Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-14
THE DAVIS Amendment
TO THE CANAL TREATY
ADOPTED BY THE SENATE IN EX-
ECUTIVE SESSION BY SIXTY
FIVE TO SEVENTEEN.
OTHER AMENDMENTS OFFERED.
WHO WOULD GO TO MUCH
GREATER LENGTHS.

lO4N, OSCSuUCl II az
cordance with previous agreement,
the Senate, in executive session, took
a vote at o'clock to-day on the
amendment to the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty, authorizing the United States
to defend it's interests in the canal.
The Senate did not close its doors I'M
til 2 O'Clock, and there was then left
only one hours time Tor discussion OF
1.-The provisions of the amendment The
vote was taken by yeas and nays, 56
votes being cast in favor of the
amendment and II against it. The
negative votes were as follows:
Baird, Beveridge, Frye, Hansbrough,
Lindsay, Mason, McCumber, McEnery,
Mcbride, Morgan, Money, Stewart,
rillman, Wellington, Wolcott and Gal
linger.
After the amendment offered by the
committee was passed upon various 9TH
er amendments received the attention
OF the Senate for brief time, but none
or them was acted upon.
The committee amendment which
was adopted is a provision to be in
serted after Section 5, Of Article 2, of
the treaty, and is as follows:
1T is agreed however, that none OF
the Immediately foregoing conditions
and stipulations in sections numbered
l, 2, 3, and of this article shall ap-
ply to measures which the United
States may find it necessary to take for
securing by its forces the defence of the
United States and the maintenance of
public order"
The committee amendment had no
sooner been adopted than various
Senators took the floor to suggest fur
ther amendments.
The amendment which probably at
tracted the most attention was offered
. by Senator Elkins, and is as follows:
Nothing in this treaty shall be con-
strued to prevent the United States
from acquiring sufficient security and
sovereignty, or to prevent it from
building, operating, maintaining, con-
trolling and defending the said canal
(referring to the proposed Nicaraguan
canal) or for any other purpose that
the United States may deem for its
best interests"
Other amendments were suggested
by Senators, Tillman, Allen. Money
and Thurston. Senator Thurston's
suggestion provides that the United
States may defend the canal, and Sen
ator Tillman's makes the committee
amendment adopted by to-day's vote
apply to all the provisions of article q
This would have the effect, it is be-
ieved of multiplying the provision OF
section 7 of the article, providing
against the fertilization of the canal.
Other amendments were offered strik-
ing out sections 3 and or article 2.
Senator Tillman said that if Senator
Elkins's amendment should be adopted
he would not press his amendment for
the modification of section so as to
omit provision against the fertilization
of the canal.
Senator Lodge, in charge OF the bill,
was not slow to recognize the futility
of trying to secure further considera-
ton for the treaty, as amended during
the days session, and as soon as the
amendments were all submitted he
moved an adjournment until to-mor-
row, which motion prevailed
Previous to taking the vote on the
committee amendments, Senator Elkins
occupied the greater portion of the Sem
ate's time with speech advocating rad
ical alteration Of the treaty. He an
nounced himself as favorable to the
committee amendment, bat said that to
his mind that amendment did not go
far enough to meet the wishes of the
American people. He believed, he said.
that if the canal was to be constructed
j, by the government of he United States
tHo peOpIe "oulu uehdhu COIdplSte anu
absolute control over the canal itself,
and also the right to exercise their own
judgment, as a nation, not only in ac-
curing property in correction with the
canal but if need be, in securing SOW
ereignty over it.
For nearly three hours in the open
session Mr.. Hanna addressed the Sen
ate upon the ship subsidy bill. While
he has spoken heretofore on the floor
of the Senate, his effort to-day really
was his first formal speech to the body
since he became member of it,