Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-27
REPORT ON HoAR BILL.
Isthmian Canals Committee Would
Not leavn Route to President.

/ Washington, May Ex-senator Nor
gan, from the committee on isthmiaa
| canals submitted to the senate the ad-
verse report of that committee on Sem
| ator Hoar's bill placing the selection OF
! a route for an isthmian canal in the
hands of the president. The COMMITTEES
opposes the Till on the ground that it
makes no provision for further eXplora- :
ton of routes and leaves the president
to make a selection on the state of tacts
already ascertained. 1t is contended
that however safely the country may
rely on the wisdom and just discretion
of the executive, the policy is not wise
nor safe as rule of government"
The report discusses at length the
protocols with Colombia and Nicaragua
and Costa Rica, and it is stated Incl
dentally that former Colombian Minis
ter Silva was instructed to appear be-
fore the committee, but declined to do
so. OF the agreements with Costa Ri
ca and Nicaragua it is said that they
are definite and complete as to the
character and scope of rights they nave
agreed to concede to the United
States. and it is argued that If they
are ratified nothing will be left to do
but complete the details of the ar
rangements necessary to carry the
agreements into effect.
Colombia. on the other hand, is
charged with playing for delay, and 1t
is stated that ito hold Colombia to her
present offer it is necessary under artl-
Gle 81 that ratifications shall be eX-
changed within eight months from its
cate, and the practical impossibility OF
concluding all the necessary arrange
ments provided for in her proposition
within eight months shows that her
most earnest purpose is to cause delay.
1t is charged that Colombia does not
by her protocol propose to sell us the
Panama canal and railroad property
free of all existing claims, concessions
and membranes, but leaves us to
work out a title with the Panama COM
pany 1t is then charged that the in
sincerity of the attitude of Colombia
with reference to the completion of the
Panama canal is shown, almost with
cut disguise, in the character of the de-
mands made by that government as to
the condition of transfer of the canal
and the stock in the Panama railroad
to the United States"
Inc report aQQS.
Columbia Is anxious to get rid of th, |
Panama Canal company without Civ
ing offense to France so that she can
seize and possess all the plant of the
canal company, all lands and houses,
it owns in Panama, including the great
hospital, the machine shops and |
at Colon, All the vast machin
cry in use by the canal company, th,. |
hospitals and other houses the palacei /
built for De Lesseps and his son and |
become the owner of it all, along with |
the Panama railroad, which reverts
to her in 1866.
IF this convention should be adopted
not only would delay attend the open
ing of the canal, but the United State.it
will assume obligations to the world
that it will be impossible to keep, amt
relations with Colombia that will de
prive the canal Of all value to the
United States and will make it a cause
Of irritation that must involve the most
serious consequences"