Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-03-14
Exceeded Their Jurisdiction in The
Panama Canal Sale.
INVADE C0LOMBlA'S RIGHTS
senator from Alabama Discusses
Whole Transaction From Every
Possible Point Of View.

Washington, March 1S.--When the
senate went into executive session to.
day Senator Morgan entered on dis.
cusslon OF Atty. Gen. Knoxs opinion as
TO the validity Of the title to the Pan
ANA canal property which can be given
by the new Panama Canal company.
This opinion he attacked as defective in
some points, especially in its failure to
deal with the jurisdiction Of the French
courts which have passed upon the
canal componys title,
Senator Morgan read at length from
the speeches he has prepared for pub
licaton. He charged that the French
courts had oyerstepped their Legitimate
authority In assuming to dispose Of
property in Colombia without reference
OF The rights retained by Colombia ana
the limitations and restrictions i'm
posed by the Colombian government
on Its agent, the International Inter
Oceanic Canal association. He CON
tended that as Colombia never really
had parted with the canal zone, and as
That country was guaranteed an an
nual income of S250,0OQ for the pro.
posed canal that country was the
ultimate sole beneficiary Of the enter.
PRISE and the oon0essionary company
The temporary recipient Of the tolls of
me canal for It's compensation or in.
demnlty" He claimed, therefore. that
the decree Of the French court author
i1ing the sale TO the United States was
VOID because an invasion of the rights
OF Colombia, He also oontended that
the French legislation attempting 10
myalidate the acts Of the French courts
was clearly without authority.
Then he asserted that III Colombia
had become or shall become a party
consentng to all these proceedings. or
II she Is not such party. she is bound
for every bond issued by the old Pam
anna Canal company for all the other
debts OF that company contracted for
material furnished or work done for
the commission"
Taking up the question of responsi.
bllity Of the United States in the mat.
ter Of these debts Senator Morgan
said:
"A matter that is OF the deepest con.
Germ TO the honor Of the United States
Is that every stakeholder In the Old
company is bound to the creditors Of
that company by mutual express
agreement for a sum equal to the face
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 In 1909 for the
purpose Of unloading the enterprise on
the United States Until this COM
pany' he said, bought from the presl-
dent OF Colombia for 100000 francs in
French coin, 10 be paid in Paris, a
of the extension for six
years from Oct 81, 1904, this pro- |
posed agreement was laid before the |
OF Colombia and was rejected. |
The constitution and laws Of Colombia |
required that such contracts should be |
confirmed by congress, but the presi-
lent OF Colombia, In violation OF both |
he laws and the constitution, signed
he ontract and received the 81 900 900
n gold from the new Panama Canal
company. The house Of representatives
hereupon voted that the office of presi-
lent Of Colombia was vacant and dis
solved"
When Senator Morgan had concluded
senator Spooner took the floor, but did
TOT proceed He said, however, that
he desired to go on tomorrow.
II was then suggested that as the
general agreement for vote next
tuesday included the printing of Sen.
ltor spooner's speech the official ste.
lographers should be sworn, and the
agreement was extended so as to pro-
tide for the reporting Of all the
peeches to be made in the future on
he treaty with view OF having them
printed after the vote shall be taken
N Tuesday Some Of the stenographers
we're then called In and sworn to Sc
recy, and all the remaining employees
n the official reporters room will be
equired to submit to the oath tomor-
ow.
Early In the day Senator German an
ounced his intention to call a Demo-
ratio caucus FOR tomorrow, but when
he senate adjourned It was stated that
he caucus had been postponed until
Ionday