The Sunday Oregonian., January 17, 1909, Section Six, Page 3, Image 49

FOREIGN BORN CABINET-
OPFICGRbT; UNITEP cTATEcr
cT-eNATORcr, MeMBEReT(7F
BT JOHN S. 1IARWOOD.
UNCLE SAM Is assisted in his day's
work by s veritable army of
adopted sons recruited from ail
parts of the world. Practically all have
won hlyh positions of trust In the Fed
eral Government through their own ef
forts. Some have been miners, some
farmers, while others have pninted
sign, chopped wood, sold dry gols
and broken stones for a living. One
member of Congress for a time was an
actor.
In the appointment of Oscar Straus
as Secretary of Commerce and Labor,
and of Robert Watchorn as Immigra
tion Commissioner at Kills Island, the
worth of the foreign-born official has
been doubly recognized. Mr. Straus is
a Jew as well as of European birth
thus being akin to a large proportion
of those prospective Americans over
whom his department has supervision.
Robert Wat-horo, who Is stationed
at the main Immigration gateway of
the New World, was himself an immi
grant. He arrived In Xt York In os
humble circumstances as many of the
vast thrones opon whom he now sits
In Judgment.
Like the Kreat bulk of aliens who
seek their fortunes In America, young
Wat-horn was willing to begin at the
verv bottom. And no wonder. He had
a!ways been at the bottom of a mine
shaft before thinking that America
might offer greater opportunities. His
parents were honest, hard-working
people of the mining country of Derby
shire. When only 11 Robert went to
work with his father far below the sur
face of the earth. Beginning as a
trapper boy. he had the Job of opening
and shutting: the ventilating doors of
the mine. At 1$ he had charge of all
the ponies that hauled out the coal, and
he says there were a good many of
them. ton. By the time he was 18 ho
had become, a ful!fledged miner.
"Boh" Watchorn was not satisfied
with this life, however. Ha attended j
night chool, where he found oppor
tunity to learn of the fame of Wash
ington. Lafayette. JcfTerson and many
of the other great men who made
American history. He decided that the
New World offered more chances than
the Old. So "Bob" saved up his pennies
until he bad enough to buy a ticket to
New York.
The nlK'.it before tne boat was to sail
young Watchorn met a Mr. Bone, who
had taken the greatest-interest In the
night school where the "pit lads" at
tended. Mr. Bone told the boy he would
make a great mistake In leaving Eng
land.
"It there's any cmnb In you," said
Bone, "you can climb at home. If you
will consent to study In England for
the profusion of a mining engineer I
will advance you tho money."
Tiie youthful miner thanked the rich
lawyer, adding, however, that he had
set his heart on America.
"My boy," said Mr. Hone, "how much
money have you for your Journey?"
"Twelve shillings, sir. besides my
ticket."
Indignantly declaring It preposterous
to start out almost a pauper, the lawyer
thrift $30 Into the boy's pocket and
walked away.
Arriving; in New Tork. the future Im
migration Commissioner, having; been
half starved in the steerage, hurried for
a nearby pie counter, where he was Ini
tiated Immediately Into American cus
toms in more ways than one. He gave
the pie man a two-shilling ploce, only
to be told there was no change. The
vender of pastry Insisted he had re
ceived only five cents, following up tho
statement with a blow.
Watchorn's arms, hardened by long
labor, landed tho pie man on his back.
The two-shilling piece was found in tho
cash drawer and Watchorn got his
change.
From a ew York lodging-house the
youthful Immigrant went to work In an
Ohio mine at $2 a day. Finding that
he would have to wait several months
for his wages, he left Jeddo Run for a
Pennsylvania coal mine, at a wage of
130 a month. Every month he sent his
savings to his mother, and soon was
able to bring her and all the rest of the
Watchorn family to America.
Allying himself with the union labor
movement, he soon became honored
with positions of trust. He finally was
made president of the Miners' Union of
the Pittsburg district. On entering the
Immigration service in 1892 he was pro
moted seven times. He spent several
years In Europe, Canada and Mexico,
where he studied and helped to perfect
the system of regulating Immigration
to the United States. In 1905 he was
appointed to his present position at
Ellis Island, where he has made radical
Improvements. The capacity of the
Island practically has been doubled as
a result.
James Wilson. Secretary of Agricul
ture, like Mr. Straus. Is a foreign-born
member of President Roosevelt's Cab
inet. As if foreseeing his future office,
he became a farmer on coming to this
country, at the axe of IT, from Scot
land. It may be said, therefore, that ho
has worked from the ground up.
