The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-18
THE AMENDMENT FIRST
Then Vote on the Treaty Before the
Body Adjourns.
SPEECHES FOR DEFENCE OF CANAL
The House Bill Giving Preference to War Vet
erans in the Matter Of Government Ap-
pOintments in the Executive De-
Eartments Defeated.
rartments Defeated.
(By the Associated Press.l

Washington, Dec. 17.-The Senate was
in open session only an hour today. the
remainder of the legislative day being
spent in executive session upon the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty. Mr.. Chandler IN. H.,
created little furry by endeavoring
again to get up the resolution relating to
the Montana Senatorial case. The effort
was futile. During its discussion Mr..
right to an early report from the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
and said he would be glad to know what
had Influenced members of the Commit
tee to delay action
This aroused Mr.. Jones (Ark.), who
questioned the right of any Senator to
demand the reasons which might infu-
ence the action of a member of any COM
mittee. He could not understand why
Mr.. Chandler should seek to punish him
and intimated that Mr.. Chandler must
have some personal interest in the reso-
luton
Mr. Chandler said there was no use for
the member of the Committee on Contin-
gent Expenses to put on any DISCUSSES.
1t was perfectly evident that no such
treatment had ever before been given
resolution of the character of that pend
ing. The matter finally went over and
without transacting any important legs-
lative business the Senate went into exc
utive session.
Late this afternoon the Senate gave
its consent to the fixing of a definite
tie to vote upon the Hay Pauncefote
Treaty. Senators Money and Mason had
occupied the time of the executive session
in making speeches upon the treaty, and
when Senator Lodge renewed his request
TO take a vote next Thursday. unanimous
agreement was recorded. The under
standing is that the voting shall be on
the amendment at 5 o'clock and that the
Senate shall continue in session until the
first vote on the treaty itself is reached
Senator Moneys speech was a fiat pro-
test against the entire proceeding in con-
nection with the treaty. He talked for
two hours, contendng for the right of the
United States TO act in this matter inde-
pendently of other nations. He said while
England demanded that the United States
should not fortify the proposed isthmian
canal, she herself had Notifications which
practically control the Suez Canal
Senator Mason spoke in support of his
suggested amendment authorizing the
United States to defend the canal as it
may deem proper in case it constructs
the canal. He explained that while seek
ing to have the treaty amended he is
not seeking to antagoniZe the Adminis-
tration. Nothing be said was further
from his thought. He declared that the
present instance furnishes the first prece-
dent of great nations being asked in
advance to agree not to defend a great
public work. the construction of which
it is contemplating. He did not consider
that Great Britain should undertake to
say what we should do in the matter.
While he considered that country in the
"sere and yellow leaf" he thought that
we should deal with it as we would with
either the weakest nation or the strong
est. In other words, he said, our dealing
should be on the plane of justice and the
manly assertion of our own rights. Mr..
Mason said there was and could be no
contention over the question of the right
of nation to defend itself and it's citi-
zens and property and he argued that
the recognition of this right must en-
force concession of the right to make
precautionary defence. Not only. he ar
gued, have we the right as a nation to
erect Notifications as means of defense,
but we have the right according to inter-
national usage to enter a neutral or
friendly territory and there make as
sault if need be.
He contended that our natural right
of defense is more definitely fixed under
international law than under the Clay
-Bulwer Treaty. and said that our
rights would be much stronger if the
canal were built by the nation as such
than if constructed by private enterprise.
even though the enterprise be American
The Senate in executive session today
agreed to give its adhesion TO the conven-
tion to regulate the importation of intox-
icating liquors into certain regions of
Africa.