Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-11-22
AN AMAZING PROPOSITION
Colombia to Be Bought OFF in The
Canal Matter.

Washington. Nov 2l-An a:~azin2
proposition that is receiving the scri-
Gus consideration Of the president. the
cabinet and the Republican leaders of
congress contemplates the payment of
sl0000.0o0 to the Republic of Colon
/ bia in addition to $lh,00o 600 to the tc-
public of Panama and $4,000 .ooo to
the French Canal company.
The payment viii be made to Colom-
bia if at all, upon the pretext that it is
an indemnity for the le,5s which she
sustained through the rebellion of
Panama. 1t would be a flat admission
of our responsibility, in part at least.
for the conduct of Panama.
Talk OF Astounding Generosity
.'o2 $asnral days past a ST. has
been accent that the Panama patri-
OTIS W'n executed the recent coup
de- ''nGn Tie ::,,;ti:inus We're n1annino
to transfer to Colombia the 81 4Ao >9n
WHICH llCt i.dt' i1'''' -SuIol I1GN
would receive from tie 9ited States.
According to the story this was to be
their reace Offering to the erstwhile
mother country. It sounded so pre-
posperous that it did not receive gen
eral credence..
The idea of an organized gang of
mixed Latin-American French and
Spanish adventurers Voluntarily relin-
gushing such huge sum of money as
S10,000000 was not entertained seri-
ously by persons who are familiar with
their propensities. 1t was said in OK
planation of their alleged generosity
that they were sat .sfied with the prs.
re,,t of profits to be gained by the
building of the canal and the annual
cost of the canal
Must Pay or Face Revolution.
It now appears that the story was
simnlv q twisted and crooked version
Of 3ze nrrn~/se of the administration to
settle with Colombia on its own ac-
count. The Panama crew will get
their $4,000 600 If they didn't there
would be another revolution The pay
ment ia Colombia will constitute a fur
tho addition to the sum total of the
of the canal
In { is connection very grave prob
lem is confr@nting the finacal officers
of tie government. They have no
doubt in Wow Of the conduct OF south
err nomocratic senators, that con
sress viii ratifv the treaty which is
now being negotiated and Immediately
thereafter enact legislation requiring
tho expenditure of $50 600. 900 On short
notice
Where IS Cash to Be Found?
How to provide this vast sum Of
n1oney w'thout disturbing the financial
equilibrium is the problem, The tOt2l
9vailah1a cash balance in the treasury
IS 600" l4t .oea CT this sum s1733.222S-
tGt fe cn deso%iEin national banks.
w. "v~fla'1a eurplus actually in the
tr~ae'7,r tl,eeafWe ts ooIy about $50
COO 0oo. a'anifa4tlv. this cannot be
Gistrfbe3 II constitutes tie integrity
Of tie treasury.
# tNe money for The Panama canal
graftera, the Republic Of BONANZA
elaeters and the Colonbians * paid
out ~ lump sum or in installments
it will have to be drawn frcrn the gov
ernment's bank baianoes. These a@e
none too generous at the present time
to meet the ordinary eXigencies of
comr,erce and trade and indications do
not point to the conclusion that they
viii be to-. large for the future de-
mands OF the country.
Suggest Another Bond Issue.
! Secretary Shaw has told the presi
dent and his colleagues of the cabinet
that Re would hesitate to make so
largo draft as the payments to Co
lon'hia. Panama and the French con-
panv would invol ae 1t ha' been sug-
gested. therefc'",. that congress. in re
enacting the Spoon law with amend
meots reauir,1 tn apply il tc the pew
conditions. provide for an issue Of 2