The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-19

The ratification of the Panama treaty Is
only one of several steps preliminary to be-
ginning construction Of the work. but the
other steps are likely to follow in regular
order. The question as to whether the
Panama Company could make a good title
to its concessions and other property has
already been settled by Attorney General
Knox. and the company has signifed its
acceptance of the offer of $4,000. 900 by the
United States. The next step will be the
ratification of the treaty by the Colombian
Congress. This will probably be done soon
and ratifcations of the treaty exchanged
within a few weeks. IT is probable the
Colombian Congress will ratify the treaty
without alteration, as the Senate did, be-
cause If il should make any changes what
ever the amended treaty would have to be
ratified again by the Senate, thus involv-
ing several months delay and some uncer-
tainty 1t is probable, therefore, that the
Colombian Congress viii ratify the treaty
just as it stands.
The exchange of ratifications o. the treaty
between the two governments will consum-
on record. The United States paid SIS, OOO, 900
for Louisiana Territory and $7,5OO,OOO for
Alaska. No other government has ever
paid as much for new territory. For the
Panama canal route it will pay $4,000 900
cash to the French Panama Company and
100000 to Colombia. The treaty as rati-
fled by the Senate embraces the following
points:
The United States agrees to make a cash
payment of 100000 in gold to the Colon
bian government and after the expiration
OF nine years to pay a rental of $25O,O00 a
year.
The lease of the strip of land to be used
practically made perpetual, the provision
on this point being that the first lease shall
be for one hundred years and renewable
thereafter in terms of one hundred years at
the pleasure of the United States.
The strip is to be about six miles in width,
and over this territory the United States
although II Is explicitly specified that CO.
| lombia does not surrender sovereignty
over it.
The United States is to have the privi-
| lege of free Importation of vessels and ma
! terial to be used in the construction OF the
canal. 1t is also given the right to inn
| prove, use and protect harbors at both the
Atlantic and Pacific ends of the canal. The
| grant is made exclusive to the United
| States and taxes rentals are to be
| charged in addition to the gross sums of
| SO. 900 900 cash and s25O000 annually.
The treaty was negotiated under an act
of Congress of June 2, 1902. originally known
| as the Spooner bill. 1t appropriates $4,000
| 600 to pay the French company for its
rights, 100000 900 for the Colombian govern
ment, and authorizes 4 further appropria-
ton Of s135. 900 in case the Panama route
should be adopted. The next step after the
| treaty shall be ratified by the Colombian
| Congress will be the transfer by Colombia
| Of the six-mile strip across the isthmus
| to the United States on the payment OF
| 100000. This will make the United States
| undisputed owner of the strip for all pur-
| poses connected with the construction and
| prosecution of the canal. Then the Presi-
dent will appoint the commission author
lied by the act of 1902 to survey the route
and inaugurate the construction of the
| work So much has already been done by
the French company in the way of surveys
| and working out technical engineering de-
tails. all the records of which will come
into possession of the United States, thai
il is believed active work on the canal car
be begun within a year from the present
| time.