Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-21
NO NIGHT SESSION
DECISION OF STEERING COM
HTTEE OF THE SENATE.
Talk Of Compromise on the Statehood
ouestion-Morgan Gives Way
to Quay.

After Senator Morgan had spoken for an
hour Of more in the Senate's executive ses-
sion yesterday afternoon he gave way to
Mr.. Quay, but before the latter had well be-
gun Senator Carmack moved that Senator
Morgan be allowed to discuss the canal
question in open Senate. In support of the
motion he said that the question was Of
general Importance and that the country
should be placed in possession of the de-
tails.
The motion brought on a general debate
in which the rules of the Senate, the advisa-
bility Of cloture, the necessity OF maintain
ing in the Senate a forum Of free speech
| and many other kindred topics were dis
cussed. Among those who spoke were Sem
ators Spooner. Teller, Depew, Hale and Ba-
con. most of whom opposed Mr. Carmack's
motion for open doors on the ground THAI
it was not expedient to air our relations
with other countries before the world at
large. The speakers differed widely, how
ever, as to the expediency Of the policy Of
delay, which 1t was freely charged Is now
being pursued in connection with the Pan
anna treaty on the one hand and with the
statehood bill on the other. Some of the
senators avowed themselves advocates Of a
rule OF cloture. Others expressed the con-
viction that the prolongation of the pres
emit situation would lead to the speedy adop-
ton Of such rule.
Previous Understanding Alleged.
Speaking In this vein Senator Hale ex-
pressed the conviction that the present sit
uation. In which friends Of the statehood
bill had joined with the opponents of the
treaty, was due to a previous understand
ing between them and between Senator
Quay and Senator Morgan
Mr. Morgan replied earnestly, denying that
there had been such combination, to which
MI Mr: Hale replied that he had been led to
pelleVe that such was the case. To this Mr.
Morgan replied very tartly that If Mr. Hale
chose to believe what was not true he
would injure only himself At this point
MT. Quay rose and, expressing impatience
with the interruption, asked leave to pro-
ceed with his speech. No one objected and
the course of the controversy was shifted
without putting Mr.. Carmack's motion to a
vote
Mr.. Quay's speech consisted of a long re-
port on the isthmian canal question This
reading he asked the clerk at the desk to
perform, but objection was made and the
mater was submitted to a vote. The re-
suit was adverse to Mr.. Quay's request the
vote standing 20 to a. He then began the
reading OF the document himself and contin-
ued for two hours or more
Al o:5o clock. in accordance with the de-
cision OF the steering committee Senator
Cullom moved recess until IL o'clock to-
day, and the motion prevailed.
No Night Session.
This decision of the steering committee
against night session was reached at
meeting of the committee held during the
afternoon at the request of Senator Cullom.
who has the Colombian, otherwise known as
the Panama, canal treaty in charge and
wished the steering committees advice as
10 abandoning the night session. The COM
mfttee decided that the sentiment Of the
senate was against holding another night
session until an effort had been made to
reacn an adjustment of the somewhat tan
gled legislative condition in the Senate In
order to bring about such an adjustment n
was suggested that some compromise might
De made on the statehood bill. The op-
ponents of the statehood bill never have
peneYed that the measure could be carried
as a rider on the post Office appropriation
Dill In the Senate. but the friends of the
measure have declared that they had the
votes not only to carry it, but to override
the chair should he decide the rider was
not in order.
Discussing Compromise.
Inquiry about the Senate made the op-
position apprehensive. though not convinced,
of this claim and in the steering committee
they said that should such be the case 1t
would mean an extra session Of Congress,
and the appropriation bill with the state
hood rider would be defeated 1t also was
found that leaders in the statehood fight
were willing to assume the responsibility