The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-20
COLOMB|A'S $ ACT
 WAS NUT FINAL May Yet Ratiy the Panama
 Canal Treaty SENATE "OISAPPROvED" +
According to Advices Treaty Was Not Finally Rejected-BiII Being Pre- pared Authorizing the Presi-
 dent to Conclude Treaty.

Washington, D. C., August 19.-Unoff- cial but what Is considered entirely trust worthy information has been received by pr. Herran, the Colombian charge d'af- faires here indicating an intention on the part of the Colombian senate to resume consideration of the subject of Panama canal treaty in place of the one disap- proved on the 12th instant.
 This shows a decided change In the turn of affairs and leads Dr. Herran to hope that measure yet will be passed by congress which will form the basis for the ratification of a treaty for the construction of an isthmian canal.
 pr. Herran's information Is that on the 18th instant the day after the disapproval of the treaty by the senate that body voted to appoint a committee to act joint ly with a committee from the house of representatives In the formation of meas ure having for it's object the ratification of a treaty by the executive of Colombia as the two houses of the Colombian con- gress had passed an enabling act
 President Could Act.
 The President of Columbia by this act would have full power in the premises and the treaty would not have to be after wards submitted to the Colombian con- gress. The scheme is similar in it's in- tent to the provisions of the Dingley tariff act which gave authority to the President to negotiate reciprocity treaties with for eign powers In d press despatch rom Bogota, it Is explained, would indicate Ia initiative taken by the Colombian senate, according to Dr. Her ran's information, already had borne fruit and that committees from the two houses of the Colombian congress have agreed on a measure making possible the prepa- ration and the ratification of treaty. The question of sovereignty having been the predominating one in the Colombian debates the presumption h@e IS that whatever measure is agreed on would be along lines that will not offend Colombian sensitiyeness.
 more careful reading of the despatch which Dr. Herran received early in the week announcing the action or the senate on the treaty, shows that what that body really did was to "dlsapprove' the in- strument and not reject" it as has been heretofore stated.
 Action Was Not Final.
 New York, August 19.-William Nelson Cromwell, general counsel of the Panama Canal company, today isued the follow ing statement:
 q have lust received from my repre- sentative at Bogota a cablegram dated the 14th instant, reporting that the Co., lombian senate had, on the evening or the 18th, appointed a committee of three senators to come to an agreement with the house of representatives for the pur- pose of preparing a bill authorizing the government of Colombia to make treaty in form, thus approved in advance by both houses of congress.
 This confirms the statement which l made on Monday concerning the sup posed rejection of the treaty, namely. that the action was not a final disposition of the measure
 q have also received further cables stating that the report of the committee of the Colombian senate was signed by seven out of nine members of the com mittee and recommended the approval of the treaty with certain amendments which further confirms my judgment that the action of the 12th instant was oply against the treaty in the particular form submitted. and did not at all indicate a termination of the treaty negotiations.
 "As Colombia Is bound to the United States by what consider an international
 
 making of satisfactory treaty., as well as by it's own supreme interest, I have never doubted that Colombia would fulfill its duties in that regard
 New Bill Is Ready.
 Bogota, Colombia, Friday August H. A bill is ready authorizing the government to make new canal treaty with the United States upon fixed basis and also providing for modifying the national con- sttution.
 Senate Must Reconsider.
 Panama, August 19.-The Colombian house of representatives can do nothing in the matter of the canal treaty unless the senate reconsiders 1t. Numerous in- stances are on record of bills becoming law after having been twice rejected.
 Powers Laying in Coal.