Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13
j. S. ROBBED THROUGH
LAND DEALS IN Panama
Called Upon to Pay Between $17,-
100000 and $fS,OOO,OOO for Strip
Worth Less Than $1,OOO,OOO.
MADE BY GoETHAI.s
Deals Handled by Joint Commission,
Two Members Representing This
Government and Two Panama.
Wants Activities Terminated.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.

Especial to The Times Dispatch
WASHINGTON. February l2.-Major-
General George w. Cocktails to-day
charged that the United States Is be-
Ing robbed" OF between sl6.0Oo,O0o
and S17.000.0o0 through land deals In
tho Panama Canal Zone. He laid be-
lore the House Interstate Commerce
commission Information showing that
since 1903 this country has been called
upon to pay between sl7.000.00O and
Sie.ooo,0OO for lands worth less than
s1.00O,OGo
The land deals at Panama have been
handled through a joint land commits
SION, comprising two representatives Of
the United States and two representa-
tives OF the Panama republic. Under
the treaty between the United States
and Panama. which coded the Canal
Zone to this country, this joint land
commission haa had exclusive au-
thority to settle the land claims Of
private persons whose property has
been taken over in connection with
the building of the canal.
General Cocktails told the committee
that a provision in the treaty prescrib-
ing that land should be paid for on
the basis of their valuation when the
treaty was contaminated had been
totally disregarded. and that the Joint
land commission had awarded vast
sums for land which a few years ago
vas worth practically nothing.
General Cocktails demanded legisla-
ton which would terminate the actiyi-
ties OF the joint land commission. and
which would prevent it from paying
enormously increased values for land
or improvements.
After explaining the treaty provi-
sions. General Cocktails said:
The treaty also provides that the
valuation Of lands taken under the
treaty shall be as Of 1903. at the time
the treaty was consummated. so as to
avoid the traffic In lands for the pur-
pose of exploiting the government
The joint land commissions-we have
had several of them-have taken the
ground that we are n big republic and
they are rather poor. and we should
not be too hard on them. and that We
should pay literally for their lands
III Is rather hard to stay there and
see our government robbed the way
i; has been IN the past"
LAND VALUES ARBITRARILY
INCREASED BY CLAIMANTS
Of various instances where land values
were arbitrarily increased by claim
ants before the commission. He said
that in one case land which cost 81 a
hectare in 1902, and which the owners
agreed TO sell to the government for
50 a hectare. was awarded SIS hec-
tare By the Joint land commission.
In another case. General Cocktails
said. the commission awarded $4,000
for land which was originally pur-
chased for $500.
They told me when was on the
Isthmus," remarked Chairman Adam
son. that the commission would settle
with squatter. and then lie would go
out and squat In another place and
they would have to settle with him
again"
Yes. sir, that is right" said Cen
cral Cocktails.
Representative Stephens. Of Nebraska,
wanted to know il the government, at
this rate. was supposed 10 pay for all
Of the land in the ten-mile strip ac-
quired for the Panama Canal.
Not all the land within the ten
mile strip" said General Goethals but
all the privately owned land that the
government needs 10 acquire. And If
AHc were neIu GOWN 10 the N3Iua-
ton In 1903. they would not aggregate
Sl,o0o.O00 but they now aggregate
something like sI7.000.o00 or SIS, 600 600
And the joint land commission is
ignoring the treaty and the agreements
that were made by the original owners
as mere scraps OF paper" demanded
Representative Sims. of Tennessee.
That Is right, yes. sir" replied Cen
cral Cocktails. cmphatically
And the treaty." asked Chairman
Adamson.
Yes. SIR" said General Goethals.
IF It Is contemplated securing land
outside Of the Canal Zone" said Rep
rcsentative Esch. OF Wisconsin, speak
ing of the plans for additional land at
Panama for fortifcations. does the
joint land commission have jurisdic-
ton 10 secure those lands?"
This commission" said General
Cocktails. has Jurisdiction. not only of
these lands, but understand from law.
yers that the provision Is broad enough
so that anybody who Is damaged within
the limits OF the zone can appeal for
the adjudication OF his claim TO the
land commission
Suppose the land is outside of the
zone?" asked Representative Esch.
Tut 1t is not question Of land
alone" said General Cocktails; ut Is
q question OF injury to shipping, for
instance. so we are very anxious 70