Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-01
LISTENED TO DEBATE |STHM|AN CANAL ACT
Philippine Bill Discussed in Considered at Todays Session
the Senate. of the Cabinet
OPPOSED BY DEMOCRATS QUESTION OF TITLE
ADOPTION OF THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Naval Ap
preparation
posed Gable Construction.
Considered at Today's Session
of the Cabinet.
QUESTION OF TITLE
THE MATTER IS REFERRED TO
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Left to Him as to the Course to Be
Pursued-Commercial Pacific
Cable Construction.

The cabinet was engaged today for some
time in the preparation of measures to
carry out the terms of the isthmian canal
act. which has just become law. Secre-
tary Hay. who returned to Washington
from his New Hampshire summer home at
half-past 10 o'clock this morning, pro-
ceeded directly to the temporary executive
mansion. and it was he who presented the
matter to the attention of the cabinet I'M
pOrtant action is to be taken very soon in
three separate matters. The effort must be
made, in the first place, to determine the
sufficiency of the title that can be con-
veyed TO the United States by the Panama
Canal Company. Besides that treaty
must be negotiated with Colombia, confer
ring the necessary rights, and lastly a
technical commission must be appointed to
carry on the actual work of construction.
Questions of Title.
The determination having been reached
to proceed first with the question of title
it was decided to refer that subject to the
Attorney General, it being purely legal IN
character. The Attorney General is to de-
eide for himself upon the course to be pur-
sued as to this question of title. Recourse
may De ndd 10 the frenCn courts TO secure
from some high tribunal a satisfactory
affirmation of the sufficiency of title for it
is believed that the interests involved are
too great to base the title upon the mere
opinion of an individual lawyer, either
french or American.
- The other course is TO secure from the
French government directly through the
chamber of deputies, in all probability,
some legislative declaration which shall
have the force of law, and effectually affirm
fE.o Loo Nf no tsit %
property by the United States.
This work cannot be done altogether In
the United States. and 1t will be neces-
sary for the Attorney General to send to
France some thoroughly competent person
who can, If need be, retain local French
legal talent to aid in his work. The name
of Assistant Attorney General Russell has
been suggested in this connection. He is a
master of the French language and is well
lifted in French law, having been one of
the counsel in the French spoliation claims
II is also suggested that some or all of the
members OF the isthmian canal commission
shaH also go to Paris, and. in that case, ex-
Senator PaScO will doubtless be one of the
visitors. There is some reason to believe
that while no formal assurances have pass
ed. the French government has managed to
let 1t be known to the President that it is
willing to do everything that is necessary
to quiet this question of title.
Senior Calvo's Inquiry.
Senior Calvo. the Costa Rican minister,
called TO see Secretary Hay today after the
cabinet meeting to learn what was proposed
to be done by this government in the mat
ter of a selection of a canal. AS recourse
must be had to the Nicaragua route in case
the Panama title cannot be perfected, the
minister is naturally deeply interested in
watching the development of the stems
being taken TO determine that question of
title. Probably the attitude of his govern
ment. with that of Nicaragua. will be quies-
cent both countries awaiting DEVELOPMENTS
at Paris before shaping their future course
Commercial Gable Construction.
Secretary Moody today laid before the
cabinet the proposition of the Commercial
Pacific Gable Company to hasten the con-
struction Of their cable across the Pacific
and offer important advantages to the gov
eminent in return for the use of the sur
veys made by the L. S. S. Nero for a cable
route connecting San Francisco, Honolulu,
Midway Island Guam and Manila The
officials of the company, who have been
represented here before the Navy Depart
ment by a New York attorney, state that
they are asking these plats solely in the
name of their own company and that no
other cable company, domestic or foreign
has Joined in the application.
The Navy Department Is earnestly de-
SlrOuS. Tor nlIltary reasons, that the cable
shall be laid as soon possible. Therefore
Secretary Moody was disposed to grant the
request. but he had taken the pfecautIon
to impose certain safeguards as a condition
and 1t was these which formed the basis of
discussion before the cabinet today 1t is
regarded as essential that the route shall
be all Americana point which will be Sc
cured by the use of Midway Island as a re-
lay station and provision to avoid touch
ing on foreign soil between the terminals
Another point was that the United States
government should have preferential rates
for its messages and that these messages
should have precedence over others in order
of transmission. Finally 1T is expressly to
De insisted that the United States govern
ment should have the sole right in its dis
Cretion. to the cable in time of war
Inc subject was regarded as too i'm
pOrtant for an immediate decision and it
is probable that before the company's ap-
pllcation is finally acted upon the matter
Will be referred to the Attorney General.
New Ships Named.
At Secretary Moody's suggestion, made at
the cabinet meeting today, names were
adopted for the six new ships of war au-
thorized by the naval appropriation bill
The four larger ships-two battle ships and
two armored cruisers-will be named
Louisiana, Connecticut. Tennessee and the
Washington; it has not yet been deter
mined where the names shall be lodged
whether upon battle ship or cruiser
The two gunboats provided for in the
act will be named the Paducah. at the
earnest solicitation of Representative
Wheeler of Kentucky. and the Dubuque.
MAKES RECOMMENDATIO