Perth Amboy evening news., 1903-12-12
PANAMA In CONGRESS-
Foreign Affairs Chairman De-
tends Action of President.
Ibid NOT WASTE TIME---yEVER DOES
Hit Said, sHrhc Whole World Is IA
Favor of This Canal. and We
Have IL Man at Work Who
VIII Cut Ii Through"

VIII Cut Ii Through"
WASHINGTON. Dec. 12.-The birth
Of the republic of Panama and its rec
ognition by this government was the
house. Mr.. Dinsmore Dem, Ark,
during consideration of the pensions
appropriation bill, severely criticised
the administration in connection with
the canal and Mr.. Hit (Iiep., Ill,
chairman OF the foreign affairs com
mittee, replied in a vigorous defense of
the president and his Central Ameri-
can policy. Mr.. Williams of MISSISSIPPI
pi, the minority leader, replied to Mr..
Hit, declaring that the minority did
not condone the part taken by this
government in connection with Pana-
ma affsirs.
Mr.. Dinsmore said the republic of
Panama had been established and eX-
lists by the power of the United States,
and without that power it could not ex-
list. Nothing had, he said, been gained
that could not have been gained in Il
straightforward and honorable way.
Mr.. Hit said there was nothing hasty
or unique in the recognition of the new
republic, as it occurred five days after
the PRONUNCIATION of the independence
of the republic.
Mr.. Williams asked if this was not
the first time in South American histo-
ry that the other fellow had been pre-
vented from shooting back"
Mr.. Hit replied that he had seen it
stated in the press, but did not know it
TO be 50, but said that troops could be
sent to Colon only to interfere with
traffic ON the isthmus and that the
United States is under obligation to
prevent interruption of this traffic.
Mr.. Hit made a vigorous defense of
the administration in connection with
the republic of Panama. His references
to the president caused loud applause
on the Republican side.
"Ordinarlly," Mr.. Hit went on,
when a ship is in port and Il disturb
ancc or insurrection occurs we land
troops to protect Americans from being
killed or robbed. We have done that
in France, and we would do it any
| where.
'In the case of Panama our situation
was different from that of any spot OH
earth. We had a solemn and binding
| engagement which had been impressed
| upon us, by all the years. Often we
were called upon by the Colombian
government, oftener by events, to e
force the obligation to keep that path
| open from sea to sea, not to aid or to
suppress rebellion, but to keep the path
| open, and when we landed troops at
| Colon their duty under the treaty was
plain to let no armed men or aust of
any kind disturb the open, free course
Of commerce or of movement in the
pathway across the isthmus.
at was done sedulously and careful
ly, but it did result in making it very
ditlicult for troops to come from .Bogo-
tn. Our government will not permit
anybody on the line of that railway or
the crossing of the isthmus who would
disturb free transit, and it is because
the two things coincide that men who
do not look OH the matter calmly and
fairly will say that we did what VIC
did to injure Bogota, when, in fact, we
did it to keep good faith, though it has
injured Bogota."
Mr.. Williams, the minority leader,
following, charged that this was the
first time that this government had
interfered In the domestic affairs of a
South American country. He said that
the minority side could not be made
to make the mistake which the ma
jority desired it to make. The Demo
Gratis want a canal, he said. They
wanted the Nicaraguan canal, but If
they could not get the canal where
they thought it ought to be they would
take 1t where they could get it and
take 1t as they might get it. He thought
possibly the N%icaraguan route was re-
garded as too great a competitor Of the
transcontinental railways.
After some further remarks on the
same line Mr.. Williams closed as fol-
lows:
"If the president refuses to obey the
plain words of the Spooner act approx
ed by him, perhaps suggested by him;
IL lie is going to override the law; if,
after having waited Il reasonable time
to enter into Il treaty with Colombia.
he now refuses to obey the language
OF that law and proceed TO try and
negotiate a treaty with Costa Rica and
Nicaragua. then, in Gods name, hurry
u your canal"
IAI TILE cEAhTE