for the Panama route. Among the disadvantages charged to the route are the (assumed) compara- tive unhealthfulness of the climate, which, it is thought, might impede the work of construction, and the remoteness of the Panama route as com- pared with the Nicaragua rou{e from the high- ways of commerce between the Pacific and AtUxn- tic coasts of the United States. On the other hand, the Panama route gives the direct short course to the Pacific ports of South America. Consult: The lieport of the United States Inthiniuit. Canal Voinmissiun, ISO'J-l'Ml (Wash- ington, 1901 ); The Sew Panama Canal Compani/ (official publication) (New York, 1809); and Canal (le Panama, rapport <lc la commission (Paris, 1899).
Consult also the authorities cited inider Xic- AK.VGU. C'.NAL.
PANAMA CONGRESS. A congress of dele- gates respresenting various nations of America, which met at Panama in June, 1826, for the con- sideration of questions of common interest. Soon after the establishment of the independence of the South and Central American republics and of ilexico, a movement, largely under the direc- tion of Simon Bolivar (q.v. ), President of Co- lombia, was set on foot for the organization of an American Confederacy. In 1823 Bolivar in- vited the governments of Mexico, Peru, Buenos Ayres, and Chile to send to Panama delegates empowered to take such action: but Buenos Ayres and Chile held back, and in December, 1824, Bolivar sent a circular letter to all the Spanish-American republics, proposing that each appoint representatives to assemble immediately at Panama. This invitation was promptly ac- cepted by Jfexico, Peru, Chile, and Guatemala, and in November, 1825, the ministers of Jlexico, Colombia, and Guatemala at Washington for- mally invited the United States to send dele- gates to the proposed congress, stating in a gen- eral way the questions which would be brought up for discussion. President Adams, influenced largely by Henry Claj', then Secretary of State, proniptly accepted the invitation and in his an- nual message to Congress stated that "'ministers will be commissioned to attend," This was the signal for one of the most animated debates in the history of the United States Congress, op- position being aroused particularly by the fear of "entangling alliances,' by the proposed discus- sion of the recognition of Haiti, the suppression of the slave trade, and the liberation fniiu Span- ish rule of Cuba and Porto Rico, and to some extent by the reluctance on the part of many to commit the United States to the policy enunci- ated in the 'Jlonroe Doctrine,' Finally, however, Adams's appointment of two envoys extraordi- nary, Richartf C. Anderson and ,Tohn Sergeant, was ratified by the Senate, and an ajipropriation for the mission was voted in the House. The con- gress met on .Tune 22. 1826. Colombia, Central America. Peru, and Mexico being represented. Chile, Brazil, and Buenos .yres approved of the congress, but did not send delegates. After hold- ing ten sessions and agreeing to a treaty of per- petual union for defense against Spain, the con- gress adjourned to meet again at Tacuhaya, Mexico, in the following year. The treaty of union was subsequently ratified only by Colom- bia. The United States was not represented, Anderson having died on the way to Panama, and Sergeant not reaching that place until after The meeting at the congress had adjourned. Tacubaya was never held.
PANAMA HATS. Hats made from the im-
jnalure unexpandcd h-aves of the stcmless screw-
pine {Vurludorica palmata), a native of Central
America and Colombia. After special treatment
to remove the soft parts of the leaf, the fibre
is soaked to render it pliable, and the weaving
IS done under water. The hats most valued are
made fr<jm single leaves.
PAN-AMERICAN CONGRESS. After the
failinv .,f thi' I'aiiiiiria r,,M-n-s>. 1„.1,| i„ 1S2(!
for the purpose of taking measures looking
toward a close union among the American
republics for the furtherance of their coinmon
welfare, various efforts followed at intervals to
bring together a congress of all the American
States with a view to a more lengthy and earnest
discussion of the imijortant questions of com-
mon interest to the republics of America. Fi-
nally in 18-17 a congress representing five South
American republics was held at Lima and re-
sulted in treaties of confederation and of com-
merce and navigation, a consular convention, and
a jiostal treaty. Again in 1804 a congress of
delegates representing .seven South American re-
publics and one Central American State was held
at Lima for the purpose of forming a Latin-
American I'nion. The sessions were secret and
its work was without substantial result. In
1878 a third congress was held at Lima and
consisted of representatives from seven South
American States and the island of Cuba. Treaties
of international law and extradition were pre-
pared and afterward ratified by Guatemala and
Uruguay. In 1881 the governments of the Central
States i.ssued invitations for a congress of Amer-
ican republics, to be held at Washington, D, C,
in November, 1882, for the purpose of ""eonsider-
ing and discussing the methods of preventing war
between the nations of America," but, on account
of the war between Chile. Bolivia, and Peru and
the failure of Congress to make the necessary
appropriations, the invitations were withdrawn.
Finally on October 2, 1889, a congress represent-
ing every American republic except Santo Do-
mingo met at Washington under the Presidi-twy
of Mr. Blaine. The congress remained in session
till April 21st. Its work consisted of a number of
recommendations, few of which were ever adopted
by the governments interested. The principal of
these related to the free navigation of .meriean
rivers, a uniform system of weights and meas-
ures throughout America, a uniform standard of
value, and a common silver coin, an international
banking system, uniform extradition treaties,
reciprocity, uniform consular fees, harbor fees
and regulations, uniform sanitary regulations,
and the establishment of a Bureau of Informa-
tion for the dissemination of intelligence concern-
ing the commerce an<l resounes of the .
ieri<;in republics. In December, I89!l. the Goveniiiient of
the United States suggested the holding of an-
other congress, and upon the invitation of the
Government of ilexico the City of Mexico was
chosen for the place of meeting, and the date set
was October 22, 1901. Eventually the govern-
ments of all the American republics accepted the
invitation and the congress met on the date ap-
pointed. It was in session until January 31,
1902, a part of the time being spent in visiting
places of interest in Mexico, The work of Hie
