The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-03-20
PANAMACANALTITLE
Majority Of Senate Committee
Consider It Invalid,
NEW COMPANY CHEATED FREyCHAEN

Accepting Ones Might Lead to In
pleasant ReIations with Those
who Lost *.5O.OOO. OO.OOO-Minori-
~ Report UpI,oIds Title.
WASHINGTON, March 90 Senator
Morgan from the committee on isthini-
un canals has presented to the senate
the majority and minority reports of
that committee Oh the question Of the
validity of the title of the new Panama
Canal company and its rights to trans
fer the Panama canal property to the
United States for S40.0O0.O 600. The OBJ.
jections of the majority to, The title,
J. held by that company are based large
ly on the relations of the canal compa
ny to the governments Qf France and
Colombia. but the committee also dis
cusses at length many other phases Of
the question. Among these is the rela
ton Of the shareholders who subscrib-
ed $3.50, ,OtkD,O00 to the old Panama COM
pany, whose interests, the report holds,
cannot be lightly regarded. On this
point the report says:
''The spectacle of the United States
congress authorizing the president as
the agent Of our government to con-
duet a trade with such corporation
(the new Panama company without
consulting France as to the claim OF
independence it the new Panama COM
pany) asserts will be entirely new in
the history of nations, and its conse-
quences cannot be lightly disregarded.
Among these is the serious danger
Of the United States being drawn into
disagreeable relations with large and
influential body of the worthy people
OF France, whose friendship for us has
been cherished during the entire life Of
our republic and had its origin in mag
unanimous sacrifices for our country
when this government was in the tray-
ail of its birth. Unfortunately the re-
port of the isthmian canal commission
reveals the fact that men who make
this offer are chief among those who
defrauded these 100000 or 100000
Frenchmen of $3.50, 0,OeO. co.,"
The minority report, which was pre-
pared by Senator Kittredge, complete |
~ upholds the title Of the new Panama
company. as will be seen from the fol- |
lowing extract, which constitutes its
opening paragraph:
''The title of the new Panama com.
pany to its concessions and other prop
erty appears from the facts and docu-
ments which have been laid before the
and is clear and free
from any complications. For a transfer
Of its concessions to the United States
the consent of Colombia is requisite,
but this consent has been given by the
government of that country as fully as
1t can now be given. The purchase Of
the canal by the United States, differ
ent concessions and different rights
must be obtained by treaty between
this country and Colombia, and such a
treaty would necessarily involve con-
sent to the sale by the company Of its
tights and property on the isthmus to
he United States. Such Il treaty Co.
ombia has shown and declared its
'eadiness to make. On every other
>oint the right of the new Panama Ca
,al company to transfer its property
o the United States is perfectly clear.
Every link in the chain of it's title and
very step in the course by which it
became in a position to sell its proper
y, free and clear, is plain and satisfac-
ory."
During the entire session of the SEN
tie the bill providing for the protection
# the president of the United States
vas under consideration.
Mr.. Hoar. in charge of the measure.
lucidated some arguments he had
nade previously, and Mr. Teller (CoIo.)
nd Mr.. Bailey (Tex.) spoke brieay on
he bill. --,'.-r r..-ts
The senate in executive session con-
rined the nomination of Captain A. $.
to be Il rear admiral,
here was no comment upon the nom-
lation.
The house made fair progress with
he river and hurbOr bill After the
lose of general debate forty seven of
ne 11G pages of the bill We're disposed ,
f. No amendments We're adopted. The
eneral debate was featureless.