Evening star., 1901-12-06
Unanimous Action for Canal by
Foreign Relations Committee.
SESSION OF NEARLY Two HOURS
Prolonged Debate Not Expected
in the Senate.
NJ R. HEP RMS BILL

to look for early action of a positive char
acter.
The Senate committee on foreign rela-
tions held a meeting this morning and took
up the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, which was
submitted to the Senate in executive ses-
sion Wednesday, and the terms of which
were outlined in yesterdays Star. The
committee voted unanimously to favorably
report the treaty to the Senate for ratifi-
cation. The treaty is printed in full in an
other column of The Star today.
Discussed Treaty in Detail.
The committee was in session for almost
two hours and went over in detail the pro-
visions of the convention No votes were
cast against it, but it was criticised very
sharply by Senators Money and Bacon, who
found in it many of the objections which
they urged against the old treaty. They
took especial exception to the provision
continuing in force the neutrality provision
OF the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and also made
objection to the clause specifically author
iZing the United States to police the canal
as placing a limitation upon the power OF
this country to absolutely control it. The
contention was made that the effect of. the
treaty as sent to the Senate would be to
deprive the United States of control of the
canal in case of war.
Especial attention was called to the pro-
vision in the preamble of the pending
treaty reserving article of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty from the repeal provision of
the new treaty. The portion. of this article
of the old treaty to which especial objec-
ton was made reads as follows:
In granting, however, their joint protec-
tion to any such canals or railways as are
by this article specified it is always under
stood by the United States and Great Brit
ain that the parties constructing or owning
the same shall imposes,no other charges or
conditions of traffic thereupon than the
aforesaid governments shall approve of as
just and equitable; and that the same
canals or railways, being open to the cit-
Zens and subjects of the United States and
Great Britain on equal terms. shall also
be open on like terms to the citizens and
subjects of every other state which is will
the United States and Great Britain engage
to afford
Senators Money and Bacon did not go to
the extent of voting against the report of
the treaty, and they acknowledged they
are anxious to see it ratified because of
their great desire to have the canal built.
Still, they insisted that the treaty as it now
stands is very Objectionable in case of the
contingency of war.
Amendment Voted Down.
Senator Bacon moved the revival of the
amendment to the original Hay-Pauncefote
treaty which was suggested by Senator
Davis, then chairman of the committee, and
adopted by the Senate. That amendment
provided that nothing In the treaty should
"apply to measures which the United
States may find it necessary to take for Sc
curing by its own forces the defense of the
United States and the maintenance Of pub
lie order"
The amendment was voted down viva
voce.
Senator Frye presided over the meeting
1t was the sense Of the committee that
the consideration of the treaty should be
pressed speedily as possible in the SEN
ate, some senators expressing the hope that
action might be secured before the ad-
journment for the holidays. The commit
tee also voted to recommend that the in
junction of secrecy be removed from the
treaty.
Senator Lodge, who has been designated
to handle the treaty the floor of the
Senate, will report it to that body in execu-
tive session next Monday, and it is ex-
pected that it will be discussed daily there
after until ratified.
Prolonged Discussion Not Expected.
Chairman Cullom of the foreign relations
committee is delighted with the prompt ac-
tion thus far secured upon the treaty.
Il do not think there will be prolonged
discussion of It," he said to Star reporter
today. II do not believe there will be seri-
GUS opposition to it's ratification or any de-
termined effort to obstruct it. There may
be expressions upon some Of the terms of
the treaty presenting individual differences
of opinion, but do not now think they will
go to the extent of hampering the efforts
to secure ratification.
THE fact is that we want to build this
canal. and it Is not likely to be done until
the treaty Is ratified"
The Democratic Position.
There have been rumors Of democratic
opposition to the treaty, but they do not
seem to be warranted. Senator James X.
Jones Of Arkansas, the democratic leader,
is unable to locate organized opposition
from his party colleagues.
'I think the treaty will be ratified" he
said today, "after we have discussed it,
and if the provisions are found to be all
that We now understand them to be.
For myself, I want to see the canal
built, constructed by this government and
operated by us. I think there is no mis-
understanding about the neutrality clause.
No one will think that we would for a mo-
ment permit the canal to be used by ma
tion with which we were at war;
News that the Senate committee had
acted on the treaty was received with de-
light by members of the House who are
pushing the canal project. 1t was the gem
eral opinion that whatever opposition to
ratification might exist in the Senate 1t
would have to give way before the pressure
Of public opinion in favor Of the early
authorization of the canal.
Prospects I'm the House.
Speaker Henderson will be urged to ap-
point the interstate and foreign commerce
committee at an early date, so that the
Nicaragua canal bill can be referred and
acted upon. There is absolutely no ques-
tion of the bill passing the house. It will
not be a party measure, but will receive
the votes of both democrats and republi-
cans.
1t is not assumed that the Panama canal
he will Iaf thn fro
Senate without one last, desperate struggle
to block 1t. That opposition is looked for
and will be promptly met. 1t Is said that
any one who seriously puts forward the
Panama route at this time, after all the
investigation and reports upon the subject,
will be put down at once In the class Of
obstructionists Of an isthmian canas pro-
tect. and classified with the transcontinen-
tai railway interests that are known to be
hostile to any canal.
Fight ON ObstructiOnists.
The advocates of the isthmian canal in
tend. 1t is said. to assume an aggressive at
titude in this respect, and at the first sign
OF obstruction upon the part Of the enemy
will open I'D a fight that will attract the ar