Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-18
OLD FIGHT AGAIN ON
REAL OPPOSITION RESTS IN
TRANSCONTINENT RAILWAYS
Prediction Made at Last Session of
Congress That Panama Treaty
Would Prove Ineffective.

The extra session of Congress, which will
assemble in November will take up for
consideration subject before which the
Aldrich financial bill and the Cuban reci-
procity treaty will pale into insignificance.
The rejection of the Panama canal treaty
by the government of Colombia will bring
to the front Immediately the old isthmian
canal fight. OF course, under the act of
Congress, President Roosevelt has the al
tentative Of negotiating a treaty with Mic
aragua and Costa Rica for the construction
of an isthmian canal by the Nicaraguan
route.
No one. however. who is posted upon the
subject expects that the opposition to an
isthmian canal will permit the adoption of
this alternative proposition without fight.
While the subject is not properly before
Congress- in view of the alternative vested
in the President by law, still there is no
doubt that means will be found to bring
the case up in Congress. The first step
will be to question the validity Of the al
ternauye. Some inkling was given of this
at the last session The question was
raised whether the ratification of the Pan
anna treaty by the Senate did not wipe out
prior legislation of Congress. That Ques-
ton was not settled, and evidence was af-
forded that it would be mooted again.
What Constitutes the Opposition.
The opposition to the isthmian canal, as
is well known to all who have followed
the subject, rests in the transcontinental
railways. They have succeeded for years
In frustrating the expressed wishes of the
people for an interoceanc canal The pre-
diction was freely made at the last ses-
sion of Congress that the Panama treaty
would prove ineffective and that another
long period of delay in the negotiations
for canal would ensue. 1t was said then
that there was fly in the ointment and
that the treaty would not prove acceptable
to the Colombian government. Around the
corridors of the Capitol 1t was common
gossip that the opposition to an interocean-
1c canal had fixed up the treaty in the
manner which would cause it to fail.
Since the Panama treaty has been re-
1ected, the negotiations will revert to the
Nicaragua route. In some quarters the
doubt is expressed whether 1t will be pos
sibie to come to satisfactory arrangements
with Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The
trouble Is that now there Is no longer COM
petition. 1t is notorious fact that the
Panama Canal Company was only induced
to reduce its exorbitant terms by the fact
that there was an alternative proposition
in the Nicaragua route. Now that the
Panama route is eliminated the Nicara-
guans and Costa Ricans are in a position to
drive hard bargain with Uncle Sam.
IN the meantime, of course, there Is no
canal and the transcontinental RAILWAYS
are doing business at the old stand Sew
eral times within the past five years the
completion of the Isthmian canal project
has seemed imminent and each time some
thing has occurred to Illustrate it. OF
course. the transcontinental railways had
nothing to do with these Unfortunate
failures.
Senator Morgan's Statement.
Senator Morgan Of Alabama, chairman Of
the interoceanic canal committee of the
Senate. who has devoted the past twenty
five years of his life to the struggle for an
interoceanic waterway teegraphed the
following statement from his summer home
at Warm Springs Va:
lf the Colombian government has re
1ected the treaty. 1t is because Colombia
I mas respect 1or her constitution, care for
the integrity of the territorial limits. a de-
sire for permanent relations of friendship
with the United States and regard for
her financial interests. All of which dig
nifty that republic in the estimation of other
nations and peoples.
Our duty. prescribed and enjoined by
law, Is to apply the appropriation made by
the act or Congress to the Nicaraguan
route, to which there is no valid objection
of any sort. With the cordial assent and
cooperation of Costa Rica and Nicaragua
republics that have already dealt with us
In spirit or sincere friendship and conf
dence, the canal will be speedily opened to
the commerce of the world. and ali the ma
tons will rejoice with our people,"
Senator Gorman's Views.
Senator Arthur P German. leader of the
democratic party in Congress, on learning
OF the rejection of the treaty, was not
greatly surprised.
1T seems to me-" said he. that the canal
act is sufficiently explicit and mandatory.
1t plainly says that, being unable to make
satisfactory arrangements with Colombia.
the President shall proceed to construct the
Nicaragua canal. after having completed by
treaty with Nicaragua and Costa Rica sat
isfactory negotiations for the canal strip.
1t seems to me that the only course open
now Is for the President to begin these ne
gotiafions The people of the country want
ministratton will make use of the explicit
power given it by Congress to build that
canal"