Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-06-20
wAsH1NcToN Jun. ,sAam,ra, !,

| nho'e iaNoraOie To the Panama prt
]ect than was the original report c
the commission. The members q
the commission now increase by abou
A.oOO.O0O their estimate OF the valu
OF the Panama property. In roun
figures they think the Panama pror
erty worth about 10000. 900 Blu
they point out that this does not in
ciude the $240,0O0.000 worth of stool
held by the French people.
In other words. II the United State.
| could buy the Panama property fo
$4O.OOO.00O, in the opinion OF the com
missioners it would be bargain Bu
this is known to be impossible. The
equity of the French peasants who
poured their money into that ditcl
cannot he wiped out by any legal trans
Ter OF the property which the French
government would recognize. II an
attempt to sell them out were made by
the officers of the company the French
government would be forced by pub
lie opinion to interfere.
For these reasons the Walker com
mission avoids making any definite
recommendation as between the Pana.
ma and Nicaragunn routes, 1t gives
the facts supported by voluminous rec
ords and figures and leaves final deter
mination to congress. This failure
is threatened with arrest and he takes
the matter rather seriously this time.
of the canal commission to embody in
It's report definite recommendation
makes it morally certain that the ca
nal question will come before con
gress next winter in a most puzzling
way.
1t is asserted by friends of the Mic
araguan route that a powerful con-
spiracy has been formed to ''hold up
the canal enterprise, partly in the in
terests of the Panama people and part
ly at the instigation of the transcon-
tinental railway interests. Indeed. it
is charged that these two interests are
now combined, and that they have
as their supporters some of the most
prominent men In politics today.
1t is reported here that the recent
publication to the effect that Pierponl
Morgan was about to take hold of the
Panama enterprise was inspired by the
New York law firm which represents
the Panama Canal company. and that
there was little more in it than mere
smoke. Mr. Morgan has not yet un-
iertaken TO finance the Panama ditch
and probably never will do so. But
it is not so certain that he will not
lend the use of his great name to the
project II thereby the Nicaragran pro
iect can be defeated.
Irrespective of the fate of the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty and the new treaty
which Secretary Hay and Lord Pann-
cefote are now endeavoring to nogo.
tiate, 1t is apparent that the Nicarag
uan project has many obstacles in its
way. and that Is going to be diff
cult matter to remove them.
Representative Hepburn of Iowa
who secured the passage of the Near
1gnan canal bill in the house last
winter, is preparing for the struggle
next session. He is well aware that
The Panama people and the transcon-
tinental interests are working togeth
er and attempting to defeat the Nicar.
lguan bill He believes that money
is being improperly used to defeat the
measure by influencing American
members of congress and predicts that
some regulations will emerge from the
coming conflict very much tarnishcd
In Mr. Hepburn's opinion the Ameri
can people want the Nicaraguan canal
and will not be satisfied II congress
permits the Panama conspiracy to In
terferc with the beginning of work
upon the great enterprise. The Pan
ana company will not make def
lite offer of sale. In fact. NJ, Hutin
the president of the company. says
willing to take the American govern
nent into partnership.
Secretary Hay. as a matter Of in
ormatiOn. has done his best to pin the
t'rench president down to definite
proposition. but he has never been able
o do So Under all the circumstances
Colonel Hepburn wants TO know what
the American people and the American
congress are going to do about 1t
Although Secretary Hay and LORD
oauncefote are doing their best tc
)ring about an agreement between al
concerned on the canal question. the
prospects are not considered bright
Secretary Hay insists upon establish
ing the neutrality principle only il
time of peace. leaving the United
States free-handed in time of war
In this he follows the judgment of thu
senate as expressed in its actions las
winter. which actions We're rejected
| by Great Britain. Although 1t TN
/ lerstood that Lord Pauncefotc will en-
| lcavor to secure the assent of hi
| government to this proposition. dlplc
mats do not think he will succeed
The British government will In al
! probability hold that neutrality In tn
time of peace Is no neutrality at al
as peace itself is neutrality. q.
I