The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-21
ANNEXATION OF PANAMA
AND VOTING OF $8O,OOO,OOO
PROPOSED BY Mr.. MORGAN
Extraordinary Bill introduced in
the Senate by the Venerable
Alabama Scion.
SPEECH BY PATTERSON
Who InSinuates the President I'M
AGNES Himself Vice Regent
OF the Almighty.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Nor
gan to-day introduced bill providing for
the annexation of Panama to the United
States, 1.-The rights and property of Pan
anna resting in the United States, without
reserve" The bill appropriates S10,OOO,tOO
as compensation to Panama for its ces-
sion; places 100000 at the disposal of the
President for the compensation of Colom-
bia and appropriates $50 900. 600 for the pur-
chase of the property of the new Panama
Canal Company in Colombia including the
Panama canal. 1t is especially provided
that the provisions of this bill shall not
have the effect of repeating the Spooner
act. Mr.. Morgan gave notice that he would
submit some remarks on the bill to-mor
row.
A preamble to the bill sets forth that
many nations having recognized the seces-
sion of Panama and that the independence
of that republic is an accomplished fact, the
bill asserts that the President of the United
State approved and protected the secession
with the naval forces of the United States,
and that the President and the Senate
recognized the independence of the new re-
public by appointing and accrediting min
lister TO that republic. After providing for
the construction of the Panama canal by
the United States, the bill declares that all
rights and properties of the republic OF
IdudIud OF every description SHdu DC NtSlSu
in the United States of America, without
reserve, and shall be subject to their SOW
ereign Jurisdiction.
Senator Morgan also introduced concur
rent resolution directing the President TO
enter into negotiations with the govern
ments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica for the
construction of a canal via the Nicaragua
route.
MR.. PATTERSON'S SPEECH.
Mr. Patterson to-day completed and Mr..
Platt, of Connecticut began a speech on
the Panama canal question. Mr.. Patterson
declared that the President was largely re-
sponsible for the revolt in Panama, and
announced his decided preference for the
Nicaraguan route Mr.. Plat took this pro-
nouncement for Nicaragua as the text for
his remarks. saying it explained the mys-
terry of the otherwise unexplainable oppo-
sition on the part of the Democratic sem
atorS of the Panama treaty.
Mr.. Patterson undertook to show that
President RoOsevelts claim that his course
in Panama was in line with the policies OF
the preceding administration was unfound-
ed Referring TO the Presidents declara-
ton that what had been done in Panama
had been done as the mandate OF clVlllZa-
ton Mr.. Patterson quoted with approval a
statement by Mr.. Spooner to the effect that
that was new phrase, adding: 1T was
new phrase and the man who penned 1t
must have been in a state of mental ex-
altation at the time others have been
on other occasions. Mahomet, Joe Smith
and Dowie have moved in such exalted
spheres that they imagined themselves
the very vice regents of the Almighty, and
it may be that the President moves in the
same sphere
Mr.. Patterson referred to the portion of
the President message of Jan. 4, in which
he stated that il had been the intention, if
Colombia did not accept our terms, to sub
nit to Congress 1.-The propriety of direct
Arrangement with Panama, take up
other steps that might be needed in order
to begin the canal enterprise" Such
proposition, Mr.. Patterson declared. would
have been an insult TO the dignity and hon.
esty of Congress" He repeated the charge
that the Presidents mind was known in
Panama, and asserted that his course was
pure cold-blooded participation with the
rebels"
Mr.. Patterson having quoted certain
newspaper reports, Mr.. Aldrich interrupted
that the statements were unauthorized
newspaper reports.
Mr. Patterson replied that he had OBJ
served that in secret newspaper reports
concerning the affairs of the administration
are promptly contradicted AS an instance,
he cited the denial of the report that the
President had said concerning a certain
senator's attitude toward the presidential
nomination that he would either have to
fish or cut bait"
Mr. Patterson asserted that Mr.. Bunau-
Varilla had come to Washington to lobby
the canal measure through for the Panama
Canal Company and declared that Mr..
Bunau-Varila had not even been in Pana-
ma since 1886. He charged that the effort
to displace the Nicaragua canal with the
Panama canal was in the interest of those
who want no canal at ALL and at the worst
one which would give the least competition
to the tranScOntinental railroads. He be-
lieved the Nicaragua canal could be COM
pleted in fifteen years less time than the
Panama canal He therefore would vote
against the ratification of the treaty.