New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-04
DIR. AMADOR OPTIMISTIC
HIGH HOPES OF PANAMA.
President 4rv1rc$ Here on Way
to Europe.

There
litical significance in his trip to this country,
nor has 1t in the remotest degree any connec-
ton with the relations between the United
States and Panama. which the President sa,d
were highly satisfactory
President Amador. who is acconpanied by mis-
wife and secretary is on his way 10 Furope
10 ENJOY a much needed rest. He is taking his
first vacation since he became President az
Panama three and a half years ago and Will
remain away from his official duties for four
months.
We have been working hard" he said yes
terday at the Hotel Gotham where he is stay-
ing ana feel that / am entitled 10 a rest
1T. Ahador spoke most enthusiastically TO A
1Ii"uIe reporter about conditions the 18TH
- p"'H III the republic and in the canal zone
Ihe relations between the two governments
ar entirely cordial. The President said that he
had heard nothing of the alleged dissatisfaction
Q" lhe part OF 'anal officials and that there
were no surface indications of any dissatisfac-
ton anywhere in the zone The work OF CON
shuctlhs the great waterway. the President
SAID. from personal observation. goes forvar
with prodlgous energy and zeal. DR.. Amador
also lauded the work done by the sanitation de-
rartment under Colonel Gorgas in stamping ont
yellow fever the isthmus Business in the
republic, he said. has shown a marked advance
and a great era of building operations has set in
The President would like to see the 10 per cent
ad Valorem on importations to Panama in.
creased 10 10 per cent. for the purpose Of adding
70 the republics revenues.
q
republics. the Panaman Chief Executive said
that Panama would prefer to concentrate her
efforts on de- own progress. However. the re-
public the :sthmus IS on terms of friendlness
with her neighbors but has nothing in common
with them.
DR.. AMADOR SEVENTY -FOUR YEARS OLD.
President Amador was seventy-four years Old
last Sunday, and the occasion was celebrated
on board Of the Prince Joachim by his party
and ais fellow passengers. There was one toast
H. rrsv-o -,
that pleased him little more, perhaps than
the others. 1t proposed by Colombian
P native OF the Department of CaUca. whence
come the best fighters Of the republic The
Caucan's hearty toast 20 the President of Pa
mama told The story Of The present feeling exist
ing between rhe people represented oy the two
principals the incident, and might oe taken as
indication hat The wound caused ny he
cession Of Panama from Colombia has last
healed
OF me incident, Dr. Amadcr said: 4 was sur
prsed and pleased
The venerable Panamar statesman does not
Jock mis- nigh on three-quarters OF a century of
years. His tall figure is erect and he walks
with firm tread. His dark piercing eyes
have in them the sparkle Of perfect health.
President Anador has been here more than d
dozen times. but this is mis- first visit since he
became President. The last time
after the revolution in Panama. when he came
az member of the Junta de Gobierno to
range details of the new republic. He speaks
q the republic. the President said
The finances of the country are in good
dition We still have some money eft from the
S4N000o0 We received from the United States
and want to make II last as long possible.
But our expenses are large and the revenues not
large enough For that reason will try to
II the agreement made between Secretary Taft
and myself TWO and half years ago for i'm
port tax Of 10 per cent ad valorem cannot be
increased 70 l5 per cent. You have no
custom houses. and therefore there IS some diff
hculty collecting ali ought With the in
crease We may collect at least the fun 10 per
cent Our revenues have doubled since Pana-
ma E separation from Colombia
Dr. AmadOr explained that the expenses of the
republic before he took charge amounted T.
:I.500.000- Six million dollars Of the $4,000. .Oyn
paid by the United States to Panama for canal
nights Is We'll invested in New York real estat-.
The President said Of the negotiations pending
for Panama's assumption Of part Of Colombias
external debt:
Negotiations for the recognition Of Panama
by Colombia and a settlement Of affairs are now
under and II is hoped will reach a salts
factory conclusion Soon after our independence
the Junta de Gobierno said that
Colombia recognized Panama would
c'ITe our share pro rata in proportion the pop
ulaton. The amount Of our share Of the external
debt Is less than 81 900 000. We did not agree 10
pay IN cash, but to recognize the debt. In 1912
Ne viii begin TO receive the yearly rental from
the United States Of S25GO00. which of course.
VIII also mean increased prosperity for the
republic"
POLITICAL SITUATION GOOD
The internal political situation President
Amador said, was excellent. Internal troubles"
he said. come In time Of elections. We have
no elections this year, and everything Isl quiet
However. have fear that viii ever he in
need Of intervention in Cuba to-day We
cont need il. and the politicians know that force
"ill avail them nothing in Panama. The mu-
ncpal government Of the zone has been
object lesson to us and have learned much
from Il. Our relations with the government OF
the canal zone most amicable. Every ques-
ton that have to settle is settled by verbal
agreement. They do their best and We do our
best
Talking Of affairs In the canal zone, DR. Anna
dor SAID; Governor Magoon helped the republic
very much and established things in a way
that removed all possibility of friction. EN-
Senator Blackburn, who succeeded Mr.. MagOon
as Governor, is one of few men who could
MI the office acceptably the former Gov
ernor. have watched the progress of work
on the canal construction my trips between
Colon and Panama, and the men working
very effectively. The steam shovels doing
wonderful work. / have not seen the newspa-
pers about the reported dissatisfaction existing
among Of the officials the canal.
CON; believe the reports Certainly there
nothing OF il observable the surface. All o.
ihe canal commissioners with the exception of
Colonel Gorgas. who was in this country, enter
tanned at dinner on the day before ! sailed
Colonel Goreas deserves credit for his work In
stamping out the yellow fever There have not
been any cases in eighteen months The health
conditions are excellent There have been some
cases Of pneumonia in Panama, which is new
disease there and IS confined among the negroes,
p no often are careless of their health"
DISCUSSES FOREIGN RELATIONS
AS 10 our foreign relations continued the