Evening star., 1902-02-11
TITLE TO CANAL RIGHTS.
Ex-senator Fasco Gives His Views to
Senate Committee.

Former United States Senator Samuel
Pasco. now a member of the isthmlan cahai
commission. testified before the Senate
committee on nteroceanic canals today
that he had carefully investigated the
proposition made by the new Panama canai
company for the sale of the Panama canal
rights and that he was fully convinced that
under tie French laws and the usage OF
the French courts that company has Vailo
title to the franchises and right of way
to the canal and could therefore make
transfer to the United States which would
hold in law. He thought that the co-opera-
ton of the liquidator of the old Panama
company with the new should be accepted
as a proper guaranty from that company
as TO its position. and held the opinion that
no appFeh he nSion need be felt on that score.
He expressed the further opinion that any
trouble that might arise over right of way
would be encountered in dealing with
Central American government, but said
that this trouble is as probable in dealing
with Nicaragua and Costa Rica in con-
necton with the Nicaragua route as with
Colombia in dealing with the Panama
route.
In reply 10 questions Mr.. Pasco said he
understood that there are now two gem
tlemcn in the city from Colombia for the
purpose Of cooperating with the minister
from that country in granting the neces-
sary concessions for the construction OF
During the morning Commissioner Pasco
testified for a couple of hours, and again
at 2:SO o'clock he reappeared before the
subcommittee, of which Senator Foster of
Louisiana is chairman, having charge Of
the investigation which is being conducted
into the questions relating TO the proposed
canal routes Mr.. Pasco was very closely
examined. and quite number OF questions
were asked Mr.. Pasco in relation to the
French law and the court proceedings in
France affecting the Panama Canal Com
pany. a number Of which he was unable to
explain. that 1t is quite probable that
the subcommittee will endeavor by some
means to get facts relating to this matter
which have been inaccessible up to the
present time.
Tomorrow the subcommittee Of which
Senator Morgan Is chairman will have be-
fore ii Mr.. Morrison of the isthmian canal
commission and Friday Mr.. Noble Of that
commission will be heard. Some time early
next week Prof Burr of Columbia Cniver-
sity New York, also member OF the COM
mission, will be before the subcommittee.
When these witnesses have been heard all
members of the isthmian canal commits
sion will have been examined by the Sen
ate committee except Mr.. johnson, whose
specially is III relation TO the economics OF
the canal and is not related to Its en-
cineering features. He will probably not
be called before the committee.
1t is understood that no further step Is
to be taken in relation to Admiral Wal
ker's declination TO reply 10 questions put
to him concerning negotiations pending be-
tween this government and Colombia for
certain concessions of land in case the
United States should buy the Panama
canal Admiral Walker took the ground
that these negotiations were of diplO-
matte nature and that whatever he had to
do with them was done for the State De-
partment, In view of which fact he did
not feel at liberty to testify concerning
them before the Senate committee on inter-
oceanic canals. 1t was expected that his
declination would be brought before the full
committe on interoceanic canals with a
view of taking some action to compel him
to reply to questions, but the committee
will take other means to secure informa-
tion, which. it is understood, Admiral Wal
ker does not possess fully do officials
of the State Department.