The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-07
SENATE SECRET SESSION
INTENSELY INTERESTING.
Some Plain Talk as to Certainty of
the Building OF Isthmian
Canal

WASHINGTON, Dec e.-The senate
was In executive session for more than
devoted 10 he discussion by senator
Morgan OF the -Pauncefote treaty
for the abrogation Of the portion o. tne
clayton-Kulwer treaty which relates 70
the Nicaragua canal.
The senator made II very plain, In the
course OF his remarks. that While ne was
not opposed to the pending treaty N az
only concern, In that connection. Is Tor
the passage % the canal bill, and he al
lowed 1t 10 be very broadly understood
cussion because OF his conviction that
there were a majority Of senators VINO
would insist upon action upon that treaty
as a condition precedent 10 the passage
OF the canal bill. For this reason. he
said, he was willing TO discuss the treaty
lie intimated privately to other senators,
however, that he would not consent TO
the fixing Of time for like action
upon the Nicaragua canal bill.
In the course Of his speech he said that
he did not in reality consider that the
treaty need have any especial bearing
upon the bill. and that he believed that
II WAS competent for the United states
to proceed with the building of the canal.
regardless OF the treaty. or Great Brit
aims wishes in the matter. but to satisfy
other senators and also to meet the wishes
81 the SECRETARY Of state; for whom ne
incidentally expressed the highest esteem,
treaty and do ali he could for II. He
would vote for the. agreement whether
II should he amended or not, although be
would prefer that there should be no
amendment.
Fortfncation of Canal.
Discussing the question Of the forti-
fication OF the canal. Senator Morgan ar
gued strenuousy against It, both az IN
expedient and unnet essary. He contenu-
ed that Great Britain was not the only
power whose interests would be affected
by a provision for fortincation, and said
that Nicaragua and Costa Rica had
right 10 be considered in that connection.
Furthermore, In case OF war everybody
knew that the canal would be protested
to the fullest extent, so that any provi-
sion whatever bearing upon this point
Was needless. He admitted however. that
he had no doubt that u the United states
should proceed with the construction or
the canal without frat taking steps 70
secure the neutrality OF the same. Great
Britain wou'1 be grievousiy offended, ana
that he thought I not Impossible , shss VIC
grave ITO lead to hostilities between the
two countries.
do you mean. asked Senator Beyer,
idgf. that notwithstanding the present
friendly relations between the two conn-
tries, England might declare war II we
should construct the canal With our own
means ARD In our own wayT
carai VIII Ne Built.
Senator Morgan replied that he consid-
But" he continued. II should not be
deferred by that circumstance What
England would do. he said was, OF
course. a matter 81 speculation. and he
added that he had only referred to this
possibility In order to emphasize his
opinion that the canal should be con-
structed Ia any contingency, The Ameri-
can people. no said had mapped out that
canal and they were not going to allow
any obstacls. no matter how serious, to
stand IN the way. He believed that the
administration that would undertake to
build the canal knowing that t. DO 50
meant war. would be indnrsed BY the peo-
pie az iargs BY a bigger majority than
Mckinley had wher elected ovcr, Bryan
Senator Morgau Awas piled With many
questions by Senators Mason, B~veFidge.
filiman and Others MIR. Mason asked
Whefhfr u was true that n tho Hay
Pauncefote negotiation prevented the use
Of the canal by Great Britain In time OF
war the converse proposition that II
also prohibited subsequent use by the
United States was not also true.
To this Mr. Morgan did not make any
direct reply saying that he would take
up that point later in hts discussion.
In discussing the points OF the treaty
with Senator Teller. the Alabama senator
expressed tho view that the Clayton Bull
wer treaty Is unconstitutional and that,
for this reason II for no other, 1t should
be diarcgarded