The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-12
NOT A MENACE
TO THE CANAL
Secretary Hay On Maritime
COmpany'S Rights.
NO POWER 10 OBSfRUGT PROGRESS.
Opposition in Senate to Hay-Paun-
cefote Treaty Likely, However,
to Cause Delay if Not Ne
cessitate Amendments

Acting under the advice OF the State
Department the Senate Committee on IN
teroceanic Canals today decided 20 pay
no attention to the claims Of the Maritime
Canal Company, OF Nicaragua, the New
Jersey corporation, which claims to have
purchased the route surveyed and rec
commended by the Isthmian Canal Com
mission, and which insists that all fran
chises and concessions have been turned
over to it by the Government Of Mica
ragua. and that all of the land involved
has been decided 10 it IN consideration
O. a large sum in cash
Secretary Hays Position.
Secretary Hay has reported TO Senator
Morgan, Chairman OF the Committee on
Interoceanic Canals that the Govern
ment Of Nicaragua has admitted selling
the lands to this company, and granting
franchises and concessions, but that the
sale has been annulIed and the franchises
revoked since il has been made public
that the Nicaragua route was The one Sc
Ieeted
The Maritime Canal Company has
learned OF the action Of the Nicaragua
authorities and has protested TO the
State Department Secretary Hay has de-
ctded not 10 consider the claims made by
this corporation but to regard the action
of Nicaragua as Official
This. it is argued. viii Leave the Mari
time Company without power to obstruct
inter oceanic canal legislation during the
present Congress, and while the sudden
change of front on the part of Nicaragua
may be regarded as strange, Il is not pro-
posed to bring about any further compH-
cations and thus delay legislation.
Status of the Case
Tho present status of the case is about
as follows:
The Eyre-Cragin syndicate secured Ger
tain concessions from Nicaragua
The Martins Canal Company followed
The Eyre-Cragin people, securing the con-
cessions and making an offer for. certain
lands.
The Maritime Canal Company was grant
ed all the land lying between Lake Mica
ragua and the Pacific Ocean For this the
sum of S5OO,OOO was to be paid within six
months The sum of 100000 was paid in
cash to bind the agreement
The six months have elapsed and the
balance of 100000 has not yet been paid.
according to the statements made by the
Government of Nicaragua. This has an
nuIled the purchase, according to the view
taken
The franchises h>4e been forfeited on
time limitation, as is held in documents
forwarded to the State Department
No Actual Rights Held.
The documents held by the State De-
partment from the Niearaguan authorities
state clearly that mo company possesses
a single right of which the United States
is bound to take notice"
On the other hand. the Maritime Com
pany has entered a strong protest, back
ed by official documents in which the
sworn statement is made that the cor
poration has acted in good faith with
Nicaragua: has expended s1,700, 600 for
lands and franchises. and that the de-
cision of the Canal Commission to rec
on1mend the route held by the company
brought about the action On the part OF
the Nicaraguan authorities.
It is recommended by the State De-