The Portland daily press., 1900-12-19
Most Of the Time Devoted To Hay.
Pauncefote Treaty.
Another Amendment
To Be Offered.
Senator Foraker Speaks In De-
Tense of Treaty.

Washington, December IS The friends
o. the HAy-Pauncefote treaty occupied
nearly all Of the time of the Senate In
executive session today, Senators FORAKER
and Morgan being the SPEAKERS.
Previous to the taking up OF that
treaty., the Senats for the purposs of
clearing It's calsndar, disposed OF ssveral
other treaties OF comparatively little i'm
portance. Five conventions in all were
ratified. Among the documents thus dis
posed Of was an agreement supplementary
to the Hay -Pauncefote treaty itself and
extending the time within which IL may
be ratified. Under the terms OF the origi-
nal treaty, the time for ratification ex-
plred i've months ago. The agreement
tavcrabIy passed upon today. extends the
time until the fourth of March, during
which the treaty may be completed. Sem
ator Lodge who had the matter In charge,
manifested some anxiety over this treaty
and evidently was somewhat relieved
when 1t went through without o dissent
| ing voice. The other treaties which were
ratified were as follows:
Extending for one year the time within
which the commercial treaty with Argen-
tine may be ratified.
Extending for year the time within
which the treaty with Great Britain for
reciprocity WITH Jamaica may be ratified.
The new extradition treaties with b.
Iivia and Chill.
When the Hay Pauncefote treaty was
taken up, attention was given to the
resolution offered in opsn session earlier
In the day by senator Tillman, calling
for the correspondence between this gov
eminent and the government OF Colum'
biA, relative TO the right of the United
States to construct canal across Colom-
bian territory. The resolution was agreed
to after 1t was amended at the Instance
of Senator Morgan so as to also call for
Canal company including ali offers on tine
part OF that company and all negotiation
with 1t concerning the Panama canal.
Senator Baird OF California gave notice
of an amendment he Will offer to the
treaty. providing that the U nited States
shall have the right to discriminate in
favor OF American goods snippsd
through the canal in American vessels
engaged In the ooastwiss trade.
Senator Foraker's speech from first to
lass, was a defense OF the ay-Paunoefote
treaty, and he took occasion 20 praise in
high terms Secretary Hay, who he said,
is not only an accomplished gentleman
and scholarly man. but patriot and
statesman OF high order.
Senator Morgan traverEed much of the
ground he had covered in his previous
arguments in support of the Hay Paunce-
fote treaty. HIS referred to the protocols
agreed upon between Nicaragua and
Costa Rica regarding the canal and said
that the ratification OF the Hay treaty is
debt we owe to them. Those countries
If they should sac fit, might rise up and
refuse to allow us TO do anything, hence,
we could not afford to do anything that
would offend them. For this reason he
would have the neutrality of the canal
assured and the psnding treaty ratified.
REPORT ON CANAL.
Washington, December 1s.-Senator
Morgan, chairman of the Senate commit
tee on intsr-oceanic canals 30 which was
referred the preliminary report OF the
isthmian canal commission, today sub
mitted a partial report thereon In con-
nection with the protocols Of agreements
with Costa Rica and Nicaragua, relating
to the proposed canal, which was SUBJ
mitted recently to the Senate. In course
OF the report 1t lie said that this statement
Of the Walker commission and the proto.
coils referred to have direct bearing up
on what Ia known as the Hep burn bill,
now on the Senate calendar.
"That bill" says the report. sis a
declaration of the policy OF the United
States for . canal under control Of this
government 1t Is the law OF necessity
rather than the expectation OF Profit or
advantage to ths United States that com
peIs us to construct, own and control a
ship canal through Costa Rics and Mic
aragua, and the geographical relations OF
those states to our country and the pres |
tige of the United States among Ameri- |
can governments point to us as the power |
that must incnr the expenditure and BIZ |
invested with the authority to control the |
canal az a marine highway for ships OF
all nations. The assured profits of this |
in money. calculated on a
basis that Is even much larger than Is an !
dioated In any report that has estimated |
the cost, are a sufficient justification or |
the expenditure that 10 necessary to 40
quirs the right OF way and construct the |
canal.