Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-13
CONDEMNED
Senator Morgan Regards Coun-
try's Government Unrelia-
BILE and Revolutionary
OF CANAL TREATY
The Price of s1o,ooo,ooo in Cash Which
the United States Had Promised to
Pay, Branded as Exorbitant-Terms
of the Treaty Are Explained by
Senator cuIlom.

| of the Treaty Are Explained by
| Senator cullom.
| Washington, Feb. l3.-During the
discussion Of the Panama canal treaty
in the executive session of the senate
Senator Morgan directed special at
| tention to the fact that there had been
a failure to embody the act of con-
gress providing for the construction
| of the canal in the treaty, as was set
forth in the preamble, and dwelt at
| length on what he termed the unreli-
ability and revolutionary character Of
the government. He asserted that the
price of S10,000,000 in cash, which
the United States had agreed to pay
to Colombia, WAS eXorbitant and more
than was necessary in view of the
former agreement to take $7,000,000. He
also criticized the provision for a per-
petual annual payment of $250,000, and
declared that in all probability much
of these payments would go into the
pockets of private individuals. In this
connection he declared that a recent
chief executive of the Colombian gov
eminent had sold out and abdicated for
$1,O0O,000. He repeated his declaration
that the existing government has no
power to enter into treaties, and as
serted that a treaty with that govern
ment would not be binding. He de-
clared that it would be folly to make
the payment of S47,00o,O00 as was pro-
posed by the treaty depending on SO
unstable and unsubstantial congress an
institution as the Colombian congress,
and especially in view Of the chronic
insurrectionary condition Of the peo-
pie.
Senator Cullom, chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, made
a brief speech in the middle of Sena-
tor Morgan's address. It was devoted
treaty. Mr.. Cullom gave special at
tention to criticisms Senator Morgan
had made on article %, placing the
control of the canal in charge of the
government of Colombia in case of
trouble. and said that as the canal pen
etrates Colombian territory the ar
rangement was equitable. Moreover,
he thought it would be impossible to
secure Colombia's sanction of the treaty
under any other arrangements. He al
so defended the provision for mixed
tribunal for the adjudication of legal
difficulties in the canal zone as neces-
sary under the circumstances. He de-
clared that under the terms of the
treaty the United States had ample
power to protect the canal. Speaking
of the contention that the United States
should own the canal right of way,
he said that the Colombian constitu-
ton places an insuperabie obstacle in
the way of ownership by prohibiting
sale for such purposes. He contended,
however, that Il lease in perpetuity
would be equally as good as trans
fer by purchase outright.
|. When al adjournment was suggested
at $50 o'clock, Senator Morgan said
that he would be prepared to go on
all night II required to do so, but Sen
ator Cullom replied that he had no
intention OF making any such exaction.
On the contrary, he added, he was
ready to close today's session at that
time, but he was anxious to continue
tomorrow. Senator Morgan was will
ing Tor this arrangement, but Senator
quay objected, saying that in the in
terest of the statehood bill he could
not at this time yield another day to
consideration Of the treaty,
Senator Morgan gave notice of thirty
proposed amendments to the treaty.
The first of these amendments of gem
eral Importance to the body of the
treaty is to article 2. 1t provides for the
ownership of the canal by the United
States instead OF lease for a hundred
years, to be renewed each century AZ
rewards as provided by the treaty rs
sent to the senate. Article is to be
amended so as to have the canal zone
include the cities of Panama and Colon,
which are excluded in the official draft
OF the treaty. The provision for a joint
commission of the United States and
Colombia to enforce police and sanitary
regulations is abolished, and this work
is placed in the exclusive control of the
United States.
Article is so altered as to remove
the pledge on the part of the United
States not to increase it's territory at
the expense of any of the Central
American republics. The pledge with
reference to Colombia stands.
Mr.. Morgan proposes so to amend the
language of article as to have the
United States guarantee only the inde-
pendence of Colombia in the govern
ment of the islands at the eastern and
western eXtremities of the canal, but
the guaranty of the Integrity of that
government in the islands is stricken
out.
In article there is inserted a pro-
vision that no trial for damages to
property on account of the canal work
shall be allowed to impede its progress.
1t is proposed to amend article II SO
as to give to the United States control
of permanent immigration to the canal |
zone.
The joint tribunals proposed by arti-
Gle 10 of the treaty are eliminated ana
the United States is given complete
control over all controversies except
those between citizens of Colombia, /
which are left in Colombian jurisdic-
ton.
Article 3d. which in the official text |
provided for the calling in of the Unit |
ed States forces at Colombia's instance
for the protection of the canal, is left
with a plain provision requiring the
government of Colombia to assume this
duty. To that provision the following
is added: THE United States shall have
the right at all times in it's discretion to
use it's police and its land and naval /