Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-17
PANAMA CANAL 1NLE
II May Take More Than Year
to Complete the Negoti-
atoms.
-------
Col. Hepburn Doubts Whether
the Title Can Ever Be Els.
tablished.
Government of Colombia Not
Likely to Refuse Necessary
Concessions.
Special 10 Times Republican.

Washington, July 1.-THE people
the elaboration attending the, closing
up of the Inter oceanic canal matter
and the actual preliminaries in the way
OF negotiations.
/ had a talk with United States
senator Il day or two since and incl
dentally brought up the point OF umo
in connection with the Panama propo-
sition. 1 was under the impression
that three months time ought TO De
sufficient to determine the question of
title, but the wise senator laughed AT
me. lie said he should consider thai
good progress had been made II the
title question should be settled within
one year, aud he said he did net be-
,ioye it would be determined within.
that time.
In "a project of such magnitude thera
will be no person to say that there
should be undue haste in ti'e neSo-
tiations. Two or three hundred mil
lions OF cash are involved (and Major
Lacey says it will be nearer billion
when completely to say nothing OF the
political and judicial features to be
considered.
Any one who has doubts as to the
complications which will confront the
officials whose duty it will be to untangle
The legal phase OF the proposition,
should talk an hour or so with Col.
Hepburn, chairman of the house COM
mitee on Interstate and foreign COM
al ,l,,ir IA
problem for dozen or more years and
he knows about every crook and turn
in the proceedings. He has grave
doubts if there can be any untangling
that should be satisfactory to the Uni
ted States. He has said that the whole
business is so complicated that this
government will involve itself in great
hazard to pay s4o.O00.0oo for the prop
erty expecting to get u clean and per.
feet title.
1t is well-known that Col Hepburn
is and has been bitterly opposed to
the Panama route, as also was Sen
ator Morgan who had charge OF the
canal legislation in the senate. Both
of these gentlemen favored the MIC
aragua route. There was an under
current of feeling when the senate
passed it's Panama bill that foreor-
dained the defeat of canal legislation
at this session. 1t was assumed that
Col Hepburn's antagonism to the PAN
anna route would induce him to refuse
to accept the Spooner bill. However,
as l pointed out a month ago, right
here was where those who hoped for
the defeat of canal legislation were
deceived. Rather than permit the mat
ter to go over, both Senator Morgan
and Col. Hepburn yielded and accepted
the Spooner bill. III view of the
knowledge of the Panama route pos
sessed by Col. Hepburn, it is perhaps
not assuming too much to say that
he would not grieve if the officials
delegated to carry on the investigation
should find the Panama title involved
in hopeless confusion. That would
mean the immediate acceptance Of the
Nicaragua line.
While the question of title was left
to the president, Attorney General
Knox is the man who will practically
render the decision. The case has been
turned over to him by TIE president
and he will pursue whatever course
seems expedent in arriving at the
final conclusion.
1t is understood the French govern
ment is prepared to stand behind the
title to be given by the old and new
Panama companies. That is, the courts
Of France will take up the matters and
officially and formally legaliZe all acts
and steps in the proceedings. 1t is as
serted that in this way the title may
he made perfect so far as the French
companies are concerned.
If this shall be accomplished but one
more link is required to complete the
chain. That is to obtain the necessary
concessions from the Colombian gov
ernment The franchise covering the
Panama route was given the Panama
company upon the express stipulation
that the franchise should not be trans
fcrred. 1t was even stated that any eff
fort to transfer the property would IN
validate the concession and that 1T
would then revert back to Colombia.
Senator Dolliver asserts. however,
that he understands that the Colombian
government is only too anxious to pro-
mote the prospective transfer 1t is
said the Colombian minister in Wash
ipgton has intimated very broadly that
his government stands ready to extend
the provisions of the franchise so as to
remove any obstacles so far as 1t may
he concerned in the securing of per-
feet title. In other words, the Colom-
bian government says to the United
States and the French companies, go
ahead with your deal, and when you
haye reached a basis of settlement we
will give you quit-claim title to the
land"
The Colombian government is very
anxious that the canal should be built.
III means that the worlds traffic by sea
will pass within but few miles of their
norts and the effect obviously will be
most beneficial commercially and po-
litically.
The impression prevails that eighteen
months will elapse before work upon
the canal. should the question of title
he favorably determined, will actually
begin.
Mr.. Robert e. Armstrong, the Iowa
man whom Secretary Shaw asked to
become his private secretary, is making
his influence for good felt in the treas
ury. Mr. Armstrong is strictly bust
ness during business hours, and he
keeps things moving. He takes the
ground that the private secretary
should be something more than Il fiure-
read: that he should relieve the secre-
tary of the greater portion of the rout-
inc work, matters of detail in ccnnec-
t;,,, with methods and SyStaD1 and he.