Gilpin observer., 1903-01-15
sse NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
WASHINGTON LETTER : z
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From our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. c., J IL, 1873.

lumbia claims that she is now receiving
an annual income OF S50O,00O from the
zone of land which the United States
demands as sine qua non to the COM
pletion of the canal This amount may
be somewhat exaggerated, but 1t is
known that the Panama Railway pays
the Columbian government an annuity
of s25O,OOO, and from the exorbitant
charges made for every privilege accord
ed to commerce it is reasonable to as
sumo that the exaggeration is not great.
Secretary Hay is endeavoring to secure
the leasehold at much lower figure. 1t
has already been decided that the
amount fixed in the treaty is to stand in
definitely and that the United States is
to receive century lease with the priv
ilege of renewal at it's pleasure, the only
question remaining to be determined be-
ing the annual compensation.
The menace to the Monroe doctrine
| lies in the following argument which
Senior Concha is advancing. He urges
the sale of the canal privilege to Ger
many, who already controls large por-
| tion of the trade of South America, and
who would be greatly benefited by the
ownership of the canal. He says this
course could not be construed as viola
tion of the Monroe doctrine because,
when it was urged that the Colombian
constitution forbade the REIMBURSEMENT
of territory, Secretary Hay pointed out
that there was 10 REIMBURSEMENT of ter
ritory in the granting to the United
States of perpetual lease. Colombia.
according to Secretary Hay, would still
be the owner Of the territory. The same
argument must apply equally to Ger
many and there is little reason to be-
lieve that Germany would be as 10th to
pay fair value for the privilege as is the
United States. 1t may be said that the
United States will build the canal along
the Nicaraguan route, argues Senior
Concha, but that would not prevent Ger
mauy's completing the Panama canal
which offers many advantages, among
them susceptibility OF completion years
before the Nicaragua canal! Colombia
would, OF course, cede no territory to
Germany, only lease it and SO there
would be no violation OF the Monroe
doctrine. Thus it would seem that fur
ther delay on the part of the secretary Of
state or of congress might result in the
/ Io;o .le,,g tal hui 90 70 "a !,
+**
An examination of some Of the crop
statistics Of the year throws an interest
ing light on the claims OF republican
prosperity. According to the govern
ment statistics, the farmers Of the Unit
ed States have taken from the soil crops
having value of s2,557 $685. 416 during
the past year. These are the largest
crops ever garnered in the United States.
Wheat, corn, oats, barley, rye, buck
wheat, potatoes, etc, have all contribut-
cd their share to this magnificent yield,
and as result the farmers OF the coun-
try are prosperous, they have the money
to buy and are buying and the manu-
facturers are prosperous, and the admin
is.ration officials are giving it out as a
sort Of New Years statement that this is
the result OF republican prosperity"
have almost copyrighted the term, in
fact. Wnen the administration can dem
onstrate that republican weather bur
eau provides good crop weather, the
whole OF the argument will doubtless be-
received as sound by thinking men-but
not till then.
.**
The Roosevelt administration has at
last succeeded in Kidding itself OF the
unwelcome services Of General o. L..
Spalding, Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury, and has replaced him with
Mr.. Robert b. Armstrong, at present
private secretary to Secretary Shaw.
Mr.. Armstrong is young newspaper
man, but twenty seven years OF age, and
until he came to Washington rs secre.
tary to Mr.. Shaw, was coneected with "a
Chicago newspaper. General Spaldng
is recognized as an authority on customs
duties and laws but he is not young and
under his administration there have been
numerous scandals such as the New
York silk frauds, etc , with none OF which
General Spaulding was for moment
supposed to be connected but which the
President believes could not have oc.
CURED with younger and more alert
| A.. -
**~
One OF the most ann zing propositions
ever made to Congress is contained in a
report submitted through the Secretary