The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

ment at Bogota let slip no opportunity to
secure possession OF the money IN the lstn-
p- ,'Is hi cbarscter. There are families in
Panama that can show proof or the Iact
that within the last five years they nave
paid TO the Colombian government. un saer
one form OF extOrtion and another, NOT less
than 10000. while every man OF vested
means has been compelled by some process
20 surrender portion OF his wealtn ~
addition "a this scheme or mulctlng hol-
viduals and creating monopolies In the COM
mCdftieS OF life, the Bogota government
borrowed virtually every cent Oh the Ieve-
nues OF the Department OF Panama,
amounting to about $4,000 (silver) year.
To insure the success or these prolects
for relieving the federal government OF the
expense OF suppressing the revolution on
the isfhmus B0gota has maintained a con-
Eistent attitude In permitting none save
foreigners TO administer the government on
the istnmus. Senior Jose Domingo oe
Obaldia, who was Governor OF the depart
ment at the time Of the recent revolution,
was the first native Panamaian 10 be IN
trusted with that Office for many years, al
OF his predecessors, save those who served
under al interim appointments. being Os-
patched to Panama from remote parts OF
the Colombian republic This process IN
sured against any leniency In the enforce
ment of the DEGREES issued at Bogota, Tor
the governors Of the department have, Win
one accord. been in touch with the federal
20 20 any extreme 10 satisfy its desires.
RENTAL OF THE RAILROAD.
There is, too. another phase Of the past
history of Panama which is not without
interest In view of recent events. Since
1857, the year In which IL was completed,
the Panama railroad has been paying S2Jo.-
Ooo CgoId) into the Colombian treasury an
nually. Under the stipulations of the rail-
road concession s225.Ooo Cgold) were to have
been paid the federal government and
$500 gold were to have been covered into
the department treasury at Panama Co
lombia has, however, taken the whoie
rental for the concession. This amount In
gold is equivalent TO about 100000 In Co
lombian silver, which circulateS only in
the Department of Panama, and 10 about
5000 900 annually IN the deprecated paper
I'm other portions OF the Colombian repub-
lie. The monopoization of this sum. together
with the sale OF concessions and the trading
monopolies formerly held by the Bogota
government, means that the federal gov
eminent has been taking S,OOOOO (silver)
annually for many years past. This amount
taken out of a country In which the entire
stock of silver is to-day estimated at not
more than 81 100000, or about IS per capita.
has imposed upon Panama burden diff
cult to bear.
BROKE THE CAMELS BACK.
While practicing this extortion, Colom-
bia has been most neglected. of the inter-
ests OF Panama. In all the years the Bogo-
partment OF Panama not one dollar OF the
federal revenue has been spent in the de-
partment for public improvements. There
Is rot in existence IN the whole of Panama
to-day a single bridge, street, plaza, public
building or other structure of public utility
comfort the expense of which was borne
10y the Colombian government In a word,
the motto at Bogota was TO take every
thing from and give nothing TO Panama.
To cap the climax, Colombia rejected the
Hay-Herran treaty, under which Panama
hoped 10 see the canal constructed. That
the straw which broke the camePs
back. Panama was willing to stand all her
other ills; but when the mulcting processes
OF the Bogota government were carried TO
the extreme OF rejecting that treaty, the
revolution flushed out TO instant success,
and all that has been done toward estab-
fishing PanamaIan independence Is to-day
approved by ninety-nine out of every 100
people on the isthmus. Reliable adviceS
from the seven provinces in the new re-
public show that there Is no disposition to
contest the incumbent government, the pop
ula ton almost unanimously realizing that
by the coup for independence the construc-
ton of the canal is assured and freedom
from the maladministration and oppres-
sion which Bogota has imposed upon the
department for years Is made certain.
MERRILL A TEAGUE.