The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-18
THE SENATE ADOPTS THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENT.
SEVERAL OF THE AMENDMENTS
by Senator'S as Soon as That
of the Committee is Gotten Out of the
Way. But None OF Them Acted Upon.
Senator Elkins' Proposed Amend
ment Attracts Much Attention-He
Advocates Radical Alterations In the
Treaty and Absolute Control Of the
Canal.

"dSlluSl0I, OtCCluDCI 4o.-4n az
cordance with previous agreement. the
senate in executive session o0k a ote
at 3 o'clock today ON The amendment to
h Hay-Pauncefote treaty, authoriZ-
ing the United States to defend its in
tereSts in the canal. The senate did
not close it's doors until 2 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 IL against
it. The negative votes were as follows:
Senators Baird, Beveridge, Frye, Fos-
ter, Ha~nsbrough, Lindsay. Mason, Nc
Cumber, McEnery, Mcbride, Morgan,
Money, Stewart, Tillman, Wellington,
WoIcott and Gallinger.
After the amendment offered by the
committee was passed upo various
other amendments received the atten-
ton of the senate for a brief time, but
none of them was acted pom
The committee amendment which
was adopted is a provision to be in
serted after Section 5 of Article II of
the treaty, and is as follows:
"It was agreed, however, that none of
the Immediately foregoing conditions
and stipulationS in sections numbered
/, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this article shall apply
to measures which the United States
| may find it necessary TO take for secur-
ing, by it's own forces. the defense of
the United States and the maintenance
of public order"
The committee amendment no sooner
| had been adopted than various senators
| took the floor ITO suggest further
| amendments. The amendment which
| probably attracted most attention was
| offered by Senate Elkins n is as fol
| lows:
Nothing in this treaty shall be con-
i 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 Nicaraguar
canaD or for any other purpose that
the United States may deem for it's besi
interests"
Other amendments weIe suggested
by Senators Tillmar, Allen. Money and
ThurSton- Senator Thurston's sugges
ton provides nat the United States
may defend the canal ard Senator Till
mans makes the committee amend
ment adopted by today's vote apply to
all the provisions of Article II. This
would have had the effect. it is believ-
ed, of multiplying tins provision of Sec
ton z of the article providing against
the fertilization Of the canal.
Senator Lodge, in charge of the
treaty wher all amendments were sub
mitted, moved an adjournment until
tomorrow. which motion prevailed.
Previous to the vote Senator Elkins
occupied the greater portion of the
senate's time with a speech advocat-
ing radical alterations of the treaty.
He announced himself as favorable to
4 the committee amendment, but said
that to his mind that amendment did
o go far enough to meet the wishes
of the American people. He believed,
he said, if the canal was to be con-
structed by the government of the
United States the people would demand
complete and absolute control over the
canal itself, and also the right TO exer-
else their own Judgment, as a nation,
not only in acquiring property in con-
nection with the canal. but if need be,
in securing sovereignty over it. He con-
tended that to pursue this course in
| volved no violation of international
rights, and in defense of this position he
said the United States had made an Of
fensiye and defensive treaty with
France in 1893 and soon afterward had
repudiated that obligation. He also
cited other presidents and authorities.
He argued, in short, that changed con-
ditions warrant a change in conduct
and in position.
Later the republican committee on
order of business held a session to de-
cid upon the future line of action with
reference to the treaty as amended.
Subsequently Senator Lodge. who
was with the committee. stated that
the senate would proceed with the
treaty and that he would continue his
efforts to ave it ratified.