The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-14
THE VOTE ON 1T 65 TO II
Lodge Will Work For the Treaty s
Ratification.
THE POSITION OF SENATOR ELKlNs
Il the Government Constructs This Work He
Declares, the American People viii De-
mand Absolute and Complete Con-
troll of the Canal.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, Dec. 13.-In accordance
with previous agreement the Senate in
executive session took a vote at 3 O'Clock
today 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 it's doors
until two o'clock and there was left only
one hours time for discussion of the
provisions of the amendment. The vote
was taken by yeas and nays, 65 votes
being cast in favor of the amendment and
II against it, The negative votes were
as follows
Baird, Beveridge, Frye, Foster, Hans
brought, Lindsay, Mason. McCumber, Nc
Emery, Mcbride. Morgan. Money. Stewart.
Tillman, Wellington, Wolcott and Calm
ger.
After the amendment offered by the
committee was passed upon various other
amendments received the attention Of
the Senate for brief time, but none
We're acted upon
The committee amendment which was
adopted, is a provision TO be Inserted 80
ter section 5, article 2 of the treaty, and
is as follows:
1T is agreed. however, that none of
the immediate foregoing conditions and
stipulations in sections numbered one,
two three, four and five of this article
shall apply to measures which the Uni
ted States may find it necessary to take
for securing by its own forces the de-
fense of the United States and the main
tenance of public order"
The committee amendment no sooner,
had been adopted than various Senators
took the floor to suggest further amend
ments. 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 security and sover-
eighty, or to prevent it from building OPP
Grating, maintaining, controlling, and de-
Tending the said canal referring to the
proposed Nicaraguan CanaD or for any
other purpose that the United States may
deem for its best interest"
Other amendments were suggested by
Senators 1illman, Allen Money and
Thurston Senator Thurstons suggestion
provides that the United States may de-
fend the canal and Senator Tillman's
makes the committee amendment adopted
by today's vote apply to all the provisions
of article 2. This would have the effect.
it is believed, of multiplying the provision
of section Z of the article providing for
the fortification of the canal. Other
amendments were offered striking out
sections 3 ard of article @ Senator Tel
Ter said that if Senator Elkins' amend
ment should be adopted he would not
press his amendment for the modification
of section so as to omit provision against
the fortilication of the canal
Senator Lodge, in charge of the bill,
when all amendments were submitted.
moved an adjournment until tomorrow,
which motion prevailed
Previous to the vote Senator Elkins
occupied the greater portion of the SEN
ate's time with a speech advocating radi-
cal alteration of the treaty He an
nounced himself as favorable to the com
mittee amendment, but said that to his
mind that amendment did not go far
enough to meet the wishes of the Ameri-
can people. He believed he said if the
canal was to be constructed by the gov
ernment of the United States the people
would demand complete and absolute con-
troll 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 sovereignty over it. He
contended that to pursue this course in
volved 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 obli-
cation. He also cited other precede1ts
and authorities. He argued in short.
that changed conditions necessitated a
change in conduct and in position
Later the Republican Committee on
Order Of Business held a session to de-
eide upon the future line of action with
reference to the treaty as amended. Sub
sequently 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