The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-03-15
WANT IT MODIFIED.
Senate Committee Discusses the
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty.

Washington, March 1O.--Ihe senate
committee on foreign relations Friday
agreed to report the -Pauncefote
treaty with an amendment granting
authority for the defense of the canal
by this country when constructed.
The committee was practically unan-
imously in favor of the amendment to
the treaty. Some objection was made
by Senator Morgan, of Alabama, but he
will not oppose the measure in the
senate, accepting the change in order
to hasten the action of the senate.
Quite an elaborate report has been pre-
pared by Senator Morgan, which will
be submitted to the senate in executive
session when the treaty is reported. 1t
is the opinion of the members of the
committee that the senate win with
but little delay ratify the treaty as
amended.
Amendment Is Brief.
The amendment is brief. 1t simply
provides that the restrictions in the
treaty shall not operate to prevent the
United States from using its own
forces for the defense of the interests
of the United States and the mainte-
nance of order.
The following is the text of the
amendment to the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty:
Insert at the end of section five of arti-
Gle two the following: 1t is agreed, how
ever, that none of the Immediately fore
going conditions and stipulations in Sec
tons number one, two, three, four, five
of this act shall apply to measures which
the United States may find it necessary to
take for securing by it's own forces the
defense of the United States and the main
tenance of public order"
Senator Morgan was the only mem
Der of the committee who cast his vote
against the amendment, Senators
Bacon and Daniel, the only other DEM
ocrats present, voting with the repub-
hcans. They also voted with the re-
publicans to have the treaty reported
as amended.
Senator Morgan talked at length dur
ing the sitting of the committee in OPP
position to the amendment, practical
ly consuming the entire time of the
session. He contended for the utmost
iberality toward other powers in the
use of the proposed canal, and held
that American interests were fully
safeguarded by the treaty as it stands.
He also contended that an effort to
amend the agreement might result III
it's defeat, and indicated a purpose to
oppose it to the utmost. Some of the
other senators expressed the hope that
he would not go to this extent, and be-
fore the meeting adjourned there was
felt to be some ground for the opinion
that the Alabama senator would con-
tent himself with stating his opposi-
ton. While no member was authorized
to speak for Great Britain, the opinion
was expressed that the government of
that country would agree to the pro-
posed modification of the treaty.
Senate.
Washington March 10.-Discussion
Of Senator MasOn's resolution express
ing sympathy for the Beers was con-
Quoted in the senate Friday behind
closed doors, Senator Davis, chairman
of the foreign relations committee, de-
handing that the doors be closed. The
discussion was mainly upon the ques-
ton as to whether discussion of the
Mason motion should be in open or Sc
cret session. Chairman Davis, of the
foreign relations committee, said that
the public discussion of the subject in
the senate might result in disturbing
existing relations between the United
States and a friendly power. He
thought therefore that anything of the
kind would much better be avoided.
Senator Mason said there was no rea-
son why this motion should not be
discussed openly unless some one want
ed to conceal something. After some
further discussion Senator Tillman
offered substitute for the Mason reso-
luton requesting the president to ten
der his friendly offices for mediation.
Senator Lodge made the point of Or
der that 4 substitute resolution could
not be offered to the resolution now in
committee and the point was Sustained.
1t is understood that the motion will
be debated again next week. The fea-
ture of the open session was a speech
by Senator Lindsay (Ky.) on the Porto
Rican tariff and government measure.
He opposed the tariff provision of the
bill and some parts of the proposition
for the Porto Pican government.
The balance of the Alaskan code bill
was read in the senate at night from
s until 1880, when the senate adj
journed, having complied with the
formality that requires one full read
ing of each measure considered.
House.
Washington, March 10.-The first
day pension session of the house pro-
vided for under the new rule adopted
Thursday proved a great success.
There was comparatively little friction
and 81 bills were favorably acted upon
in committee Of the whole and subse-
quently passed by the house. The only
incident of the session was brisk ex-
change between Mr.. Loud (Cal.) and
Mr.. Sulloway IN. H., upon the gen.
eral policy of special pension legisla-
ton, in which the former attacked and
the latter defended the system.