Many Adopted Sons in Congress.
Foreign-born members of Congress
.';in a much greater (ropottion of tiie
National Legislature today than a
ihade ago. In the Upper House maybe
mentioned Senator (Jecriye Sutherland.
..f Utah, who was born In Buckingham
shire. England; Senator Knute Nelson,
of Minnesota, a native of Norway, and
Senator J. H. Calllnger. of New Hamp
shire, a Canadian by birth.
Although not a Mormon. Senator Suth
'i.tnd Is considered a strong supporter of
the Mormons. He Is a son-in-law of John
I. L-?v. tiie Piiiute chief who was exe
cuted by the Government for having di
rected the Jlount Meadows massacre. A
band of Monaon met a party of peaceful
emigrants passing through Utah, and,
havinx aured tfrm of safety, asked
tnepi to lay down their arms. Thereupon
t'.ie Mormons fell upon the men. women
and children and killed them. Lee was
convicted In the late seventies, some 20
years after the crime occurred.
Although the massacre was perpetrated
before tiie birth of Sutherland, and he al
ways hati spoken of it as a great blot on
the record of the Mormon Church, yet It
often has been recalled by those who crit
icise Sutherland's friendship to the Mor
mon cause. When he entered the Lnited
States Senate it was said that the Mor
mons, in his election, had protested
against their political overthrow. Suther
land succeeded Thomas Kearr.8, who re
fused to be bossed by the Mormons, duth
erland's colleague in tile Senate. Reed
Smoot. brought about the downfall of
Kearns.
Senator Sutherland achieved political
success by his own exertions. Admitted to
tiie bar in Michigan In l.W. ho won die
Unction and wealth as a lawyer. The law
hrm of Sutherland. Van Cort & Allison
has ben one of the most prosperous in
Utah, being counsel for many large Mor
nion corporations as well as for the Gould
Interests.
( )f ' the foreign-born Representatives,
Philip Pitt Campbell has attracted spe
cial notice as the "octopus hunter." In
feekln to protect the rights of his con
stltuents in Kansas, he suddenly diseov
ered himself confronted by the long-ten-
tacled Standard Oil.
For a long time Kansas citizens had
been asking their Representatives to in
vejiticate the monopolistic methods of the
Rockefeller company, but these appeals
usually were dealt with perfunctorily.
Campbell already had won the favor of
Speaker Cannon, who said that tlio young
member from Knrosae was built for big
thirds. Notwithstanding. Cannon was
taken back somewhat when Campbell told
him that he Intended taking up arms
against Standard Oil with a resolution
providing for an investigation 1V ln0 Sec
retary of Commerce and Labor of the
pri'-es of petroleum. Its production and
the corporations controlling it.
Cannon drew a long puff from his cigar
and puckered his face like a boy after
eating green apples.
"All right, mv hoy." he replied, you
prepare your ammunition, and I'll see you
have a chance to explode It."
Campbell's resolution was introduced
February 15. 1905. and passed, and since
then Its author has been In the National
limelight most of the time
Campbell at one time In his career fol- I
lowed the law book and the plow at the
same time. Born in Nova Scotia In 1S2,
he was taken by his parents to Kansas
when he was years old, and has lived
there ever since. Then there were no rail
roads and very few churches and school
houses In Kansas. Young Philip had no
opportunities for mental training, and his
physical burdens were made heavier still
vi hen he was only 11 by the death of his
father.
Seven children were left dependent on
the widow. So young Campbell literally
put his hand to the plow and. with a yoke
of oxen, broke up the raw prairie land.
He had to haul the wood and corn 10
miles to the nearest town. He worked for
neighboring farmers and gave his wages
to his brothers and sisters. When 20 he
drove loo miles ever the prairie to Baker
University, Baldwin. Kan.
Because of his lack of schooling it took
him six years to obtain a diploma. He
hardly had a spare cent all this time.
When he arrived at the university he only
had enough money to pay his room rent,
his tuition for the first three months, and
a bucksaw. With the saw and a few other
tools which he borrowed he was able to
. .! 1 V... JtnXrttr fAM Hnha amiln
euppun i i """""";"-
town. While at college campoeu snowea
evidence of those oratorical powers which
since have won the support of his fellow
Representatives. His speech on the tariff
during his first term waa used by the Re
publicans as a campaign document In the
Presidential fight of 1!H.
