Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-05
Mr.. Morgan's on the Cana
Treaty.
INTERESTING MATTERS
EXPECTED By HIM TO BE
BROUGHT OUT.
Point About the Control Of the Zone
Why Amount Was Raised to
Ten Millions.

Two resolutions Of Importance In connec-
tion with the consideration Of the Colom-
bian canal treaty were laid before the
Senate by Mr.. Morgan today. The first OF
these resolutions provides that no treaty or
agreement that Is concluded with Colombia
or with Nicaragua or Costa Rica. or with
the new Panama Canal Company. shall be
held to alter, amend. ratify, repeal or
change the proper legal construction OF the
act Of Congress approved June %. 1902,
which provides for the construction OF
canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans.
The above resolution was, on motion or
MI. Morgan, referred to the committee on
foreign relations, and will come before that
committee at its next meeting.
second resolution directs the Secretary
of the Navy to send to the Senate copies
of all reports and Of all correspondence IN
the Navy Department which relates to the
military occupation Of the bays of Panama
and Colon and the cities of Colona and
or to the operation Of military or police
forces of Colombia, etc. This latter resolu-
ton Of inquiry went over under the rules
until tomorrow, when the Senate will con-
slider it.
Interesting Matters Involved.
These two resolutions involve interesting
matters that are to be brought out by Sem
ator Morgan.
Senator Morgan's resolution declaring
that a treaty shall not affect the law Of
June %, 1902, has been offered, he says, in
view Of the acknowledged fact, sustained
by judicial opinion, that q treaty passed
after the enactment Of a law and in con-
flict with it. has the effect Of multiplying 1t.
Tn or a Con
be considered and construed In view Of sub
sequent treaties that might affect it.
The treaty with Colombia cites that the
act Of June Is. 1902, is annexed and made
a part of it, though as q matter OF fact
the copy Of the treaty received by the
Senate did not have the act annexed. The
act Of June % gave the United States per
petual control OF the zone through which
undertake the work. and it was with that
provision that Congress adopted the law.
The treaty, however, confines the period
to 100 years. with power on the part OF the
period Of occupation for terms of 100 years
each. This. of course, binds the United
States to seeing that the department OF
Panama remains under the control OF CO.
lombia, no matter what causes the people
in that department might have to rebel
against Colombian government.
Purpose of Inquiry Resolution.
The purpose Of Senator Morgan's reso-
luton Of inquiry is to ascertain the truth
Of charges that were published at the time
Of the American occupation Of Panama, to
the effect that the Colombian government
has agreed to pay over to the insurgents
the sum of three million dollars OF the
money received by the government from
the United States for the canal franchise.
When a treaty was negotiated formerly
with Colombia there was an agreement
upon the sum Of seven million dollars, ana
the fact that the present agreement IS lor
ten millions seems to verify the published
statement made during the period of occu,
patton of the deal between the insurgents
and the Colombian government. 1t Is ne
lieved that information concerning this re-
port will be found in official papers that
have been sent to the Navy Department
by Admiral Casey or in other official COM
munications Of that department..
This resolution will be before the Senate
tomorrow morning for action. =,
Statements have been made to the effect
that Senator Morgan did not object to the
transfer of the consideration Of his amend
ments to the canal treaty from the commit
tee on foreign relations to the Senate. It
is stated on authority that Senator Morgan
has not consented to such transfer of the
consideration Of the treaty. He insisted, as
far as he was able, on having the commit
tee consider his amendments before passing
the matter to the Senate.
Senator Morgan's Belief.
It has been stated in some papers that
Senator Morgan has said that there would
be no treaty with Colombia, or at least
that no treaty would be ratified by the Sem
ate. Senator Morgan has in conversation
with friends made It very plain that he
has never made such statement, though
he has stated that in his belief Colombia
would not ratify the treaty with the United
States.
He believes that the treaty in Its present
form does not properly guard the interests
Of the United States and In the best faith
possible has offered such amendments as in
his judgment will properly guard the inter-
ests of this country. With these amend
ments he is ready to vote for the treaty,
and in fact, Is anxious to have the treaty
in such form that 1t can be adopted before
the end of the session.