The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-14
MORGAN ENDS
CANAL SPEECH
He Attacks Opinion Rendered
by Knox as Defective
FRENCH DECREE is VOID
As the AIabamlan Concluded Senator
spooner Took the Floor for the
Final Speech In Favor of
RatifyIns the Treaty.
FRENCH DECREE is VOID

Washington, March 13-Ten minutes af-
ter convening today the senate went into
executive session, and as soon as the
doors were closed Senator Morgan began
a discussion of Attorney General Knox
opinion regarding the validity of the title
of the Panama canal property as given
by the New Panama Canal company. He
attacked the opinion as defective In part,
and especially in its failure to deal with
the Jurisdiction of the French courts,
which have passed on the canal COM
pany's title. Senator Morgan read at
length from the speeches he has prepared
for publication. He charged that the
French courts had overstepped their le-
gitimate authority In assuming to dispose
of property situated in Colombia without
reference to the rights retained by CO.
lombia and the limitations and restric-
tions imposed by the Colombian goVern@
ment on its agent, the International In
ter-Oceanic Canal association. He con-
tended that as Colombia never really had
parted with the canal zone, and as that
country was guaranteed an annual in
come of s25O,OO0 for the proposed canal.
beneficiary of the enterprise and the con-
cessionary company the temporary recipi-
ent of the tolls of the canal for Its COM
pensation or indemnity"
French Decree Void.
He claimed therefore, that the decree
of the French court authorizing the sale
to the United States was void, because
there had been an invasion of the rights
of Colombia. He also contended that the
French legislation attempting to validate
the acts of the French court was clearly
without authority, as the documents of
the court proved
France" he said, cannot violate the
rights of Colombia and the shareholders,
bondholders and general creditors of the
Panama Canal company without respon-
sibility, and cannot escape that respon-
sbility by asserting that as a govern
ment she had nothing to do with the
company"
Then he asserted that IL Colombia has
become or shall become a party con-
senting to all these proceedings, or II she
is not such party, she is bound for
every bond issued by the old Panama
Canal company for all the other debts
of that company contracted for material
furnished or work done for the canal
Taking up the question of the respon-
sibility of the United States In the mat
"a matter that is of the deepest con-
Germ to the honor of the United States
is that every stockholder of the old
company is bound to the creditors of that
company by mutual, express agreement
for a sum equal to lie face value of
shares held by him for the payment of
those debts.'
Company Wanted to Unload.
Discussing the efforts of the Panama
Canal company to secure an extension of
it's concession, Senator Morgan said this
was accomplished in 1900 for the purpose
of unloading the enterprise on the Uni
ted States. This company" he said,
bought from the President of Colombia
for 100000 francs, in French coin, to
be paid in Paris, a prolongation of the
extension for six years from the 2lst of
October, 1904. This proposed agreement
was laid before the congress of Colombia
and was rejected. The constitution and
laws of Colombia required that such con-
tracts should be confirmed by congress,
but the President of Colombia, In viola
ton of both the laws and the constitu-
tion, signed the contract and received the
81, COO 900 In gold from me New Panama
Canal company. The house or representa-
tives thereupon voted that the office of
President of Colombia was vacant and
dissolved"
when Senator Morgan concluded, Sena-
tor Spooner took the floor, but did not
proceed He said, however that he de-
sired to go on tomorrow.
1t was then suggested that as the gen.
eral agreement for vote next Tuesday
included the printing of Senator Spoon
ers speech the official stenographer
should be sworn. and the agreement WAS
extended so as to provide for the report
ing of all the speeches to be made n
the future on the treaty with the view of
having them printed after the vote Is
taken Tuesday. Some of the stenogra-
piers were then called in and sworn to
secrecy, and all the remaining employees
OF the official reporters room will be re-
quired to submit to the oath tomorrow.
Early In the day Senator German an
nounced his intention to call a democratic
caucus for tomorrow but when the SEN
ate adjourned at $3.50. 1t was stated that
the caucus had been postponed until Mon
day.