Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-12-14

Senate in Executive Session On
Canal Convention.
Bacon OPPOSES MEASURE
vii Not Vote sor, Yelwal Not oburacf Bali
fiealI0n SelaIor CuIluM PoIl-8 on
Good Points of New Agreement.

Good Points Of New Agreement.
WASHINGTON. Dec. Il. When the
senate met yesterday, prayer was OF.
fered 10y Rev. Herrick Johnston OF
Chicago, Chaplain Milburn being alb
sent. The hoase concurrent resolution
providing for holiday adjournment
from Dee. 10 until jan 6, 1902, was re.
ferred to the committee on appropria.
tons. The senate then, at 1922 p. M,
on motion Of Mr. Lodge went into ex.
ecutive session to further consider the
Hay-Pauneefote treaty and at $50 p.
IN. adjourned
Two speeches on tie ay-Pauneefote
treaty were made in the executive ses.
sion of the senate. one by Senator Ba-
con in opposition to the treaty aud the
other by Senator Culiom, the prospec.
tive chairman Of the committee on for
eign relations, in support Of it.
ar. Bacon replied to tie speech made
Tuesday by Senator Lodge. lie sum
med up his objections in the statement
that lie could not freely accept any
treaty which does not place the 18th
milan canal entirely under American
auspices aud American control. This.
he said, the pending treaty does not
do, nor does it do anything like it. II
did not by long odds accomplish what
had been accomplished by the senate
amendments made to the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty at the last session OF con
gress
The Davis amendment, he said, had
abrogated all the objectionable proyi-
sions of that treaty as negotiated. and
IL did not matter what provisions there
were in re agreement so long rs the
United States was authorized. as 1t
was by the principal Davis amend
ment, TO secure the safety and mainte-
nance of the canal by its own force.
That amendment had given this coun-
try free hand 10 do what was neces-
sary for the protection and defense Of
the canal. whereas the present treaty
carries all the restrictions which were
originally contained in the old treaty,
leaving out the notifications of the
Davis amendment.
In conclusion Mr.. Bacon announced
that while he had no intention of vot-
ing for the treaty he would do moth
ing to obstruct It's ratification.
Senator CuIlom congratulated the
senate and the country upon the fact
that there are two things in connec-
ton with the new treaty upon which,
he said, practically all are agreed,
One of these was the desirability of
the supersession of the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty and the other that of the
necessity for the construction of an
iSthmian canal.
He contended that the new treaty
radically changes the conditions pre-.
scented by the first Hay -Pauncefote
treaty. clearly relieving it of the ne
cessity of such an amendment rs that
made to the old treaty upon the sug-
gestion of Senator Davis. becausa the
treaty itself would permit the United
States under international law to own
manage and defend the canal in any
way that it may choose. In other
words, he added. i'm a war with Great
Britain or with any other power the
treaty would be suspended under the
law which governs nations until the
war should be concluded when it
would be revived and again enforced
He dwet upon the fact, which he
said was the most important circum-
stance to be considered, that the new
treaty superSedes and abrorstcs the
Clayton-Bulwer convention of 1880
and for this reason would be of untold
value to the country.
He contended that the provision in
regard to the policing Of the canal APP
plies only to its control in times of
peace and not in time Of war