Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay.
Bogotá, September 24, 1903.
Sir: The report of the committee with its project of law authorizing the executive to negotiate for the construction of an Isthmian canal has not yet been presented to the Senate since the first debate.
The legislative procedure in the Colombian Congress is as follows:
At the first debate the project of law is presented, and if it is a subject that the Senate desires to consider, it is passed. If rejected it is implied that the Senate does not wish to consider the matter at all.
If the project of law passes the first debate it is referred to a committee appointed by the president of the Senate. The committee is given a reasonable time to study the law and has the power to suggest amendments. When this committee reports the matter comes up for the second debate, and this is the crucial test. Aside from the report of the committee individual members may propose amendments, and there is a general discussion of the whole question. As the law comes out of this debate it will pass, for the third debate is but a matter of form.
The project then goes to the Chamber of Representatives, where the same rules are observed.
[Page 202]A law may originate in either the Senate or the Chamber, and may be introduced by any member thereof or by the ministers of the Government, and the ministers may take part in all legislative debates.
There is no provision for conference committees, but if amendments are made to a Senate law by the Chamber, it is sent back to the original body for further consideration.
As I have previously reported, the proposed law authorizing the Executive to negotiate for the construction of a Panama canal, passed the first debate in the Senate; it was then referred to a committee headed by Senator Quintero Calderón as chairman. That Senator has since been very ill, so that nothing has been done toward a report. Yesterday, the 23d instant, the president of the Senate appointed Senator Rivas G. as chairman of the committee to succeed Senator Quintero Calderón, and gave him five days in which to prepare a report.
According to the very best information that I can get at this time, there is very little probability of the law passing the second debate in its present form. The enemies of the Government and the canal treaty threaten to add amendments still more unfavorable to the United States, and that they will succeed I do not doubt. I had an interview this morning with Gen. Pedro Nel Ospina, one of the strong men of the Senate, and he, too, is of the opinion that modifications are certain to be made.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,