The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-23
The Agreement With Colombia
 Comes Rather Unexpected
DIPLOMATS ARE DELIGHTED
Treaty Made to Cover Provision of the Spooner Bill, Recently Passed By Congress and Signed By
 the President.

| Washington, January 22.-The treaty between the United States and Colombia for the construction of the Panama canal by the United States was signed today in this city.
 No details of the signatures of the treaty were obtainable tonight, but at the Presidential reception at the White House the news that the treaty between the two countries at last was an accomplished fact leaked out, and later was confirmed authoritatively on inquiry in official cir cles.
 It has been intended not to make the signature of the canal treaty public until tomorrow, but the news apparently was too good for some of the friends of the canal to keep after the long delay and suspense, and it transpired at the Presi- dents official reception. Fears had been entertained until this week that Colomtia would not be willing to accede to the wishes of the United States in the mat ter. and that recourse to the Nicaraguan canal project might be forced on the Uni- ted States. The principal obstacle to the conclusion of the treaty, 1t is said, has been the price that the United States was to pay in the shape of cash payment and by way of annual rental for the strip of territory along each side of the canal right of way It could not De learned to- night what was the price finally agreed on.
 The canal treaty was signed at Secre- tary Hays house this afternoon, MT. Hay acting for the United States and pr. Herran, the charge d'affaires of Colom- bia, who had been specially given full powers to negotiate the treaty, signing in behalf of Colombia. The treaty will have to go to the senate for ratification, and it is believed it will be transmitted to that body tomorrow. It is said that details of the agreement will not be made public in advance of the transmission of the treaty to the senate. It is thought that the secretary from time to time con suited leading members of the senate on the essential features of the treaty he was negotiating, so that 1t is believed il will meet the approval of the senate at the present session.
 Acquisition Section.
 Section of the Spooner act, which was approved by the President June 2S last, prescribes certain of the terms regard ing the acquisition of the strip of land for the canal etc., upon which the treaty was negotiated. The section is as follows;
 That the President Is hereby author ized to acquire from the republic of Co., lombia, for and on behalf of the United States, upon such terms as he may deem reasonable, perpetual control of strip of land in tho territory of the republic of Colombia, not less than six miles in width extending from the Caribbean sea to the Pacific ocean, and the right to use and dispose of the waters thereon and to excayate, construct and to perpetually maintain, operate and protect thereon a canal of such depth and capacity as will afford convenient passage of ships of the greatest tonnage and draught now in use from the Caribbean sea to the Pacific ocean, which control shall include the right to perpetually maintain and oper- ate the Panama railroad, If the ownership thereof, or controlling interest therein, shall have been acquired by the United States, and also Jurisdiction over said strip and the ports at the ends thereof to make such police and sanitary rules and regulations as shall be necessary to preserve order and preserve the public health thereon, and to establish such ju- dicial tribunals as may be agreed upon as may be necessary to enforce such rules and regulations.
 "The President may acquire such ad- ditional territory and rights from Colom- bia as in his judgment will facilitate the general purpose hereof"
 LlGLMAN RnnnEDIEo