The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-02
THE CANAL SITUATION.
Or. Herrsn Appears to Be Afraid to Sign
Any Agreement


Any Agreement.
Washington, January The treaty with
Columbia is held mp for no other reason
that the administration can see than the
timidity Of tho Colombian charge DAT.
flares, Or. Bcrrnn, who seems 30 be afraid
Of putting his signature to any kind Of a
document. Every question has been salts
fnctorily adjusted except that of money.
The Colombian representative insists that
the United States shall guarantee greater
annuity than Secretary Hay dares to re-
port to the senate IN It's present temper.
The secretary is willing to guarantee an
annuity of between S1CH 900 and 5000, 900
hut he does not see his way clear TO
promising any more than that. The renre-
sentative Of Colombia refuses to name
any fixed sum which would be satisfac-
tory, although be hints vaguely at $500. 900
There is really no proposition now in
sight upon which the negotlators can com.
together. The whole trouble seems to be
that Dr. Herran is not sure Of his owp
position
A member Of the cabinet is authority
for the statement that the hitch is no
longer over n question OF price. ms the
original ofer Of Columbia was met ny the
United States government with counter
oiter and compromise reached between
the two.
Secretary Hay has been absolutely frank
in discussing the subject with Dr. Herran,
as he was when Minister Concba was
here. He has explained carefully the lin
itations Imposed by the Spoouer ACE, and
reported the results Of consultations vita
leading senators as to such features of
that act as might be embodied IN a treaty,
IL is now believed that DR.. Herran would
very gladly sign q. treaty and have It out
of the way, but his superiors at home are
timid, approaching the fact that almost
any steps taken by them may furnish
ground, just or unjust, for further revolu-
tlonary movements.
IL was supposed at one time that such
resolution as Senator Morgan purposes
to ofier on January 5 would bring Colon.
bth to terms, but some diplomatic obsery-
ers think that they have discovered signs
of secret understanding between Colom-
hia and the two republics interested IA
the Nicaragua route, the three having
combined TO prevent the United States
government from using any one of them
as club 10 beat either or both the
others into submission. II this is the fact,
IL viii add one more embarrassment to the
many oyerhanglng the operations of our
government on the isthmus.
IL is understood that the Nicaraguau
government has withdrawn entirely from
the demand for large yearly compensa-
ton for the concession, and that we can
now get free what before me passage
OF the Spooner act would have cost us
many millions.
1t is said mat the president is averse TO
considering Mr. Morgan's proposition, and
that he Is thoroughly disgusted with the
attitude IOf Colombia. He however. stfU
regards the Panama route as the better ono
and would prefer 10 build the canal there
II we could get the control which We must
nave II we are to invest the many millions
needed 10 construct the canal
II seems unlikely that the canal question
IS 10 be the subject of further protractc6
debate in The senate. What the next turn
in canal affairs may be can hardly be CON
Jectured; II Is claimed by some TINT II We
declare for the Nicaraguan route. Colomhi,
viii yield her contention and give ne tbc
concession desired. In the meantime fbs
promoters of the San Bias route arc Az
pressing the hope thHt they are vet to have
their day In court. They now ask FOR n venr
or 40 In which government comntesTtt
can go 10 the isthmus and make n s,trret.
and report on the proposed tunnel for
tldeWater canal, which they assert can no
built Tor one-half the cost OF the cheanar
o. the other routes. Senator Scott az West
Nlrginla is the avowed spokesman for the
san hias route and he has introduced n I'M
g sosbIniin . tor Il survey and report on the
old men are not likely to be selected for
lne multitude q good places on the Isthmion
sanni force. President Roosevelt will un.
doubtedly be urged II he has NOT oirasdy,
been urged. not to heed the cry Of the noii.
tician Tor the canal nap. The "lame dnct''
the last congressional election Will hardly
DC cared for on either the canal connniasin1
or IN the subordinate positions. N The nreSi
dent Insists. as II Is believed he rrgH on
having efficient men "| :"