The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-17
SENATE THEN TO SETTLE THE FATE
OF THE CANAL TREATY.
DEBATE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Senator Lodge Calls Up the Report
and Tries to Get n V~ote-Other
Senators DESTROYS of Speaking.
Senators Spooner and Foraker
Chief Advocates of the Treaty-Sen-
ators Money, Bacon and TfIIman in
Opposition - Running Discussion
Interpreted With Many Questions.

ate d6Ietd lOudy 10 take a vote De1Ore
adjournment next Monday on the new
Hay-Pauncefote treaty for the abroga-
ton of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and
opening the way for the construction
of a canal across the isthmus Of Pana-
ma by the United States. This agree
merit was Feached after four hours of a
debate su t%ciently interesting to insure
the constant attendance of most Of the
senator's.
Senator Spooner. who was one of the
principal speakers of the day, a just
concluded when Senator Lodge made an
effort to secure a vote. 1t developed
that there were other senators who de-
sired to be heard, the result being
the date for the vote was postponed I'M
til Monday.
The agreement provided for an ad-
adjournment of the senate from today
until Monday and for a meeting at II
o'clock of hat day, one hour in ad-
vance of the usual time. The under
standing is that as soon as practicable
after the senate c~onvenes, senator
Lodge shall move an executive session
oAAN AAA1 LIN llOa(y Slidll nave lit en-
tire attention of the senat until a final
vote is reached before the adjournment
for that day.
The principal speakers today besides
senator Spooner were Senators Money
and Foraker.
Senator Money, while finding much In
the treaty to criticise, said tina as he
found the fortunes of the proposed ca
nal across the isthmus in extricably in
tertwined with the treaty he could not
see his way clear to doing anything tina
would prevent or ven delay ratifica-
ton. he particular features of the
new treaty with which he found fault
were those retaining the neutrality pro-
vision of the Clayton-Bulwer conven-
ton, n specifying police control of the
canal when built. He argued thai the
effect of these provisions inevitably
must be to limit and prescribe the pow.
er of the United States to control it's
own property in case of war.
Senator Foraker maintained that the
provisions of the new treaty meet every
objection made to the original Hay
Pauncefote treaty and cover every es-
Sential thing hat was included in the
amendments made by the senate to that
document. He regarded it as of the ut
most Importance that the C~layton-Bul-
wer treaty hould be wiped out. This
result was effected by the convention
under consideration. He asserted thar
all rights of the United States were am
ply protected under this treaty and that
our absolute and complete control OF
the canal could not be questioned by
Great Britain or any other power.
Senator Foraker was frequently in
~terrupted by Senator Bacon. In the
course of one of these Interruptions Sen
ator Bacon asked if it was not true that
under the terms of the treaty the con
struction of Notifications by the United
States would be an act of war. Senator
Foraker replied in the negative, declar-
ing that not only would such an act no.
be an act of hostility. but that to build
Notifications in case of necessity was
one of the inherent rights of the gov
eminent. To this Senator Bacon re.
sponded that he for n could never
bring himself to vote for the ratification
of the treaty with the understanding
that his government was to violate it.
Senator Foraker retorted sharply tt
the effect that his friend from Georgia
could be no more v~irtuous along thu
line of maintaining the country'S honor
in the matter of keeping it's agreement:
with other nations than were other sen
atorS.
Senator Bacon replied that he had no
meant to a virtue that he die
not possess, nor to insinuate that othel
"clS " dS JSdloOS " II
country's good name as he himself was
enato Foraked then declared tina
he had not meant to charge Senator
Bacon with an unfair assumption, blu
simply to say hat like all other sena
tors supporting h treaty he felt h
was giving his name to a TRANSACTION
which would be honorably carried GU
as between nations.
Senator Spooner. who followed, ais,
was frequently interrupted by senator
on the democratic side. One of the frs
Interruptions came from Senator Bacol
and pertained to the right to fortify tn
canal. Replying to this inquiry, Sen
ator Spooner said that it was a we
known principle of International lay
that all treaties, like all statutes. mus
be read together, and he contended i
this connection that the Clayton-Bul
wer treaty, the original Hay-Paunce
fote treaty and the proceeding treat
for the proper construction Of the agree
ment should be considered as on
series. The Clayton-Bulwer agreemen
, had provided that there should be n
!, Notifications of the canal and the Hay
, Pauncefote treaty of the Fith-sixth con
gress had carried a similar provision
: but the new treaty struck out the entir
fertilization provision, clearly shown
that England after c~ontending for hal
a century against Notifications. Ia
waived that provision, thus practlcall
%conceding our right to fortify the Pre-
+ posed canal.
: Questions were asked by Senator
Tillman and Bailey concerning the rigt
of the United States to blockade the ca
nal. and in reply enato Spooner in
sisted that the government of the Unit
ed States could not be bound by an
treaty agreement which would prever
, this country from defending it's ow
property In it's own way in time of wa
| Senator Tillman pressed the inQuir
somewhat. and he n Senator Spoone
) engaged in a somewhat spirited colo
guy which. as usual with them ende
good naturally.
A very important question was raj:
ed by a number of senators on the den
ocratic side as to the right of TT
United States to give a differential ra'
to vessels engaged in our coastwis
trade. This matter brought other SCI
ators from the republican side OF tt
chamber into the controversy, Senator
Perkins and Nelson being among then
Senator Nelson insisted that under e,
listing law the United States woul hay
, q narfacf right RI give tO the coa StWis