The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-05-27
Senate Committee Says Such Ac-
ton on Isthmian Canal Would !
Be Bad Policy. 4
COLOMBIA SHARPLY ARRAlGNED
South American Republic Playing
for Time and Not Dealing
Sincerely With the 4
United States.

Washington. May 25.-Senator Morgan
| from the Committee on Isthmian Canals Ia.
day submitted to the Senate the adverse re-
port of that on Senator HoariSV
bill placing the selection of a route for an
sthmian canal in the hands of the Presi-
dent.
The committee opposes the bill on thu
ground that 1t makes no provision FOR fur
Their exploration of routes and leaves ths
President to make n selection on the state
ment OF facts already ascertained-
II is contended that however safely the
country may rely on the wisdom and just
discretion OF the Executive, the policy .
not wise nor safe as a rule of government
The report discusses at length the pro-
tocols with Colombia and Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, and it is stated incidentally
that former Colombian Minister Silva was
invited TO appear before the committee, hut
had declined to do so. OF the agreements
with Costa Rica and Nicaragua ii is said
that they ARE definite and complete az to
character and scope of the rights they have
agreed to concede to the United States.'
and il ia argued that if they are ratified
nothing will be left but to complete tho de-
tails of the arrangements necessary to carry
the agreements into effect.
Tactics Criticized.
Colombia. on the other hand. is charged
with playing for delay, and 1t is stated
IHdl 10 Iplu 1tltIllDld " ftI HItStlil III
it is necessary, under article q. that ratifi-
cations shall be exchanged within eight
months from its date. and the practical i'm
possibility of concluding all the necessary
arrangements provided for in her PROPOSE
ton within eight months shows that her
most earnest desire is to cause delay"
1t is argued that Colombia does not by
her protocol propose to sell her Panama
Canal and railroad property free of all en-
listing claims. concessions and membranes.
but leaves the United States TO work out
a title with the Panama Company. 1t is
then charged that THE insincerity of the
attitude of Colombia with reference to che
completion of the Panama Canal is shown.
almost without disguise, in the character
CT the demands made by that Government
as to the condition of the transfer of the
canal and stock in the Panama Railroad
20 the United States"
Seeks Possession of Everything.
The report closes by saying:
Colombia is anxious to get rid Of the
Tense TO France. 80 that she can seize and
possess all the plant of the canal company,
all the lands and houses it owns in Panama,
the great hospital, the machine
shops and wharves at Colon. all the vast
in use by the canal company,
the hospitals and the other houses. palaces
built for De LesSeps and his son. and be-
come the owner of 1t all, along with the
Panama Railroad, which reverts to her in !
1866. 4
IF this should be adopted. not only would
delay attend the opening of the canal. b4
the United States would assume obligations
- the world that II would be impossible to
would deprive the canal of value to The
United States and make il a cause for i-
that must involve the most serious
consequences"