The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-26
TWO CANAL ROUTES
President on the Eve sof Sending
Treaties to the Senate.
NO SIGNING DONE UP TO DATE
POLITICAL Obstacles Removed and a
Bill Conforming With Walk
er's Ideas May Pass.
Special to Tho journal.

Special to Tho journal.
Chicago April GA Washington spe-
cial to the Record Herald says: Within
a day or two President Roosevelt will
send to the senate treaties covering both
the isthmian canal routes now under con-
sideration. The president favors canal
legislation at this session. Leading sena-
tors have assured him that they expect
to pass such BILL barring unexpected
complications over the Philippines and
Cuban questions The president may
write a message urging congress to &C
ton.
Both of the treaties are considered sat
isfactcry from the viewpoint OF the gov
eminent. 1t is not true that either
treaty has been signed. Nor has any
protocol been sagreedrto. 4.
Secretary Hay has from the first said
to the representatives of the Central
American governments that he would
sign no agreement, that they should sub
nit the best terms they were prepared to
offer, and that the president would send
their proposals to congress for such ac-
ton as it might wish to take. When
congress. authorizes the selection of one
OF the other of the routes the diplomatic
branch of the government will sign the
treaty covering the route decided upon
Bid Against Each other.
BY this n ethod the secretary was able
to cause the rival routes to bid against
one another. He told the ministers from
Colombia and Nicaragua and Costa Rlca
that they must take the responsibility OF
naming terms and that the route which
offered the better contract might get the
canal. Secretary Hay has been impair
tial as between the rival routes. :.
The two treaties are much alike. All
obstacles of a diplomatic or legal char-
acter are removed from both routes. Inc
money price is substantially the same ~
both cases. Columbia asks s7,OOO.OoO cash
payment for the Panama concession
Nicaragua and Costa Rica ask the same
sum for the Nicaragua route, the FORMER
country taking $6.000000 and the latter
81 900, 900 The proposed Nicaragua canal
would not actually enter the territory OF
Costa Rica, but lands in that country
would be overlooked by waste water. for
the Nicaragua route an annual payment "
$50, 900 year is asked in addition 10 inc
81 900, 900 payment.
By the Panama treaty no annual pay.
ment is provided for, but at the end OF
fourteen years an annual rental thereafter
is to be agreed upon. II the two govern
ments cannot agree the matter is TO DC
left to arbitration. 1t is reckoned tnat
at the end of the fourteen-year period the
canal will be finished and open TO franc,
and that the sum WHICH inc OulIou o'''.
should Justly pay can then be intelligently
determined
Advancement Mutually Fair.
It is possible that arbitrators would
not award any further payment, ana ~ y
is provided that the lump sum OF ooo
paid at the outset must be taken INTO
consideration in fixing the annual pay
ment, If any. This is considered very
fair arrangement to both countries. II
the canal should prove Unexpectedly cost
ly, probably, the United States would not e
be called upon to pay anything Atsah 2
rate, there would be no danger that OK
exorbitant price would be fixed.
In some respects the Panama treaty IS
considered superior to the, Nicaragua, ior q,
in the latter there is no provision 1or
the damages which the United states may
be called upon to pay the owners OF over
flowed lands, the million dollars to costa
RIGA being to that government ana no!
to the land owners. So far as tinanclal
terms are concerned, both treaties are
said to be Objectionable.
All political obstacles to an lsthmian
canal have been removed. 1t remains
only for congress to choose the routes
Leading republican senators think tndt
bill will be passed conforming to she
recommendation of the Walker commits
sion