The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-14
other Important Amendments offered,
but Action on All Postponed
After Brief Debate.
EDITORS
WROTH
BITISH
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON REGARD
ED AS every SERIOUS, INDEED
Daily Chronicle Man of Opinion that
JingOes and AnEIophObes Are i'm
Control of the Senate.

with a previous agreement the Senate, IN
executive session, took vote at o'ciock
this afternoon on the amendment to the
Hay-Paunceforte treaty authorizing the
United States to defend its interests in
the canal. The Senate did not close its
doors until o'clock and there was then
left only one hours time for discussion of
the provisions of the amendment The
vote was taken by yeas and nays, sixty
five votes being cast in favor of the amend
ment and seventeen against it. The mega
tive votes were as follows: Baird, Bever-
idge. Frye, Foster, Hansbrough. Lindsay.
Mason, McCumber, McEnery, Mcbride,
Morgan, Money, Stewart. Tillman. Yelling
ton, Wolcott and Gallinger.
After the amendment offered by the COM
mittee was passed upon, various other
amendments received the attention of the
Senate for brief time, but none of them
was acted upon. The committee amend
ment which was adopted is a provision to
be inserted after Section of Article II Of
the treaty is as follows
''It is agreed, however, that none of
the Immediately foregoing conditions and
stipulations in sections numbered 1, 2, 8,
and of this article, shall apply to meas
necessary to take for securing by its own
forces the defenses 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.
The amendment which probably attracted
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 territory and sover-
eighty, or to prevent it from building,
operating, maintaining, controlling and de-
Tending 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
Senator'S Tillman. Allen. Money and Thurs
ton. Senator Thurston's suggestion pro-
v;des that the United States may defend
the canal, and Senator Tillman makes the
committee amendment adopted by to-days
vote apply to all the provisions Of Ar
ticle IL. This would have the effect, 1t is
believed, of multiplying the provision of
Section Z Of the article providing against
the fortification Of the canal. Other
amendments were offered striking out
Sections and Of Article III.
Senator Teller said that If Senator
Elkinss amendment should be adopted he
would not press his amendment for the
modification Of Section 80 as to omit pro-
vision 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 consideration OF the
treaty as amended during the days ses-
sion, and as soon as the amendments were
ali submitted he moved an adjournment
until tomorrow, which motion prevailed.
Previous to taking the vote on the COM
mittee amendments Senator Elkins oc-
cupied the greater portion of the Senates
time with speech. advocating radical al
teration of the treaty. He announced him.
self as favorable to the committee amend
ment, but 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 by the government of the
United States. the people would demand
complete and absolute control over the
canal itself and also the right to exercise
their own judgment, as a nation, not only
in acquiring property in connection with
the canal, but, if need be, in securing SOW
ereignty over it. He contended that to pur-
sue 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 bus
mess 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 confer nce Senator
Lodge, who was with the committee.
stated that the Senate would proceed with
the treaty, and that he would continue
his efforts to have it ratified.
To Abrogate Clayton-Bulwer Treaty.
WASHINGTON. Dec. Ex-senator Money
to-day introduced the following resolution
in the Senate. providing authority for the
abrogation Of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
by diplomatic negotiations:
Resolved, That the President OF the
United States be respectfully requested to
consider the expediency OF opening ne
gotiafions with the governm It OF Great
Britain for the abrogation of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty. with assurance that such