The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-21

that the pain of forfeiture will be in
CURED by the mere act of attempting
to cede or transfer its privilege to a
foreign government, and such an act
is declared absolutely null and of no
value or effect.
Colombia Valves Restrictions.
But for the purpose of permitting the
new Panama Canal Company to enter
upon the negotiations which have re-
suited in the present offer. Colombia
has waived these prohibitions, and has
authorized the company to treat direct
ly with the United States, with d view
to the use and occupation of the terri
tory of the former for canal purposes,
If our government should select the
Panama route for an isthmian canal
route. After the old company failed a
iquidator was appointed by the French
court to take charge of it's property
and affairs. When the new company
was formed he was authorized to con-
tribute to it the rights, privileges, plans,
documents, plant and unfinished work
In his hands and under his control,
and in consideration of this grant, he
was to receive 60 per cent. of the net
profits of the enterprise, after deduct
ing all expenses, charges ami stipulated
dividends to be distributed by him
among the parties in interest. This in
terest of the old company is still un-
der the protection of the liqui0ator and
he must be a party TO any arrange
ment that may be entered into for a
sale and conveyance of the property
and as he derives his authority from
the tribunal that appointed him, his
action requires the approval and con-
hrmation of the court, The papers be-
fore the commission show that the
liquidator has agreed to the proposition
and that he is acting under judicial
authority. A deed to the property exc
cuted by the canal company and the
liquidator requires the approval of the
government of Colombia because of the
prohibition already referred to in the
concessions and for the further rea-
son that the republic owns 80, 900 shares
of 100 francs each, of the stock of the
company, full paid, of which it cannot
be deprived without its consent
New ARA ngement Necessary.
Such transfer of title thus APP
proved would give to the United States
the same right, title and interest in
the premises that the new Panama
Canal Company now has, but that
would not be sufficient. The existing
concessions thus purchased would be
valuable only because their ownership
the obstacles in the way of negotia-
tons between the two governments for
the occupation of Colombian territory
by the United States for canal pur-
poses; but these concessions are I'M
sufficient and new arrangement must
be made if an isthmian canal is to be
constructed by our government across
the ISthmus of Panama.
The grant must be not for a term
of years, but in perpetuity. and a strip
of territory from ocean to ocean of
sufficient width must be placed under
the control of the United States. In
this strip the United States must have
the right to enforce police regulations,
preserve order, protect property rights
and exercise such other powers as are
appropriate and necessary. The bust
ness relations between the railroad and
canal companies and the Colombian
government must also be settled.
The advantages of the two canal
routes have been restated according
to the findings of the former reports.
There has been no change in the views
of the commission with reference to
any of these conclusions then reached,
but the new proposition submitted by
the new Panama Canal Company
makes a reduction of nearly $70,0000 900
in the cost of a canal across the 18th
mus VI dlidillel, dNSOl 0litS " lhC Coll-
mates contained in the former re-
port.
Commission FavOrs Panama.
The report concludes as follows:
After considering the changed con-
ditions that now exist and all the facts
and circumstances upon which its pres
ent judgment must be based, the COM
mission is of the opinion that the
most practicable and feasible route for
an isthmian canal, to be under the
control, management and ownership Of
the United States is that known as
the Panama route"
The report is signed by the entire
commission.
The State Department viii now pro-
coed to arrange a protocol with Minis
ter Silva, engaging Colombia to ap-
prove the transfer of the franchise of
the Panama company and to make any
desira BILE extensions of time, both in the
allowance for the completion of the
canal and in the life of the lease.
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