The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-16
NEW PHASE OF The QUESTION
He Saws Construction Could
Not Be Commenced
at Once.
ARGUES IN FAVOR OF PANAMA
In Latter Case This Government Has
Only One Country to Deal With and
Completion of Negotiations Would
Be Simple, Declares South DakOtan.

When tho IsthInian canal bill was laid
before the Senate today Mr.. Kittredge
(Rep-. 5. d.. a member OF the Com
u1fttee on Interoceanic Canals. and who
has been Mr.. Hann2's CHIEF lieutenant
in looking after the interests Of the
Panama route. presented new phase
Of the question.
He combated the principal eonten-
ton of the Nicaraguan advocates that
If the Hepburn bill, IS passed By the
House, was accepted, everything would
be settled and the work of construction
could be begun. He declared that this
was an extraordinary assumption and
one not borne out by the facts. for he
said that the records showed that the
situation in this respect was far clearer,
simpler. and palmer as to the Panama
route The cost Of the Nfcaraguan route
over the Panama would not only be So
Doc. 600, he declared, but many times
that.
Must Reckon With Two Countries.
Senator Kittredge called attention to
the fact that while the Panama route
lay through one counry, and that sat
lsfaetory proposal had been received
from its government. concessions. would
have to be settled from two govern
ments in order 70 build the Nicaragua
Canal The foundation OF the great
Conchuda dam, the key to the Whale
eastern division of thai proposed water
Eay, VIII lie one-half in Costa Rica and
It's construction would food q great
area of that country, so he maintained
that a treaty with Costa Rica was as es-
sential as one with the government OF
Nicaragua without treaties with both
there could be no canal The PROPOSE
ton from Nicaragua, he said, was only
2 tentative oae, similar to that Of Co
Icmbia, while Costa Rica had not only
not entered into protocol, but had Of
aciaIIy announced its Inability 20 do so.
he read the notification Of the Costa
Rican government to the Secretary Of
state and transmitted 10 Congress Nay
Is, 1902, in which, among other things,
il said:
Costa Rica Powerless.
sThe government of Costa Rica is
powerIess TO enter into any positive ne
zotiations with that Of the United States
unless there shall be previously passed
constitutional amendment. by which
such concessions for the construction
Of an interoceanic canal may be au-
thorized or the matter referred to pub
lie opinion IN some other way by calling
4 constitutional convention"
This proposed route, declared Mr..
9ittredge. is blocked by an impossible
barrier. Even If that government was
ready to consider the matter, a long
time must elapse before anything hnal
AN be accomplished. for this amendment
EouId be but the prelude 10 the negotia-
lions between the governments OF Costa
gica and the United States.
But we need not consider that ques-
lion. for no such treaty viii be made.
Costa Riea viii not even negotiate.
Therefore the fact is that we cannot
obtain any new concession requisite for
he construction OF the Nicaragua Ca
aaL In Panama. on the other hand, the
Fay Is open, with every prospect Of
satisfactory result"
The Panama Concessions.
He pointed out that the only conces-
lions in Panama were those held by the
sew Panama Canal Company and the
Panama Railroad Company, and said that
Ill the property and rights IL question
belonged to the canal company. the re-
,eiver having been authorized By. court
g Join in the conveyance. The law
,fficers Of the United States Govern
nent could examine the title. When
his was done he declared that all legal
questions would be disposed Of
with reference to Nicaragua, Mr.
zittredge said the legal questions were
intricate. numerous. and troublesome,
or the United States Government would
iot Immediately acquire any Of the
and. and. further. It would have to deal
With the. concessions granted the Atlas
nd the Maritime Canal companies. The
proposition of Colombia. he said, was
nade without that government being
bic 10 obtain any Information from any
authorized officer OF agent or this Gov
rnment of its desire OF expectations.
ne Secretary OF State having taken
he position that he could not, IN ad-
ance OF the authority OF Congress. ne
;otiate upon any subject, but that be
ouId only receive suggestions and trans
nit them tc Congress