The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-03-14
PAID 100000
FOR CONCESSION
Senator Morgan Tells of Pan
ANA Canal Schema.
sPOoNER NOW HAS FLOOR
WILL BEGIN HIS SPEECH FOR
TREATY TODAY.

Washington. March I3-When the
senate went into executive session to-
day Senator Morgan entered on a dis
cusslon of Attorney General KnoX's
opinion as 90 the validity Of the title
10 the Panama canal property which
can be given by the new Panama Canal
company. This opinion be attacked as
defective in some points. especially ia
it's failure to deal with the jurisdie-
lion OF the French courts which nave
passed upon the canal cOmpauy's title.
Senator Morgan read at length from
the speeches he has prepared for pub
Hcau0u. He charged that the French
courts had overstepped their legitimate
authority In assuming 20 dispose or
property I'M Colombia without reference
III he rights retained by Colombia ana
he limitations and restrictions I'M
posed by the Colombian government
On us agent. the international INFER
Oceanic Canal association. He CON
tended that as Colombia never reaIly
had parted with the canal zone, ana as
that country was guaranteed an ah-
nuaI income of S230O00 IOr the pro-
posed canal Chat country was the
ultimate sole beneficiary of the enter
prise and the cOncessionary company
the temporary recipient Of the tolls Oh
the canal for its compensation or M
demnity" lie claimed. therefore, thaI
the decree Of the French court author
izing the sale 10 the United states was
void be- ,ause am invasion of the nights
OF Colombia. He also contended lnat
the French legislation attempting TO
invaudate the acts of the French courts
was clearly without authority
Then he asserted that 'if Colombia
had become or shah become a party
conserving to- AN these proceedings, OF
IL Sine Is not such a party she rs pouhu
for every bond issued by the old Pam
anna Canal company for all the 0tnet
debts of that company contracted lot
material furnished or work done Tor
the commission
The Concession Purchased.
Taking up the question of RESPONSE
buity of the United States I'm the mat
ter of these debts, Senator Morgan
said:
"a matter that is OF the deepest con-
Germ % the honor of the United states
n that every stakeholder in the old
company is bound 20 the creditors or
that company 10y mutual, express
agreement for "a sum equal 10 the race
value OF shares held By him for the
payment of those debts
Discussing the efforts of the Panama
Canal company TO secure an extension
Of its concession. Senator Morgan said
this was accomplished I'm 1900 for the
purpose OF unloading the enterprise on
the United States. Until this COM
pany." he said bought from the presi-
dent of Colombia for 100000 francs IN
French coin, TO be paid in Paris, q
pr0longati0u OF the extension for six
years from Oct o. 1904, this pro-
posed agreement was laid before the
congress of Colombia and was rejected.
The constitution and laws of Colombia
required that such contracts should be
conarmed by congress, but the presi-
dent of Colombia, In violation of both
The laws and the constitution, signed
the contract and received the 3LOJOOOJ
ln gold from the new Panama Canal
company. The house of representative
thereupOu voted that the Office Of presi-
dent oil Colombia was vacant and dis
solved"
When Senator Morgan had concluded
Senator SpOOner took the floor. but did
not proceed He said, however, that
be desired to 80 on tomorrow
III was then suggested that IS the
general agreement for q vote next
Tuesday included the printing Of SEN
at0r SpOoner's speech the official ste
uoeraphers should be sworn, and the
lgrlcu- -ut was extended SO as to pro-
vide -for the reporting o. all the
speeches 90 De made Up the future on
The treaty with a view of having them
printed after the vote shall De taken
Jn Tuesday. Some of the stenDgraphcrs
were then called iu and sworn 90 Sc
crecy. and all The remaining employees
In the official reporters room viii be
required to- submit to- the oath Jomor-
row.
Early in the day Senator German am
uOuucrd his intention 20 call a Demo
cratic caucus for tomorrow. but when
the senate adjourned it was stated that
the caucus had been postponed until
Monday.