New-York tribune., 1901-12-05
PRICE THREE CENTS.
FIGHT ON In CONGRESS.
DEMOCRATS START A CAM.
PAIGN OF OBSTRUCTION.
STUBBORN OPPOSITION To NEW CANAr
TREATY AND PHILIPPINE TAR
IFF BILL DEVELOPS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE-1


Washington, Dec. 4.-Thus early in the LV11th
Congress the minority programme of obstruction
has been very clearly defined The House has
done nothing but the opposition in the Senate
has had an opportunity to show what its pur-
pose is. This opportunity has been afforded by
two measures of far reaching national impor-
tance. One pertains TO the construction Of the
Nicaragua Canal and the other to the necessity
of providing means for raising revenue for the
Philippines. Against both of these measures it
is known that the minority in the Senate intends
to offer the most stubborn opposition This in
teresting fact developed to-day.
When .he Senate went into executive session
to consider the new Hay-Pauncefoee Treaty. it
was soon shown that the transcontinental rail-
road interests acting secretly through the DEM
ocratic organization. intend to contest to the
bitter end the ratification of the convention.
The excuse for doing this is be based the
fact that in the second article of the treaty it IS
stipulated that the United States is entitled to
police the interoceanic canal Great stress Is to
be put by the secret enemies of the canal on
the circumstance that the treaty does not pro-
vide in exact and disputable terms for the
right of this nation to fortify the waterway.
The use of the word police" instead Of the
word ''fortify'' is going to be urged by the op-
position sufficient reason for holding out
against ratification of the treaty. 1t is true, OF
course that the treaty to-day was considered
by the Senate in executive session. but this fact
does not detract from the trustworthiness of the
statements here made.
MAY CAUSE DELAY, BUT CANNOT WIN
1T is generally believed. however, that in spite
of the hostility of d comparatively small element
of the minority the treaty will be ratified by the
Senate substantially as it has been submitted
by the State Department 1t is known that it
is favored by a safe ma iori:y of the Senate, and
while the opposition under the whip and spur
of the transroutineDta tai railroads and the French
Panama Car influences. may be able to pro-
long the debate, in the end the majority will
triumph
The prospect for the early adoption Of Senator
Lodges joint resolution for the application of
the Dingiey law to imports from the Philippines
is not so favorable as is that of the ratification
of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty While il is
deniable that the Lodge resolution will in the
end be adopted. it is nevertheless true that it
will be subjected long and weary debate
The Democrats under the leadership Of the
somewhat discredited Senator Jones. of Arkan-
sas will take advantage Of their privilege under
the Senate rules to debate the question inter-
mfuabIy Hence il is largely a matter of physi-
cal endurance as TO when the question will be
brought to direct and decisive vote Whether
Senator Lodge and his supporters will try to
bring on the final vote before Congress takes
recess for the Christmas holidays cannot now
be foretold- But even if they should undertake
this task it is doubtful that they could be sue
cessfuI. 1t goes without saying, Of course, that
the longer the tariff bars are left down between
the Philippines and the United States. the better
will it suit the interests which will profit by this
free trade condition Therefore. it behooves all
Senators who are favorable to these interests TO
extend the debate to the utmost limit OF parha-
nentary and physical endurance