal
kcr. as president Of the commission.
had closed his correspondence with Mr.
Hutin. relating 10 the sale Of the Pan
anna canal lie then adds
The letter to Mr.. Hay. with the ap-
pcndiccs thereto and the memoranda
that accompany II, is an attack on the
president Of the commission. replete
with false assumptions and perver-
sions OF facts. and Is evidently intend
ed 20 create n side issue. the debate
upon which Il Is hoped by Mr. HutIn,
will delay. II Il does not defeat, the
nnnl action OF congress In providing
FOR the construction Of the canal.
This proceeding and the placing OF
this correspondence In the hands OF
the president Of the United States by
Mir Hutln. with request that It be
communicated TO congress, Is but u
continuation of the prcsumptuous and
offensive proposition previously made
by the Panama Canal Company. This
company In previous administration,
had succeeded In obtaining the rcslgna-
ton OF u secretary OF tine navy to ac-
ccpt nominal position In their ser
vice at a large salary and expended
81. 500 600 In New York chiefly in ac-
aulring the aid Of leading business
houses in promoting the De Lesseps
plan, without dollar OF stock being
subscribed In that company,
THE desperate financial straits OF
the new Panama Canal Company com
PEELED them to make overturcs to the
United States TO unload their enter
prise on the United States, and their
agents became accordingly aggressive
in this effort
After quoting a letter from Sullivan
and Cornwou, attorney for the Pana-
ma Canal Company, directed 10 the
president and dated April 10 1900, In
which they ask the president to ad'
wise congress OF the attitude OF the
Panama Canal Company the report
says:
The manifest purpose OF this COM
pany TO interfere with legislation by
asking the president 10 inform con
grcss OF the state Of facts, as alleged,
Of which congress Is presumably with
out knowledge. Is an insult TO the in
telliPence OF congress. II Is an inso-
lent invitation to the president TO CON
troll the action OF congress so that they
shall not act upon bills reported by the
committees.
Senator MorE,Ai agar refers to the
letter to Secretary Hay, OF last No
vember, saying that NJ. Hutin previous
ly had made unmlstakable proposals to
sell the Panama property to the Unit
ed States and adding. yet NJ Hutin
In his correspondence with Admiral
Walker and his letter and accompany
Ing memorandum sent to Mr., Hay first
assumes and then states and argues
and finally insists that the United
States offered to purchase their prop
erty and that when the company
agreed to sci II the isthmian canal com
mission refused to enter into the
scheme Of arbitration TO ascertain the
value of It, He imputes bal faith to
the commission and severely crltlcises
their dealing with the canal company.
Proceeding, the report says that Ad-
mlral Walker did not more than ask
legitimate questions Of NJ Hutin and
there was then no intimatlon OF the
proposition to purchase In this con
nection Admiral Walkers ietter NJ Oc-