From Baker's Wagon to Oonjrres".
A Representative who left the stage for
tho rostrum is Julius Kahn, of San Fran
cisco, who was born in Kuppenheim, Ger
many. In IStil. Kahn also had a hard
struggle Defore attaining success. In his
school days in the Paclfle metropolis he
waa compelled to support himself by driv
ing a baker's wagon mornings and even
ings. On the advice of admiring relatives, who
thought they saw In him another Booth,
young Julius chose the stage. He began
in melodrama. At 13 he played Shylock.
tn when he was 20. he came to .ew
York, and for ten years played prominent
parts in the company or seen stars as
Edwin Booth. Joseph Jefferson, saivini
the elder, and Clara Morris. Once he was
a member of a company In which Maude
Adams, then a little child, had a part
Yet of all the lines Kahn ever recited
the following parody best exempliaes the
chief crisis of his own lire:
To sttck 5r not to stick that Is the us
tton;
WHtlir ! wiser to remain an actor.
Aad. crowing old, bo ahovod aside by new
Or tn read la jr and bo a politician.
For whom old tE brinrs honors, wealtn
and prestige.
It did not take Mr. Kahn long to nake
up his mind to quit the footlights for the
law office. He says he never regrets hav
ing made the change, although he not
only had won recognition as an actor.
but als gained a multitude of friends In
the profession. Several times he was vice-
president of the Actors Order of Friend
ship, the largest theatrical organization
in the country.
While working with his brother In the
mercantile business in San Francisco he
studied law. and in 1S94 was admitted to
practice. Two years before this he was
elected to the State Legislature. In 1J
he also obtained distinction throughout
California by taking an active part in
the Midwinter Fair. He entered Congress
In 13$. where he increased his popularity
at home by fighting against the co-education
of white and Japanese children In
the public schools and all proposed legis
lation that might let down the bars of the
Chinese exclusion act. Appropriations of
tl-VO.0f for the new San Francisco post
office and $123,wXr for the purchase of the
Calaveras big tree grove as a Federal
preserve were obtained as the result of
the efforts of Mr. Kahn and his California
colleagues.
Duncan E. McKinlay and James Mc
Laclilan are two other foreign-born Re
publican Representatives from California.
McKinlav waa a carriage painter. He
learned the trade when 12 years old. hav
ing come to Flint. Mich., from Ori'lia. On
tario, where he was born In 1S2. At 21 ho
settled in San Francisco. Despite his lack
of education, ho studied law while paint
ing carriages, and obtained admission to
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. PORTLAND, JANUARY 17, 1909.
- r r mgsb A .-A W" ' v :
111 f w ..Ar-' " -V
s - J , III I s i , c "s w ; I - Tni' t lv j--' ' f yx ' ' ' 1 1
4 -X
the bar in 1S:2. His present home is
Santa Rosa. ,
McLaclilan read law while teaching in
the public schools. Born in Argyllshire.
Scotland, he was brought when a child to
Tompkins County, New York, where he
was reared on a farm. By teaching he
raised funds to go through Hamilton Col
lege and was admitted to the bar in 1S80.
He went from Ithaca, N. Y., to Pasadena,
Cal., in 1S8S.
Formerly a Street
Aral).
An English-born Representative who
fought his way from the street with his
fists is William Lorimer. one of the Re
publican bosses of Chicago and Illinois.
Manchester, England, was his birthplace.
Jn iMil. when no was 5. he came to this
country. Since 1870 Chicago has been his
home. '
In his early years Lorimer was a sign
painter, a streetcar driver, a bricklayer
and a packer at the stockyards. Once,
while working for Armour, he had a job
in the glue department. At 6:30 one morn
ing the elder Armour entered tho factory
and found Lorimer the only workman
there.
"Do you get down at this time every
morning?" asked Armour.
"Yes. sir," responded Lorimer, "every
morning when I know you are in town."
Soon afterward the future political boss
got a raise. From the stockyards he
went Into ward nolitles. became a
con
" r ' ,",., ., "
tractor, an office-holder and a political
power.- Now ho Is rich.
John James Jenkins, Republican Repre
sentative from Wisconsin, at one time
chopped down trees as a common laborer
In the pine woods of the Northwest. Born
In Weymouth, England, In 1S43, he found
a home In Baraboo. Wis., when a lad of 9.
Before he had obtained his growth he
went to war as a member of the famous
"Iron Brigade," commanded by General
Bragg, of Wisconsin.
