Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-27
SIGN CANAL TREATY.
United States Gets Panama Route
For Waterway.
PRESIDENT CAN NOW BUILD CANAL
DR. Herran Signs the Document for
Colombia Upon Instructions Receiv-
ed Frort, His Government-Pays
$4o,ooo,ooo to French Company.

Washington, Jan. 23.-The treaty be-
tween the United States and Colombia
I for the construction of the Panama ca
! nal by the Unitel States has been sign
4 ed here.
fHerran Signs by coombia's Order.
Fears had been entertained until
this week that Colombia would not be
willing to accede to the wishes of the
! UNITED States in the canal matter and
that recourse to the Nicaraguan ca
nal project might be forced on the
& government of the United States. But
this week events took a more favora-
BILE turn and Colombia transmitted in
structions and authority to Dr. Herran,
its representative in the United States,
that made possible conclusion of the
4 long negotiations
The principle obstacle for some time
to the conclusion of the treaty, it is
understood was the price that the
United States were to pay in the
shape of cash payment and by way
of annual rental for the strip of terri
tory along each side of the canal right
of-way.
The President is to pay the New
Panama Canal company $40000,000
for its rights and property. He is to
pay Colombia for the use of the strip
of land-six miles wide across the
isthmus-such a sum as may be
agreed on" by the two powers con-
.cerned.
Commission to Build Canal.
The bill provides for a commission
as follows:
Section Z That to enable the Presi-
dent to construct the canal and works
appurtenant thereto as provided in
this act, there is hereby created the
isthmian canal commission, the same
to be composed of seven members,
who shall be nominated and appoint
ed by the President, by and with the
advice and consent of the senate,
and who shall serve during the pleas
ure of the senate and one of whom
4 shall be named as chairman of said
commission.
OF the seven memoirs of said com
mission at least four shall be persons
learned and skilled in the practice OF
engineering, and of the four at least
one shall be an officer of the United
States army and at least one other
shall be an officer of the United States
navy, the said officers respectively be.
ing either upon the active or the retir-
ed list of the army or the navy. Said
commissicners shall each receive such
compensation as the President shall
prescribe until the same shall have
been otherwise fixed by congress. In
addition to the members of the said
isthmian canal commission the Presi
dent is hereby authorized, through the
commission, 10 employ in said service
any CT the engineers Of the United
States army at his discretion, and like
wise to employ any engineers in civil
life, at his discretion. and any other
s persons necessary fer the proper and
expeditions prosecution Of said work
The compensation CT all such engi-.
neeTs and other persons employed I'm
der this act shall be fixed by said
commission subject to the approval
CT the President. The Official salary
OF any officer appointed or employed
under this act shall be deducted from
the amount of salary or compensa-
ticn provided by or which shall be fix
led under the terms of this act
Said commission shall in all matters
be subject 10 the direction and con
troll OF the President, and shall make
to the President annually and at such
other periods as may be required eth
er by law or by the order of the Presi
dent full and complete reports of al
their actions and doings and of al
moneys received and expended in tn,
construction OF said work, and in tbs
performance OF their duties in connec
ton Herewith. which said reports shall
be by the President transmitted to con
gress.
And the said commission shall fur
thermore give to congress or either
Mouse OF congress, such information
as may at any time be required either
BY act OF congress or by the order o.
sei@her house OF congress. The Presi
debt shall cause to be provided and as
signed for the use of the commission
such offices as may, with the suitable
equipment of the same. be necessar.
and proper, in his discretion, for thu
proper discharge of the duties there
of.
Plan to Pay for Construction.
Pay for the construction OF the cana
is provided in the following section o
the act:
Sec 8. That the secretary of tn,
treasury is hereby authorized to Dor