Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-14
DISCUSSING THE TREATY
THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED BY THE
SENATE.
Senator EIl<ins Advocates Radical Al
teratiOn-SenatOr Lodges
Program.

AS announced yesterday in The Star, the
Senate, in executive session. adopted the
amendment to the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
authorizing the United States to defend
its interests in the canal. The vote was
taken by yeas and nays, 90 votes being
cast in favor of the amendment and II
against it. The negative votes were as fol-
lows: Baird, Beveridge, Frye, Foster,
Hansbrough, Lindsay, Mason, McCumber,
McEnery, Mcbride. Morgan, Money, Stew
art, Tillman, Wellington, Wolcott and Gal
linger.
After the amendment offered by the COM
mittee was passed upon various other
amendments received the attention of the
Senate for a brief time, but none of them
was acted upon.
The committee amendment which was
adopted is provision to be inserted after
section ) of article of the treaty, and is
| as follows:
at is agreed however, that none of the
Immediately foregoing conditions and Sup-
uiatiOnS in sections numbered i, :, 5, and
) of this article shall apply to measures
which the United States may find it neces-
sary to take for securing by it's own forces
the defense of the United States and the
maintenance of public order
The committee amendment no sooner had
been adopted than various senators took
the floor to suggest further amendments
most attention was offered by Senator Ell
kins, and is follows:
Nothing in this treaty shall be construed
to prevent the United States from acquir-
ing sufficient security and sovereignty or
to prevent it from building. operating,
maintaining, controlling and defending the
said canal referring to the proposed Mica
raguan canal or for any other purpose
that the United States may deem for It's
best interests.
Other amendments We're suggested by
Senators Tillman. Allen, Money and Thurs
ton. Senator Thurston's suggestion pro-
vides that the United States may defend
the canal and Senator Tillman's makes the
committee amendment adopted by yester-
days vote apply TO all the provisions OF
article 2 This would have the effect, 1t
is believed. of multiplying the provision Of
section Of the article providing against
the fertilization of the canal. Other
amendments were offered striking out sec
lions 3 and of article 2. Senator Teller
said that if Senator Elkins' amendment
should be adopted he would not press his
amendment for the modification of section
I so to omit provision against the 1ortl-
ficatiOn of the canal.
Senator Lodge in charge of the bill, was
not slow to recognize the futility Of try
ing to secure further consideration for the
treaty, as amended, during yesterdays ses-
sion, and az soon as the amendments were
all submitted he moved an adjournment
until today, which motion prevailed.
Prior to taking the vote on the committee
amendments Senator EIklnS occupied the
greater portion of the Senate'S time with q
speech advocating radical alteration of the
treaty. He announced himself as favorable
to the committee amendment, but said that
TO his mind that amendment did not go
far enough to meet the wishes Of the Amer1-
can people. He believed. he said If the
canal was to be constructed by the govern
ment of the United States, the people would
demand complete and absolute control over
the canal itself, and also the right to eXer-
ciSka their Judgment. nation, not
only in acquiring property in connection
with the canal but, If need be. in securing
sovereignty over It, He contended that to
pursue this course involved no violation of
international rights, and in defense of this
position said the United States had made
an offensive and defensive treaty with
France in 1893, and soon afterwards had
repudiated that obligation He also cited
other precedents and authorities, some of
them being from English sources, in sup
port of this position. He argued, In short,
that changed conditions warrant a change
In conduct and in position. The speech was
listened to with much interest, and at its
conclusion a motion was made to have it
made public. objection, however, was
raised and the order was not made.
After the Senate adjourned for the day
the republican committee on order of bust
ness held a session to decide upon the
future line of action with reference to the
treaty as amended. After this committee
had concluded it's conference Senator
Lodge who was with the committee stated
that the Senate would proceed with the
treaty, and that he would continue his eff
forts to have it ratified.