Long after the war, when Jenkins, by
his alliance with trade unionists and his
victories at the bar, had risen to poltt-
TAFT
PKUSIDE.XT-EI.ECT
? it - , ,
t r ' t v " - V t
: . . , , t
T v . - . ...:.-:. . ':...' .y:M T
I . '.-..;... ,- ',. t- .S ' " " ' '. :. ' 1 '.... : . is-f : .:
: - . : 'v- t - "
' i . ' , . - -', I
" ' "
The above Illustration is of especial interest because it is tho first picture ever taken of the whole Taft
family. The fact that Mr. Taft haa been traveling on official business i different parts of the world, while the
children have been at school, has made meetings of the entire family very rare Indeed. This picture was taken
during the Christmas holidays at Augusta, and shows the White Steamer which Mr. Taft has chosen for his
personal use. In the above photograph Mrs. Taft is sitting next to the President-elect on the rear seat, the
older children, Robert and Helen, are sitting in the revolving seats, and Charlie, ma youngest child. Is sitting
next to the driver, H. N. Searles. who has been In charge of 1'resldent tioosevelt's cars for two years.
leal power and the office of Represen
tative, he met General Fitzliugh Lee.
Lee was talking with Representative W.
A. Jones, and after heartily shaking' the
hand of Jenkins, Leo said to Jones, with
a lauah:
"Jenkins Is a thorough gentleman. He
once aimed his (tun at me in b.-ittle, but
missed so that I would have the honor
of shooting buck."
When a youth of 19, William Bauehop
Wilson. Democratic Representative from
Pennsylvania, worked in (lie coal mines
of the state of his adoption. Born at
Blantvre. Scotland, in he went to
Arnot, Toga County. Pennsylvania, in
1S7U. Since earh- manhood he has been
active in the cause of trade unions, and
now holds the of flee of international sec
retarv-treasurer of the United Mine
Workers of America.
John Lauderdale Kennedy. Republican
Representative from Nebraska, was born
on a farm in Ayrshire, Scotland, and for
many years after he settled in La. balle
County. 111., he tilled the soil. Aspiring
to political honors, he decided that law
offered the right road. After attending
Knox College, he studied law at the State
University of Iowa, and for tiio last 24
yeurs has devoted himdelf to Its practice
In Omaha.
At the ago of 10 Martin B. Madd;n.-of
Chicago, a Republican Representative,
began work cutting stone. Ijle now Is
president of the Western Stone Company
and a director of the Metropolitan Trust
& Savings Bank of Chicago. He was
born in England and obtained most of his
education in public day and night schools.
Many of the early years of Charles
Lindbersh, of Little Falls. Minn., long
before his election to Congress on tha
Republican ticket, were devoted to hunt
ing and trapping. Born in Sweden in
1S9. he came to the United States when a
year old. his family settling in Melrcrse,
Minn. For the last 20 years he has prac
ticed law.
A clerk In a" wholesale drygoods store
was Gustav Kustermann, of Green Bay,
W:is., before ho went to Congress. He
was born at Detmold, Germany, in 1850,
and for several years worked In a dry
goods house in Hamburg. Germany, com
ing to this country in 1SC8. He is a Re
publican. Congressman James Anthony Hughes of
Huntington, W. Va., early began a busi
ness career. Corunua, Ontario, was his
birthplace. In 1S7.1, when a boy of 12,
he went to Ashland, Ky., entered the
lumber business, which grew to such an
extent In West Virginia that ho moved to
that 6tate. In West Virginia, as In Ken
tucky, he has been active in Republican
politics, having been elected a member
of the State Legislatures of both states.
A Bohemian by birth is Adoiph J. Sab
bath. Democratic Representative from
Illinois. He waa born April i. 1S66, at
Zaborl. emigrating to Chicago In 1SSL He
obtained much of his early education
from a business college. .When 29 he
began the practice of law. Ho was
elected to Congress by tho Democrats i
FAMILY ON MOTORING TRIP
4D MEMBERS OP HIS HOUSEHOLD I'
Lei
' ,X " " "- I I'l J
As - s J ,v
111 s 111
to succeed Anthony Michalek, Republican,
also a Bohemian.
Wales was the first home of William
Aubrey Thomas, of Niles, O., who was
first nominated to Congress In May. 104,
to succeed Charles Dick, present United
States Senator, who had resigned. He is
-an iron manufacturer, like his father, the
late John R. Thomas, of the Mahonins
Valley. Mr. Thomas Is 42 years old and
a Republican.
