The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-09
Way viii Be Opened For the Un-
obstruCted Construction Of An
ISthmian Canal by the United
States at Once
SENATE DEBATE IN
ORDER THIS WEEK
The House Will Probably Pass
This Week a Measure to Meet
the Situation Created by the
Philippine Decision of the Su-
preme Court Last Monday

Washington, Dec. 8--The only meas
ure of Importance which the Senate has
on it's calendar for the present week is
the new Hay -Pauncefote treaty, max
ing provision for the abrogation of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty and opening the
way for the unobstructed construction
of an isthmian canal by the United
States.
Acting for the committee on foreign
relations, Senator Lodge will ask the
Senate to go into executive session TO-
morrow for the consideration or the
treaty, and every day thereafter until
the convention is disposed of. 1t can
be said at this time that the prospect
is very strong that the treaty will be
ratified, and it now looks as II TINS
resolution will suffer little delay.
There win be some debate and some
features Of the document will be crit
icised as undesirable, but there is no
probability of captious opposition. me
criticisms will be along the lines indl-
Gated by Senators Money and Bacon
in the committee on foreign relations
at it's meeting on Friday last. No sena-
tor thus far, however, has shown a
disposition to carry his objections 10
the point of ultimate effort 70 defeat
ratification
The principal authors of the criticism
of the treaty are Southern senators,
who are, generally, very anxious for
the construction of the canal. they
find that all canal legislation will be
tied up until action can be secured on
the treaty and they are, on this ac-
count. less liable than they otherwise
would be to do anything to delay ac-
ton upon the treaty itself.
The most active friends Of the treaty
now claim that ratification will be Sc
cured during the present week, and the
opinion is very general that ratifca-
ton will be obtained before the Christ
mas holidays.
Beyond the consideration of the
treaty, very little business will be I'M
dertaken before the holidays. 1t is now
generally agreed that the question of
reciprocity will go over until January,
and it may be added that, from being
for a time the subject most likely to
attract early attention, it has taken a
position among the matters which will
not be vigorously urged.
When the reciprocity treaties do
| come up for consideration, there will
/ be persistent opposition to the agree
| ment with France and to that with
| Great Britain covering the West In
dies There is not so much feeling over
the conventions with the South Ameri-
can republics. The present outlook also
IS against any immediate action in the
Senate looking to tariff legislation for
the Philippines and there are some in
dications that the Senate will wait
upon the House in this matter. Prob
ably the Chinese exclusion act will be
reported from committee during the
| week.
The nomination Of Attorney General
Knox will be reported at the first ex-
ecutive session but immediate con-
| firmation will probably be antagonized
by some senators.
Washington, Dec. S.--The House this
week probably will pass measure to
Inject the situation created by the Phil
| ippines decision of the Supreme Court
last Monday. Up to the present time,
however, the Republican members Of
the ways and means committee have
not decided upon the character Of the
measure which will be reported. A
! difference Of opinion exists as to
whether there should be a temporary
| enactment of the Dingley rates on
entering the United States from the
| PHILIPPINES or whether a permanent
system of tariff legislation for the
islands should be prepared. 1t is under
stood that Mr. Payne, chairman of the
committee, and Mr.. Dalzell of Penn
| sylvania, favor the latter course. The
Republican members of the committee
| will meet again tomorrow.
OF course, if it is decided to enact
a temporary measure, the procedure
will be exceedingly simple and 1t prob
| ably can be passed in day. If, on the
other hand, an entire system of tariff
| legislation is to be enacted, more time
! will be consumed both in the prepara-
| ton and passage of the measure.