The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-10-24

to the Canal.
vember, 1901. His first message to
congress urged immediate action, and
after good deal of wrangling over
the Hepburn act in favor of Nicaragua
the Spooner act was passed on June
%, 1902.
The SpoOner act, written by Senator
John G. Spooner Of Wisconsin, provid-
ed for an isthmian canal commission
Of seven members and authorized the
Panama route if the French property
could be bought for $4o,OO0,00O and a
right of way could be obtained from
Colombia. Ia the event such condi-
tons could not be met it authorized
the Nicaraguan route and seemed to
lean toward lock type canal. An i'm
mediate appropriation of $10.00oO0O
was made available for preliminary
expenses.
President Roosevelt now had the au-
thority he desired for going ahead with
the project Secretary of State John
Hay and the minister from Colombia.
Jose v. Concha. Immediately began
corresponding over the granting Of a
strip of territory in Panama for the
prosecution of the enterprise.
Minister Concha drew up treaty.
which was presented as a memoran-
dun to Secretary Hay on April 18,
1902. This treaty, as well as the Her
ran treaty that succeeded it, had
number of impossible provisions. view
ed in the light Of cur canal experience.
1t authorized the French company to
sell its property to the United States
and authorized the United States to
the concession to run for 100 years and
be renewable at the discretion of the
United States. The canal was to be
finished fourteen years after the adop-
ton of the treaty, with possible eX
tension of twelve years, everything to
revert to Colombia if the canal was not
begun within five years and completed
within twenty-five years. Colombia
was to receive 100000 in cash.
Colombia sent new minister. Thorn
as Herran, in 1903. who negotiated a
treaty along the same lines, except
that Colombia was to receive $4,000
600 instead of 100000 for the canal
zone. Had the treaty been adopted it
is safe conclusion to draw that in
terminable and eXasperating friction
would have developed between the two
countries. Only an extended visit to
the isthmHs can give an adequate idea
of how essential it has been to the
United States to have absolutely free
hand in the canal zone.
President Jose NJ. Marroquin Of Co
lombia in this year. 1902, asked the
| United States to maintain uninterrupt-
! ed massage over the Panama railroad
! during a serious revolution in the prov
! ince and promised in return to give
the United States Il treaty for canal
! zone. As result Of American inter
vention and good Offices peace was
patched up between the insurgents
ana Colombia on Nov. 81. 1902 We
had performed our part of the agree
ment and now looked to Colombia to
perform her part.
President Marroquin was in good
faith but fractional fighting inNthe con-
gress of Colombia. with his enemies in
the ascendancy, showed the chances Of
a treaty to be dubious.
On Aug. u, 1908, the senate of Co.
lombia killed the treaty after the house
had passed it. President Marroquin
had exerted himself to the utmost to
save the treaty. doubtless sensing the
quality of the man in the White House,
but to no avai1, and another way out
for the canal project was already tax
Ing form.