The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-23
RATIFICATInN ro-nAY.


The vote on the question of ratifying
the Panama treaty will be taken to-
day. OF course. there is no doubt that
the treaty will be ratified. 1t is the
understanding that at least four-fifths
of the senators will vote for ratifi-
cation. A day or two ago Senator
Bailey of Texas, said that there were
seventeen Democrats who would vote
against ratification. He is probably
well informed as to the standing OF the
Democratic senator's, as he is one of
the strongest of the critics of the course
pursued by the administration in Sc
curing a treaty from Panama.
It is probable that the money that will
be due the Republic of Panama and
the Panama Canal Company will be
paid very soon after favorable action
on the treaty. There is no particular
reason why it shouldn't be paid I'M
less there are complications in Paris,
growing out of the law suit that has
been inaugurated there by Colombia.
But complications there wouldn't affect
the Republic of Panama. and the prob
abilities are that the little republic will
get her money in a short time.
It would be interesting to know what
she is going to do with it. viii she
vote away large part of 1t in salaries
to officials? No doubt the men at
the head of her affairs feel they ought
to be paid literally for the part they
took in bringing about the revolution
and the subsequent establishment of
the republic. The new government of
the republic was inaugurated last Sat
urday. DR.. Manuel Amador is the
President, and there are three vice
presidents. Why there are so many
vice presidents is not altogether clear.
Is it because the climate is so bad
that there is danger of the president,
and one or two of the vice presidents
dying before their terms of office are
completed? Perhaps there are so few
offices as yet that the making of three
vice presidents was thought to be a
good way to get rid of portion of the
s100OOO0O the republic is to receive
from the United States.
The expenses of the new republic
ought not to be large. In the treaty
the United States guarantees her in
dependence. Therefore, she will need
neither an army nor a navy. She will
not have to spend any money on her
harbors. since the only two that will
amount to much are those of Colon
and Panama, and the United States
will improve them in connection with
the canal. Indeed, 1t looks as If the
United States would bear the greater
part of the expense of the government
for the reason that they will control
absolutely the ten-mile strip along the
canal. This strip will be the most
populous part of the republic.
Government outside of it will not in all
probability amount to a great deal.
1t is not yet clear what sort of gov
eminent this strip will have. That is
a matter which Congress has not dealt
with yet, though 1t will doubtless take
it up at once in order 10 complete 1t
before the end of the session. The
government wants to get to work on
the canal as quickly as possible, and
hence the necessity for completing all
legislation relating to 1t without an
necessary delay. After the ratification
of the treaty there viii be no obstacles
thrown in the way of doing whatever
it may be necessary to do to enable
the government to go ahead with the
work of constructing the canal.