Evening star., 1902-03-01
already twice passed the House of Rep
Sentatives.
Congressional Hearings.

sentatives.
Congressional Hearings.
The Senate committee on interoceanic
canals has now concluded the taking of
testimony SO far as witnesses desired by
Senator Morgan are concerned. Whether
other members of the committee will desire
to introduce witnesses is yet to be seen. The
next meeting of the committee will be held
Monday, and at that meeting it Is expected
that much concerning the attitude OF the
committee on the project whole can be
deveioped In view Of the complications in
colombia and in France. especially in view
OF the fact that the French people are har-
boring i'll feelings toward what they regard
as hard bargain that this country is at
tempting to drive with France, it is not be-
heved by senator's generally that the COM
mlttee on lnteroceanic canals will consent
to tie up the whole canal problem by any
longer daliying with a proposition for a
canal at Panama. There are many objec-
tions that have been urged before the COM
mittee by distinguished civil engineers
against canal over that route, because of
physical characteristics of the ground and
although the iSthmian commission has pro-
nounced the route practicable these obiec-
tions have been so great that they have pro-
duced profound impression on the minds
of senator's.
The Senate Responsible
With the House of Representatives prac-
tically unanimously in favor of the Hep
burn bill, the Senate Of the United States
will be held responsible for any failure to
enact canal legislation. While Senator
Morgan, chairman of the committee. at the
time the Hepburn bill was passed by the
House. had some objections to the details
of that bill. he has after very careful
study of it's provisions. concluded that the
bill as passed by the House entirely meets
the situation today. and would be satisfied
to see it passed by the Senate without a
single amendment.
The meeting of the canal committee Mon
day morning. the regular meeting time for
the committee, Is looked forward to by
every one Interested in canal legislation
with keen anticipation. 1t is expected that
meeting will develop the situation sufii-
ciently TO show whether the committee will
act promptly and as unit in favor of
prompt canal legislation for the building
of a canal at Nicaragua where not
single obstacle either from an engineering
point of view or of diplomatic nature has
been developed.
MI. Hepburn's View
Chairman Hepburn of the House commit
tee on ign and Interstate commerce, and
author of the canal bill which passed the
House this session, read with interest the
news from Paris.
ut simply shows" he said to Star re-
porter today, what we have contended all
along. that those Panama officials had
| nothing to sell us, and could not make us
genuine offer. They We're simply expert
ment!ng.
1T also proves. as We have insisted from
the first. that to attempt to take over tha
Panama project would involve us in inter-
minable difficulties, Htigations and negotia-
tions
1T Is more evident than ever that the
way to get an isthmian canal is to pass the
Nicaragua canal bill and get to work
building the waterway"
Colombian Minister'S Statement
In view of the dismay reported to have
been caused at Paris yesterday among the
shareholders of the Panama Canal Com
papy by the reading of dispatch from
the Colombian government, announcing
that the company could not transfer its
concession to any nation without the con-
sent Of the Colombian government DR..
Silva, the retiring minister from Colombia
at Washington, today authorized the fol-
Lowing statement:
The Panama Canal Company. through
Mr.. Lampre, its secretary general, and
others, was informed some time ago that
# could close no deal involving the trans
Ter of it's rights to any nation without first
obtaining the assent Of the Colombian gov
ernment, the grantor of it's concession.
This matter was made very clear. The
Colombian government gave the company
the right to Initiate negotiations looking to
a transfer of its rights to nation, but
never to finally close such DEAL
Continuing, DR.. Silva said that he could
not comprehend why a situation, which
had been made so clear to the company,
should have caused such furry of eX
citement among it's shareholders when pre-
sented to them in the form of an official
cabiegram. unless they had construed the
nOtificat ton to mean that the Colombian
government was not yet prepared with its
fnrT ~ fy-nr rSfA
United States.
The Protocol.
The protocol providing for this transfer
was practically completed as far as DIR.
Silva, acting for the Colombian govern
ment. was concerned, but with the appoint
| ment of a new minister, DR.. Concha, who
is expected to arrive at Washington from
New York in a few days, a change takes
place in the Colombian negotiator at Wash
ington and the protocol will be turned over
to DIR. Concha for his supervision before
being presented to Admiral Walker, chair
man of the canal commission.
OF course, the arrangements which CO.
fombia must make with the canal company
are contingent upon an agreement with the
United States.
In other diplomatic quarters the officials
are inclined to minimize the actual signifi
canoe of the reported excitement at Paris
yesterday, pointing out that there are a
number of shareholders in the new COM
pany who were in the old one. and who
are apt to become alarmed at the slightest
development which appears to threaten
their interests.
Colombia After Better Terms.
In Is gathered from inquiry here ad-
dressed to persons familiar with the TRAN
gular negotiations that have been in
progress between the United States govern
ment, the government of Colombia and rep
resentatives of the Panama Canal Company
that the government of Colombia holds the
key to the situation and is therefore respon-
sible for the check that has been received.
The exchange of ministers at Washington in
the middle Of the negotiations for a proto-
col stating the terms upon which Colom-
bia will convey the necessary powers to
the United States government for the con-
struction of canal really marks a change
in policy. it Is said
Colombia is now believed to have deter
mined to make the effort to secure much
more favorable, terms and vastly greater
pecuriary consideration in return for what
she is asked to give than the protocol. as
prepared by Minister Silva, who Is now re-
tiring. contemplated.
.-.. What Anpers the French