The Washington times., 1901-12-11
CANAL BILL TO
PASS QUICKLY.
Opposition a PerfunCtOTy
Stating Of Views.
BACON AND MONEY TO SPEAK.
A Viva Voce Ratification Expect
ed Changes Made In Terms OF
Treaty Eiucidated In Executive
Session Yesterday by Mr.. Lodge.

Senator Lodge. in charge OF the Mic
aragua Canal treaty. has been informed
hy Senator'S Money and Bacon the Demo-
cratic members of the Foreign Relations
Committee who voted against reporting
the treaty iavorably to the Senate. that
ihey viii make no opposition to its rati-
fication beyond stating their objections in
executive session.
Senator Jones of Arkansas. the nominal
leader CT the Democrats in the Senate.
has also said to Mr. Lodge that there
will be no formal opposition on the Demo-
cratic side Of the chamber. and that all
the Democrats are willing that the vote
shall be taken promptly. Mr. Lodge is
therefore hopeful that there Will be lit
tie speechmaking and that ratification
can be secured before the close OF the
week. and probably without the formality
Of a roll call.
The Trenty Commended.
At the brief executive session yes
terday Mr.. Lodge made a statement ex-
planatory of the terms of the treaty. with
especial reference to the changes from
the language Of the old treaty, and the
Senate then adjourned until today in order
that the work Of rearranging the commit
tees might be proceeded with.
Senator Lodge, in his statement. ex-
pressed the opinion that the treaty is now
one Of the best that was ever negotiated.
and that it places every feature Of the
proposed canal entirely in the hands of
the United States. Il was arranged he
said with n view to including in it the
amendments put into the old treaty by
the Senate. These include the provision
abrogating the Clayton -Bulwer Treaty:
for Withholding the invitation to the
other Powers, and removing the prohibi-
tion against fortifcaticn.
As the treaty now stands Mr.. Lodge
says, the United States shall have abso-
Lutte power in making the rule for its
control of the canal. in addition to being
the sole guarantor OF its neutrality. The
United States. he said. is also to be the
sole interpreter of the rules II is GER
tain. he said. that there can never be a
question Of the power OF the United States
10 control the canal. for in case OF a war
with England the treaty would fall. and
In case Of war with any other country
the canal. of course. would be closed to
the enemy's vessels.
The New Provision.
AS 10 the new provision in the treaty.
now known as Article ". wherein 1t is
agreed that no change of territorial SOW
ereignty or of international relations of
the country or countries trayersed by the
canal shah affect the general principle of
DECENTRALIZATION OF the obligation of the
contracting parties to the treaty, Mr..
Lodge said it merely means that IL the
United States should ever come into nos
session OF this territory it would live up
10 IT'S bargain as il stands. In other
words he said the United States desired
20 make it plain that it would take adj
vantage OF no territorial chance that
might possibly take place to unload any
OF the responsibility placed upon it by the
treaty.
Mr.. Long said that this article means
exactly what IL SAYS. and characterizas
as trivial and not worthy Of consideration
the criticisms that have been made
against IL, and which have so far been
voiced in the Senate, he said. only by
Senator'S Bacon and Money. The Senator
IN fact. dismissed this part of the treatv
with a word.
Brief Debate Expected.
Senator Cullom. who is to be the rev
chairman Of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, will deliver a formal speech in
favor Of ratification, and other Senators
VIII speak, but he and Senator Lodge 10Th
think that the general debate VIII be
brief Several Republican Senator's
frankly state that the treaty Is no better
now than the old one, but they Will rot
attempt 10 defeat it, and possibly rot
even to amend IT,