Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-18
70 PUSH TIE TREATY
Republicans In the Senate De-
eide on Ratification of
Canal Treaty
t WILL BE GIVEN PRECEDENCE
Regarded as of the Utmost Import
ance That the Treaty Be Ratified at
This Session of congress-Panama
Canal company's Offer to Sell for
100000 Formally Accepted.

Washington Feb 1S.-The republican
majority in the senate decided by
unanimous agreement in caucus to rat
lily the Panama canal treaty and to
keep it before the senate as the para
mount question until the vote is taken
This means that the senate will go
Into executive session today, and, While
not remaining in continuous session,
allow no other business to interfere
with this important question.
islation must stand aside until the can
| 81 treaty is ratified. Senator Morgan.
as the great objector to this treaty, will
be allowed to have his say, and propose
all his amendments, but he will have
| little assistance or relief from other
senators. as they will not spare the
time. When his physical endurance
gives way the vote will be taken.
The decision reached assures long
sessions of the senate. 1t may not nee
essarily follow that the senate will be
held in continuous session There is no
desire on the part of the republican
managers to interfere with the person
|al comfort of senators, but, in view
of The shortness of the session and the
great pressure of public business, the
necessity for the opponents of tha
treaty concluding their objections as
soon as possible will be urged. SEN
ators think that the position of one
or two members in holding out in
defiance of more than two-thirds of the
senate is untenable and will not be long
maintained Today's agreement did
not include any conditions Tor consider
alton OF the omnibus statehood bill.
which however. it was agreed should
not lose it's advantageous position in
the order of legislative business. The
fate of that measure will be determined
after the Panama treaty is ratified.
Neither did the agreement include
any proposition to conserve the inter-
ests of the Cuban reciprocity treaty.
That treaty will have to take it's
chances with other legislation after
the Panama treaty is out OF the way
Nothing but the imminency of a great
public question such as involved in
the negotiations for the construction
of the isthmian canal. could have
brought about the harmonious action.
AS much as the friends of the Cuban
reciprocity treaty would have liked to
have secured a provision for taking |
up that treaty they felt that the first |
duty was to insure action on Panama |
1t is known that there will be serious
democratic objection to the Cuban |
treaty, which does not apply to the |
Panama treaty, and 1t was deemed UNI
wise to link the fate of the two.
When the conference assembled yes
terday in the marble room. back of the |
senate chamber. Senator Allison was
asked to preside as chairman. Senator
Lodge, in order to get the question be-
fore the meeting, made q motion that |
1t was the sense of the meeting that |
the Panama treaty should be held be-
fore the senate until ratified.
Senator Quay proposed an amend
ment. adding that 1t was also the sense
If the conference that 4 vote should be
taken on the statehood Till some time
before the end of this session There
upon Senator Aldrich proposed a quail
flying clause that if a vote on the state
meeting the Endorsement should apply
only to vote on bill agreeable to the
of the Senate. Two of SEN
ltor Quay's strongest republican allies
senator's Foraker and Gailinger on his
statehood fight, made speeches in favor
IT Senator Lodges motion and plainly
Indicated their opinion that it ought
lot to be endangered by precision for
my other legislation. The drift of sem
iment in the conference among known
riends of the statehood bill was so
'lainly in favor of unqualified approval
4 the program for ratification of the
-anama treaty that Senator Quay de-
not to press his amendment,
tut to yield to the general demand for
elton on the treaty.
The agreement was specifically re- 7,
orded as being unanimous, which has ..
he effect in fact, tho rot in terms ex-
ressed. of being binding agreement !.
pom all present 1t is not likely that !,
ny republican will attempt to prevent
s successful consummalion.
The government has formally ac-
opted the offer of the Panama Canal
to sell to the United States
ne canal property and all of the COM
any's rights therein for $4,000. 900,
ubject only to the ratification of the ,
ending treaty with Colombia The eff =
act of this acceptance will be to ex- II
End the life of the option held by the :,
overnment beyond March next, and .
ntil the treaty now before the senate :,
as been ratified by both countries.