Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-15
DISCUSSING THE TREATY
MIR. LODGE TRIES TO HAVE TIME
FINED FOR A VOTE.
Senators Culberson, SpOOncr, Lindsay,
Views I'm Executive Session.

The Senate remained in executive session
yesterday afternoon until nearly O'Clock.
Senator Lodge made an effort TO have a day
set for taking a vote on the Hay-Paunce
fcte treaty. He suggested next Thursday
as the generally accepted time, but did not
succeed in getting the unanimous consent
| necessary.
Senator Mason first made objection, and
when he withdrew it Senator Money sug
gested that Senator Morgan had given no.
tice that he would ask that the vote upon
| the treaty should be postponed until a vote
could be obtained upon the Nicaragua canal
bill, Senator Morgan, however stated that he
was not disposed to make that contention
any longer because he did not wish to do
anything which would lead Great Britain
to conclude that this country desires to
take a threatening position.
Senator Butler then entered objection to
fixing a time for vote.
Senator Lodge stated, however, that in
view of the position taken he should press
the treaty upon the attention of the Senate
early and late until a vote could be had,
and he afterward declined to move an adj
jcurnment until Monday, because of the re-
fusal to allow a day to be named for a
vote:
Aside from these incidents and the re-
porting Of the new amendments suggested
by the committee on foreign relations the
proceedings of the day consisted wholly of
speech-making, the speakers being Senator's
Culberson, Spooner, Lindsay, McCumber
and Elkins.
Senator Culberson, who made the first
speech of the day, spoke for the adoption
of tactics similar to those outlined by the
Money resolution, which provides for the
abrogation of the Clayton-Buiwer treaty by
diplomatic methods. He said that he was
opposed to proceeding by piecemeal to get
rid of compact SO Objectionable to Ameri-
can ideas as the Clayton Bulwer treaty.
He thought it entirely competent for this
country to proceed with the canal indie
pendently of all treaties either in force or
pending in the Senate and he would have
the treaty laid aside and the Hepburn canal
bill passed regardless of the treaty.
Senator Spooner combatted the argu-
ments Of Mr.. Cuberson. He said that he
favored the canal and believed that the
United States should have the right to
fortify and defend it, but he could not ac-
cept the view that we should proceed in
that great work in total disregard Of the
existence Of the agreement Of 1850. Great
Britain, he said, is friendly power, and
he would not consent to any ruthless pro-
ceedings, but would go at the work of
preparing for the construction in an order
ly way which would insure the support
and good will Of kindred people. He
was therefore an advocate of the pending
negotiation. He said that Great Britain
on three different occasions had ap-
preached this country to secure the abro-
cation OF the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, but
declined the overture. True, the PROPOSE
ton had been made to the Department of
State without consulting Congress, but at
any rate the incidents at least will indicate
the English attitude upon the question of
abrogation.
Senator Lindsay spoke Of the ratification
Of the treaty without further amendment,
saying that he was for 1t because he con-
sdered some agreement with Great Britain
a necessary precedent Of the canal He
said that he had even opposed the commit
tees amendment adopted Thursday be-
cause to his mind the amendment is q
concession to Great Britain which it is I'M
necessary to make. 1T comedies" he said,
that without the amendment Great Brit
ain woud have the right to pass ships
through the canal in time Of war, and
am not willing to have the United States
take that position. I think the treaty
would have been stronger without the
amendment" Mr.. Lindsay also announced
his willingness to treat with Great Britain
for the total abrogation of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty.
Senator McCumber also favored ratifca-
ton of the treaty without amendment. Sen
ator Elkins repeated the views expressed
by him previously for absolutely independ-
ent action in the construction of the canal
and in the operations of the United States
In Central America. He said that he had
received many kilograms indorSing his po-
sition.
No Possibility of Acceptance.
1t Is not believed that there is even
possibility of Great Gritain accepting the
Hay Pauncefote treaty as amended by the
Senate The failure of the efforts Of the
President and Secretary Hay to check fur
Their amendment of the treaty, and the &C
ton of the foreign relations committee In
recomme nding the adoption of the Foraker
amendments mean that the character of
the treaty will be entirely changed when
1t finally gets out of the Senate unless 1t
Is Withdrawn and abandoned by the Presi-
dent before ratification.
After the conference Of Senators Lodge
Aldrich and Foraker with the President
and Secretary Hay yesterday 1t was the
understanding Of the senators that the
treaty would not be withdrawn, though
Mr.. Hay expressed the opinion that though
Great Britain might accept the treaty with
the Davis amendment, 1t would not be ac-
cepted with further amendments