New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-21
PROCEDURE IN THE SENATE.
THE TWO FORAKER AMENDMENTS
ADoPTED-oTHERs VOTED DOWN.

Washington. Dec 2o-After spending the
greater part of the last fortnight in considering
the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. the Senate to-day
consumed only one hour and ten minutes in
amending it and ratifyng it amended, In
this time there were six rolcalls and several
viva voce votes. The first five of the rollcalls
were on amendments offered by individual SEN
ators, and the last one on the resolution TO
ratify the treaty as amended. All the amend
rnents except those offered by Senator Foraker
and reported by the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations were voted down by majorities averag-
ing about 10. The ratification resolution was
adopted by a vote of % to Is.
DISCUSSION BEFORE THE VOTE.
The Senate was in executive session for about
an hour before the time for voting arrived lis
tening to speeches by Senators Thurston, Gal
finger. Woleott and Bard. explanatory Of their
attitude Mr.. Bard commended for the adoption
of his amendment giving preference TO Ameri-
can ships passing through the proposed MIC
eragua Canal. Senator GaIlnger spoke in de-
fence of the treaty as it originally came from
the President. Senator Wolcott said that the
original treaty would have been satisfactory to
him. but added that he considered the agree
rnent as It had been and vas about to be
amended preferable to no treaty at all. Senator
Thurston strongly advocated the treaty. saying
that as Great Britain owns and governs large
portion of the territory of North America, 1t
perfectly right and proper that she should
be consulted in the construction OF an isthmian
canal. When Senator Mason asked if it was not
also proper that Great Britain should pay part
of the cost of construction he replied that
securing the canal itself was the one great de-
sideratum and, compared to the benefit the
waterway would be to the worlds commerce.
the cost Of construction was Of little moment.
VOTING ON AMENDMENTS.
Senator Lodge. who as member Of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, has piloted the
treaty through the Senate since the death of
Chairman Davis. lost no time in demanding that
the voting begin when o'clock arrived The
Foreign Relations Committee amendments were
read first Senator Lodge suggested verbal
amendment to the first of these, adding the
word Convention after the word which"
as to make the amendment read Which
vent.on is hereby superseded" He explained
that it had been suggested that without the
addition Of that word the amendment might be
construed as applying only to Article VIII Of
tie CLAYTON BuIwer Treaty; whereas it was in
tended to apply to the entire treaty. The
amendment was accepted, and the two commit
tee amendments then were adopted without
division.
The first roIcaH was on Senator EIkinss
amendment declaring that nothing contained
In this treaty shall be construed TO prevent the
United States from acquiring at any time sufi-
cient territory and sovereignty over the same
upon which to build. manage. operate. defend,
fortify, protect and control said canal, or for
any other purposes as the United States may
deem best in it's own interests" 1t was lost by
a vote of % to 45 the ballot in detail being as
follows