Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-02-18
EIolasE, Of RatifOatiOns wiz Formally
Close the Transaction.
TRADE PENDING SINCE LlNcoIEs TIME
asvsrnmsnt Pays Five Nillisn Dsllars
fer Three IslandL
ST. THOMAS, ST, JOHN AND ST. CRox
Purchase f. Regarded ~ Essential 60
the Consistent Maintenance
of the Monroe
Doctrine.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.--Today, in a
little more than an hours time. the SEN
ate disposed of the treaty with Denmark
eeding to the United States, for consid-
Grafton OF S5,00O,O ,O00 the islands of Sc.
Thomas, St. John and st. CroiX, compos-
ing the group Of the Antilles, known as
the Danish West Indies and lying Just east
of Porto Rico, and thus. so far as this
country is concerned, oonsummated a trans
action which has been under consideration
intermittanty since the administration OF
President Lincoln.
The treaty and the report on Il were
read at length and more or less discussion
OF the proposition was indulged In. Sen
ator Cullom, as chairman of the commit
tee on foreign relations, made a speech ex-
planning the advantages Of the acquisition
OF the islands and Senators Bacon and Nc
Laurin made brief remarks, saying that
while they could not endorse all the pro-
visions of the agreement, they would
place no obstacles in the way Of Iatiflcs-
| tion.
Bacon Attempts 20 Amend.
Senator Bacon moved to amend the
treaty by striking out the second para
graph of article i'll of the treaty. reading:
''The civil rights and the political status
Of the inhabitants OF the islands shall be
determined by the congress. subject to the
stipulations contained In the present con-
vention."
He based his opposition to this provision
on the ground that the constitution should
extend to the Islands when they became a
part OF the United States. He said, how
ever, that the failure to accept the amend
ment would not prevent his voting for the
treaty, for he believed In the Monroe doc
trine. Under that doctrine this country
could not permit any European power to
acquire the islands and we could not in
fairness take this position and then our
selves refuse to buy them whsn they are
for sale.
The amendment was rejected without
division.
Gallon Explains the Treaty.
Senator Cullom explained all the provi.
sions Of the treaty aud gave detailed ac-
count of the islands resources and OF their
trade value to the United States. He said
the provision effecting the civil rights OF
the inhabitants was similar to the provi-
sion on the same subject in the Spanish
treaty concerning Porto Rico.
Senator Cullom said in taking the islands
the United States would assume no burden
of debt as by the terms of the agreement
all claims held by Denmark against the
islands would be cancelled. He estimated
the total of these claims at $2,O0O,000.
He also explained the nature OF the obii-
cations the United States would assume
with reference to the st. Thomas Floating
Dock company, and the West India &
, Panama company, saying that on the tels-
graph franchise It would be necessary 10
pay a subsidy OF 1000 a year for three OF
four years, and that in both cases there
was an agreement TO protect the charters
for the time granted by Denmark.
History of Sugar Company.
He also gave detailed history Of the St
a Croix Sugar company. explaining that the
!, government OF Denmark had assumed debts
amounting to about 100000 for that con.
I cern, but had agreed to wind up the affairs
of the company as soon as practicable, thus
relieving the United States or all complica.
a tions on account of that company
Senator Cullom explained that under tn,
!. terms Of the treaty the United States woulC
take possession OF the islands as soon q
:, ratihcations could be exchanged and tha
!, 1t would not be necessary to delay tina
action until the appropriation for then
could be made.
\ The harbor at st. Thomas island was de
scribed as the safest and best In the Yves
!, Indies, and it's importance from a stratesi
view was>enlarged upon. He said the con
troll Of that harbor commands the miiitar
situation as far as necessary in Cuba, an
that If we are to build a canal across tn
. isthmus of Panama the ownership of tn
h harbor by the United States is essential, q
= 1t guards the approach to 1t.
a Senator Culloms motion to ratify wa