Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-17

i
sition which may afford loophole fol
! further controversy.
The state department at Washington
! in explaining the inipossibility OF
| granting Colombia's demand for an an
nuity of $65O.000. instead of 800 900
points out that this sum, il capitalized
| represents the interest on nearly s22,-
100000. If to this be added the $40 O0O-
600 to be paid the Panama Canal Com
Colombia the amount is about S70,000,-
| 600, but as the canal commission has
declared that the Panama works were
not worth sS0.000.000, including the
franchise, the state department. regards
this as coming too close to the commits
sion's figure, and likely to be rejected
by congress.
Another serious blow to the prospects
of the canal comes in the announcement
that Senior Concha, tie Colombian min-
lister, who strenuously opposed the va
rious concessions finally written into
the proposed treaty, has reached Bogota
and is in consultation with President
Marroquin and the Colombian cabinet.
The opposition of this official is re-
garded as likely to initiate against the
acceptance of the terms of the United
States, which were cabled to Bogota
on Jan. and reached the Colombian
capital almost at the same time that
Minister Concha arrived there. That
there has been no answer since that
time Is Interpreted 10 mean that the
conferences are still continuing, but it
may be confidently predicted that tbs
Colombian answer will reach here
within short time. The offer of the
United States, as .S,as announced at
that time, consisted Of s10,000,000 in
cash and an annuity Of 100000 to be-
gin tsn years after the ratification of
the treaty. At the same time Secretary
HAY Informed Minister Hart of the ex-
act situation in regard to the negotia-
tons.
Ii is to be hoped that our government
viii not yisld to the demands of greed.
Colombia ray see new light If she
gnis $40 AZ not secure her demands.
If we sse *. PEELED to turn to the Mica
ragua ,6i.t.s i viii be 4 great loss to-
her
A faisssNs STEAMSHIP
Some apprehension existed III regard
to the safety of the,raasatlaatic steam
ship st. Louis, one of the big American
liners, until 1t was sighted last evening.
1t was due In New York last
Monday from Europe. 1t is known that
fierce gales prevailed On the ocean after
she left the other shore, incoming yes
sells reporting that storms of severe
character ragged for the period covdr-
ing an ordinary voyage. The st. Louis
had on board Pts passengers, Of whom
145 were first and second cabin voy-
ayers.
The serious feature of the situation
was that the vessel hasneeded overhaul
ing and repairs for some time, especial
ly in the boiler room. her boilers being
in faulty condition. and this undoubt-
edly prevented the steamship from de-
veloping full speed. The delay in taking
her Off for an overhauling was due to
the inability Of replacing her with an
other vessel of her own class. The
managers of the linz We're thus willing
10 take risk of which her passengers
We're ignorant. This class OF large ves-
sells have had all the business they
could manage, and the desire for gain
appears to have been uppermost.
It has been so long since a great dis
aster has occurred at sea that should
the ST. Louis have proved loss 1t would
have been an exceptional case. AS a re-
suit of improved methods in building
large steamships, travel on the ocean has
been rendered so safe that little risk
is incurred.
Yet In despite OF this, 1t will be
sufficient warning to such vessel owners
that they must not inlperil life by send
ing out steamers in All unsound condi-
ton.