Diplomats and Explorers.
The adopted son of Uncle Sam also is
to be found in the Diplomatic and Con
sular service of the United States Gov
ernment. For example, Hamilton. King,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni
potentiary to Siam since 1903. is a native
of St. Johns, Newfoundland, where he
was born in 1S52.
Mr. Kins has been a preacher both of
tho gospel and of the principles of the
Republican party. Ho has spoken as much
from the political platform as the pulpit.
After studying a.t the Chicago Theological
Seminary and Leipsic University, lie at
tended the American School at Athens.
Mr. King is an author of a Greek reader
and "Outlines of United States History."
He was a delegate to the Republican Na
tional Convention In 1896, and was ap
pointed Minister Resident and Consul-
General In Siam in 1S98.
The United States Consul-Geueral at
FTankfort-on-the-Mam, Richard Guen-,
ther, was born In Potsdam, Prussia, in
1845. In New York City he was at one
time a 'broker in drugs and chemicals.
Moving to Oshkosh. "Wis., he engaged In
business as a pharmacist. Entering poli
tics, he became State Treasurer, member
of Congress and Consul General to the
City of Mexico.
Several well-known explorers in the
employ of Uncle Sam are of foreign
birth. Henry Biederbick, who was born ut
Waldbeck, Germany, In 1S59, served in the
THEIR AITOMOBILB
1
, j AW w,.: i ; .-
tip i J. - . w
Greely Arctic Expedition of 1SS1-S4. Mr.
Biederbick lias been in the United States
Customs Service since 1887, his present
post being in New York City.
Andrew Braid, who has made a name
for himself in the United States Coast and
Geodetic Survey Oflieo, was born in jvirk
caldy, Scotland,, in lSlti. He came to the
United States when a year old. William
Eimbeck, a geodesist, and also in this
branch of the Government service. Is a
native of Brunswick. Germany. Self-educated,
he climbed from a draughtsman's
job In a St. Louis locomotive works to
the professorship of mechanics and engi
neering at the Washington University.
Mr. Eimbeck is tho inventor of the in
variable reversible pendulum and the du
plex base apparatus of the Coast and
Geodetic Survey.
Ernest G. Timme. auditor for the
United States State Department and for
ferly auditor In tho Treasury Depart
ment, who lost his left arm in the Battle
of Chickamauga, was born in Werden,
Prussia, in lS4o.
First Survey of Panama
Spaniards Planned a Canal Across the Isthmus us Kurly as 13U8.-
THE project of cutting through the
narrow strip of land which joins
the Northern and Southern Ameri
cas, in order to open a channel for the
world's commerce. Is known to have
been long ago mooted. The operations
of De Lesseps are Instinctively thought
of when the earlier efforts are men
tioned, although the collapse of that
ambitious enterprise occurred nearly a
generation ago. The hoary antiquity
of the scheme of cutting such a canal
is but little appreciated, and probably
not known to many who take the most
enthusiastic Interest iu the present
work.
So near tho trulh was Columbus that
but for the injustice which finally
blighted his life he probably would
have found the IsthmuH. It was, how
ever, reserved for Balboa, In 1013
more than nine years after the death
of Columbus, to obtain the first view
1 the Pacific Ocean from a mountain top
in the isthmus. Then the world knew
that the "shorter route to India" w
barred to navigators.
Truly, however, the world of that
period was a daring and adventurous
one. Scarcely had Balboa's discovery
Indicated the true geographical situa
tion when the enterprising Spaniards
began to make plans to cut throuKh
the narrow isrhmua. In 1328, ly yeurs
only after Balboa's discovery, the sug
gestion was made to Charles V of
Spain by one of his subjects named
Galvao, and by the King's orders Cor
tez was. in 1034, charged with the lo
cation of a route, ami surveys were
made. Thus the gigantic undertaking
which now engages all the resources
of this Government, and which over 20
years ago wrecked the, great French
company of De Lesseps and honey
combed his government with corrup
tion and Intrigue, was first seriously
mooted and actually undertaken by the
Spaniards nearly four centuries ago.
And from tiiat time It has been period
ically discussed, and has progressed
at least so far as exploration with suf
ficient frequency to justify the asser
tion that this 400-year-old project has
never slept.
