New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-18
SENATOR MORGAN TALKS
Canal Question Before Congress
Within a Reasonable Time"
FROM TINS TRIBUNE BuRzAu.1

Washington. Oct I7-"Yop -. -,
most emphatic manner that the istbroia7 -
question VIII be called to the attenrio, % c.
srsss Al Tie extra session and within :, -.
sonah,e time" -H d 'ea-
i@ls was The statement Of Senator John r
morgan Of Alabama, to-day. at the cloea - ;,
TWO hours conference with secrets-,- -
The state Department
90 not know in what form The canal ~1,as-
uon VIII come before Congress, alr zIorran
continued, and If I aid should not feel A. Iib-
cry 20 discuss H. Il may be brought up in the
senate Out Il IS more than Likely thas the
mouse VIII take initial action. as that body Is
PepPeTy on the subject OF the canal. and right
eouSiy SO. for the reason thzt the senate r,olz
'-'e "1oie matter out OF its hands and insisted
Oh its own measure. The House could pass d
resolution easily enough without the aid of
committee"
Senator Morgan sa.d he had been informed
that the United States had received no Off
Clal notification Of the Intentions OF Colombia
with reference to the canal treaty.
IT hat compact died . most natural and peace
ful death" he added. and nothing has been
heard CT 1t since. and very little before. Presi-
dent Roosevelt has assumed the attitude Of Nj
caWoe--U alting for something to turn Up. What
can turn - is hard TO predict"
Senator Morgan pointed out what he termed
the ''ludicrous treatment" this government had
received from Colombia The original Panama
Treaty was drawn up in April. 1892 together
with similar treaties with Nicaragua and Costa
Eica- The price 70 be paid to the TWO latter gov
ernnenrs combined for clual privileges was SI,-
100000 This vas also the sum stipulated in the
treaty with Colombia for the Panama Canal
strip.
Before this treaty was signed" continued
Senator NT--g-a- he T~-i-aa States landed
marines on the isthuus and stationed its war
ships or either side under the p.etext Of guar
aEtee-nE uninterrupted transportation on the
istHrllan railway during one OF the Colombian
revolutions. We practically held p the hands
O. President Ma-roquin, as Aaron held up the
hands OF Moses while the Children OF Israel
fought their adversarias- When the revolution
was ~sttied Colombia wanted 100000 more
added 70 the amount 70 be paid her OF the
ground that ii would take this sum TO settle
with the Insurgents who had been bought OF
from further attempts on the Marroquin ad-
Ili1istratioL- We added this amount. Then
colombia secured a clause which guaranteed
ths return Il her ov the French company Of -
o3Jott worth OF property adjacent 10 the canal
sll-pr ana nlaly seCLl &C the guarantee that TIE
1890 -, -oILp1nS shgGld pay ner S1VyJ,ovO OF
TIE S4UOOOO,0 the United States was 70 pay
that company Il settlement Of q claim in con-
s-l@IaLoh CT the iast extension OF time TO the
French company. This increased the demands
u Colombia just - per cent. a total OF
Sl5.JOtOJ3. subsequent 10 the original agree
meut On the 100000 price. After obtaining
this sum. NaTroquiu set to work 70 gather to-
getEer a Congress Tor the purpose OF raufylng
This treaty. This Congress simply kicked the
treaty oCr the back door. and the Colombian
Government has failed even 10 notify the
United States Of this fact
As 10 his Interpretation Of "a reasona bic
time" used in the canal legislation requir-
ilg the President 70 turn 10 the Nicaragua
route should he fail 70 acquire title 70 Panama.
NJ Morgan declared that L could not possibly
last longer Than the term Of the President.
Secretary HAY declined 10 discuss The visit OF
Senator Morgan. but in reply 20 a question as
Il whether II had been decided to open DeSO-
riar.o-s for the Nicara qua Canal project. is re-
ported as saying. Not as . result OF Senator
No-Ea--s visit