The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-20

Panama and Paris. including all the
capital stock. not less. however, than
company, owned by or held for the use
of said canal company provided a sat
isfactory title of all of said property
can be obtained.
Section authorizes the president to
acquire from the republic of Coon ia
exclusive and perpetual control of a
strip of land not less than six miles
wide from the Caribbean sea to the Pa
cifc ocean and the right to use and dis
pose of the waters thereon and to ex-
cavate, construct and perpetually to
maintain. operate and protect thereon
a canal of such depth and capacity as
viii afford convenient passage of ships
of the greatest tonnage and draft now
in use. from the sea to the ocean; this
control to include the right perpetually
to maintain and operate the Panama
railroad. If the ownership thereof.
controlling interest therein shall have
been acquired by the United States;
also jurisdiction over the strips and
ports at the ends thereof. to make the
necessary police and sanitary rules and
regulations and to establish judiciary
tribunals to enforce the same. The
president may also acquire such addi-
tional territory and rights from Colom-
bia as in his judgment win facilitate the
central purpose of the act.
By section 8. $50, 000, 900 is appropriated
to pay for the property of the new
Panama Canal company and a suffl-
cient amount to pay Colombia for the
territory acquired from that country
for building the canal. The president is
then, through the isthmian canal COM
mission, authorized by the act to pro-
coed with the construction of the canal.
utilizing as far as practicable the work
already done. The canal is to be sup
piled with all necessary locks, and otkAer
appliances. Provision is made for the
construction for safe and cOmmodious
harbors at the terminal of the canal
of dafaOcR n
be necessary for the safety and protec-
ton of the canal and harbors.
By section 4 the president is given
the alternative authority of proceeding
with the construction of an isthmian
canal by what is known as the Mica
ragua route in the event that he is IN
able to secure satisfactory title to the
property of the new Panama Canal
company and the control of the neces-
sary territory from Colombia and after
first having obtained for the United
States exclusive and perpetual cSntrol
by treaty of the necessary territory
from Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the
provisions as to tonnage and draft of
vessels as to harbOrs and to works
of defense being the same as in the
section relating to the Panama route
An appropriation is made of such sums
as may be agreed upon by treaty as
compensation to Nicaragua and Costa
Rica for concessions and rights granted
to the United States
Section 5 appropriates $40 600 GOO to-
ward the project contemplated and pro-
Vides that appropriations are not to eX-
coed IN the aggregate the additional sum
of S135 100000 if the Panama route be
adopted. or $3.50. 0O0. 600 should the Mica
ragua route be selected.
By section 6 provision is made that
in any agreement with Colombia or with
Nicara qua or Costa Rica the presidents
authorized to guarantee them the use
OF the canal and harbOrs upon such
terms as may be arranged for all YES
sells owned by those countries or by
their citizens.
Section creates an isthmian canal
commission of seven members to be
nominated by the president and con-
| frmed by the senate. They are to have
charge Of construction of the canal and
are to be subjected to the direction and
control Of the executive. At least four
OF the seven are to be skilled in the
science Of engineering
At least one is to be an officer of the
army and one other an officer of the
navy. Authority is given for the en-
pigment Of engineers from the army
and civil life, and of other necessary
persons The commission is to make
reports to the president and to give
/ to congress such information as may be
REQUIRED.
Under section authority is given for
/ the issue of $3.50. GOO, 600 two per cent gold
/ bonds to meet the expenditures author
/ lied by the act. They are to be issued
/ from time to time as the proceeds may
/ be required, are to be in denominations
/ of $50 or some multiple OF that sum. re
/ deenable after ten years and paya BILE
I in 20 years. the interest to be paxa BILE
/ quarterly in gold coin. They are to be
/ exempt from taxation. are to be dis
/ posed of at not less than par and are
J to be open to popular subscription. None
( Of these bonds are to be sold to pay the
sums appropriated in sections [ and
of the act. or the $10,000,o0o appropriated
! by section 3.