Even in 1551 a Spaniard named Go
mara set forth three alternative routes,
one of which was practicRlly the same
as that now known as the Nicaragua
route. And in 1567- Philip II cave the
prestige of his patronage to one of his
subjects who made extensive explora
tions on the Isthmus. Up to this time
all the efforts In this direction were
from Spain, but afterward plans and
explorations were originated by many
subjects of other monarclis.
The action of the United States which
has culminated in the actual prosecu
tion of the work as a governmental
enterprise finds its beginning not long
after the declaration of tiie Monroe
Doctrine, and at the very beginning of
the term of office of President Jack-
on. The government then in control
of Central America proposed that this
country should co-operate with It In
the construction of an Inter-oceanic
canal. This proposal was first made in
1825, and the negotiations were re
newed in 1S31. The matter did go to
3
The commander-ln-cnior or tne national
Army and Navy Spanish War Veterans Is)
Colonel Michael Emmet Urell, who served,
in both the Civil and Spanish-American
Wars, and to whom was awarded a niedaU
of honor because of gallantry while de
tailed as a coior-beaxxir. During tho en
gagement he was severely wounded.
Colonel Urell now holds a position In the
War Department. He was born In Ire
land in 3344.
Among tho foreign born eons who for
merly served Uncle Sam at Washington
are ex-Senators J. P. Jones, of Nebraska,
boi-n In England: Thomas Kearns. of
Uian. a native of Canada: Brigham H.
Roberts, also of Utah. Mnglish born, and
Thomas Patterson, of Colorado: ex-Rop-rescntatlve
William Cornell, a native of
Nova Scotia; J. T. MrCleary anil John
Lind, of Minnesota, the llrst from Canada,
the second from Sweden; Nicholas Mull, r,
of New York. German born; Goor;;
Spalding, of Michigan, born in Scotland:
John T. Caine, of Utah, originally from
the Isle of Man; Thomas J. Creamer, of
New York, a native born Irishman, and
ex-Delegate Bernard S. Rodey of New
Mexico, who was also born in Ireland.
(Copyright, 1909, by the McClure News
paper Syndicate.)
far as the making of a contract, but
capital was not forthcoming.
During the 'aOs the subject was
much discussed, particularly with re
spect to the question whether the
building of a canal by foreign capital
ists would conllict with the Monroe
Doctrine. The Interest taken In that
subject by Mr. Clayton early In his ca
reer has often been referred to. It re
sulted in such action by Congress In
1S35 and afterward in 18:19 as was
consistent -wit h tho views embodied in
the Clayton-Hulwer treaty afterward
negotiated by him as Secretary of
State. These views may be accepted
as representing the best-considered
opinion of that period in the United
States, as well us tiie more enlight
ened and liberal public opinion Of tho
world.
The substantial polnls thus estab
lished were: First, that 'a canal might
be constructed with individuals or
companies able and willing to assume
the responsibility: second, that the
work should be considered and treated
as international iu its character; end
thirdly, that the perpetual neutrality
of the canal should be guaranteed by
treaties between the United States and
such other nations as might be inter
ested either locally or for tho promo
tion and protection of their commercial
Interests. That a canal so constructed
and protected by a treaty would not
be considered as In violation of the
Monroe Doctrine became a generally
accepted opinion.
In view of the recent discussion of
the subject in connection with the
present operations at Panama, it Is
worthy of note that eifrht routes were
BiiggvKted, from which the technical
committee recommended a tide-water
canal on what was commonly called
tho Panama route. This report of tho
committee was adopted by a vote of 75
ayes, 8 noes, absent or not voting 62.
The capital required was estimated at
$150,000,000, the cost at $120,000,000,
the annual revenue at $18,000,000 and
the cost of maintenance at $1,200,000.
Of the members of this congress about
one-half were French: Enfrland had no
official representative, but permitted
the attendance of one unofficial repre
sentative, and the United States sent
two naval officers.
The Colombian government had In
1878 made a grant of the exclusive
privilege of constructing a canul to a
French company, and by the terms of
the concession the canal and Its ports
were neutralized. Thus the principle"
of neutralization was recognized by
the local am liorlties, and the grant of
authority under which the French op
erations were to bt undertaken, as It
had been In divers negotiations be
tween the United States and Great
Britain. This grant antedated the
Paris congress, but nothing hnd been
done under it, and in the same year
that the congress was held It was
transferred to the company of which
De Lesseps was the leading spirit. Of
the latter company, the first meeting .
for practical business was on January
31. 1SS1, and De Lesseps was made
president, with a board of 24 directors.
In October of that year the contractors
commenced work.
4