The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-13
SENATORS FAVOR
THE NEW TREATY
Monday the Day Set for
Vote on the Canal
Measure.
Advanced to Show
This Country Has Right
to Fortify Waterway.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Senate
agreed to-day to take vote before adj
iournment on Monday on the new Hay
Pauncefote treaty for the abrogation of
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and opening
the way for the construction of a canal
across the isthmus of Panama by the
United States This agreement was
reached after four hours of debate suffi-
GENTLY interesting to assure the constant
attention Of most of the Senators.
Senator Spooner, who was one of the
principal speakers of the day, had just
concluded when Senator Lodge made an
effort TO secure a vote. It developed that
there were other Senators who desired to
be heard, the result being that the date
for the vote was postponed until Monday.
The agreement provides for an adjourn
ment of the Senate from to-day until
Monday and for meeting at IL O'Clock on
that day, one hour in advance of the
usual time. The understanding is that as
soon as practicable after the Senate con-
Venes Senator Lodge shall move an execu-
tive session and that the treaty shall
have the entire attention of the Senate
until a final vote is reached before the
adjournment for that day.
Arguments Favor Treaty.
The principal speakers to-day beside
Senator Spooner were Senator Money and
much in the treaty to criticize, said that
as he found the fortunes of the proposed
canal across the 1SthmuS 1neXtrlcabIy IN
tertwined with the treaty he could not see
way clear to do anything that would pre-
vent or even delay ratification. The par
ticular features of the new treaty with
which he found fault were those retaining
the neutrality provision of the Clayton
Bulwer convention and specifying police
control of the canal when built. He ar
gued that the effect of these provisions
inevitably must be to limit and prescribe
the power of the United States to control
its own property in case Of war.
I or n IN raj nj cd u
sions Of the new treaty meet every objec-
ton made TO the original Hay-Pauncefote
treaty and cover every essential thing
made by the Senate to that document. He
regarded it as of the utmost Importance
that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty should be
wiped out. This result was effected by
the convention under consideration. He
asserted that all rights of the United
States were amply protected under this
treaty and that our absolute and complete
control Of the canal could not be ques-
toned by Great Britain or any other
1 power.
| legal construction and the general effect
of the treaty. He said that after a care
full study Of its provisions he was firmly
| convinced that it could be honestly sup
ported by every patriotic citizen.
Bacon Asks Questions.
Senator Foraker was frequently inter
rupted by Senator Bacon. In the course
Of one Of these interruptions Bacon asked
If it was not true that under the terms of
the treaty the construction of fortifica-
lions by the United States would be
act of war.
Foraker replied in the negative, declar-
ing that not only would such an act not
be an act of hostility, but that to build
Notifications in case of necessity was one
of the inherent rights Of the Government.
To this Bacon responded that he, for
one, would never bring himself to vote
for the ratification Of the treaty with the
understanding that his Government was
Foraker retorted sharply to the effect
that his friend from Georgia could be no
more Virtuous along the lines Of main
tanning the countrys honor in the way of
keeping its agreements with other ma
tons than were other Senators.
Bacon replied that he had not meant to
assume a virtue that he did not possess
nor to Imply that other Senators were not
as Jealous Of the country's good name as
he himself
Foraker then declared that he had not
meant to charge Bacon with unfair
assumption, but simply to say that like
all other Senator's supporting the treaty
he felt he was giving his name to a trans
action which would be honorably carried
out between nations.
Senator spooner, who followed, also was
frequently interrupted by Senators on the
Democratic side. One of the first inter-
ruptons came from Senator Bacon and
pertained to the right of fortifying the
said that It was a weil-known principle
of international law that all treaties like
all statutes, must be read together and
he contended in this connection that the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, the original Hay
Pauncefote treaty and the pending treaty
for the proper construction of the agree
ment should be considered as one series.
Fortifcation Of the Canal.
The Clayton-Bulwer agreement had pro-
vided that there should be no fertilization
of the canal and the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty Of the Fifty-siXth Congress had
carried a similar provision, but the new
| treaty struck out the entire Notifications
| provision clearly showing that England
after contending for half a century
against Qualifications, had waived that
! provision, thus practically conceding our
] right to fortify the proposed canal.
Questions were asked by Senators Till
/ man and Bailey concerning the right Of
the United States to blockade the canal
4 and in reply Senator Spooner insisted that
! the Government Of the United States
could not be bound by any treaty agree
ment which would prevent this country
defending its own property in it's own
/ pressed the inquiry somewhat and he and
! Spooner engaged in a somewhat spirited
collequy, which, as usual, with them
/ ended good-naturedly.
/ A very important question was raised by
number of Senators on the Democratic
side as to the right of the United States
/ to give differential rates to vessels en-
/ gagged in our coastwise trade This mat
| ter brought other Senators from the Re
/ publican side Of the chamber into the
/ controversy
Senators Perkins and Nelson were
among those who contributed to this feat
4 ure of the controversy. Senator Nelson
4 insisted that under existing law the
! United States would have perfect right
to civ to he D0l Cfr 81 4I,;e~