The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-18
Mr. cry and Others Forced to Rec
ognise the Necessity of Action ON
the Canal Treaty.
GEN. FOSTER HoNoRED AGAIN
TO REPRESENT UNCLE SAM BEFORE
THE ALASKAN COMMISSION.
james n. GarneId's Nomination 70 BE
Commissioner of Corporations
Sent to the Senate.

WASHlNGION, FeD. ll.-Ine RepuDucdn
senator's held a caucus to-day and decided
TO have the Senate continue consideration
OF efPanama canal treaty tomorrow and
on future days until the treaty shall be dis
posed of. This result was reached after an
hour and a half's- discussion Of the legis-
lative situation in the Senate. The conclu-
sion reached was unanimous. The under
standing is that the statehood bill does not
lose its advantageous position in the order
of business when the Senate is in legislative
session. The Republican supporters of the
statehood bill agree not to antagonize a,
motion fer an executive session to consider
the canal treaty. nor to make any objec-
tion to the prolongation of such sessions to
any extent necessary to secure ratification.
The caucus was opened by a statement
by Senator Allison. chairman of the steering
committee. giving 1t as the conclusion of
the committee that the Panama treaty
should be ratified before adjournment of the
present session. He added that the steer
: Ing committee. being responsible for the
order Of business, should be followed when
IL makes a suggestion as to the order in
which questions should come before the
Senate.
Senator Cullom. chairman of the commit
tee on foreign relations. presented motion
declaring II TO be the sense of the caucus
that the Senate should ''go into executive
session tomorrow. Feb. Is, Immediately
after the conclusion OF the morning busi-
ness, to ratify the Panama canal treaty"
In brief speech he dwelt on the fact that
the option of the United States on the
rights and franchises of the Panama Canal
Company expires on the 4th of next March
he said that other interests and other ma
lions might desire to control so important
an enterprise so that ii was altogether pos
siole that We would not be able to renew
the option at so low figure as $4,000 900,
the price which this country has agreed to
pay in case the bargain is consummated
AS only two weeks OF the session remain.
and there was determined, though limited,
necessarr that no further tine a sRond by
lost In g.tting down to serious work on the
treaty.
SENATOR QUAY's SPEECH
Several friends of the statehood bill in
speeches expressed the opinion that the
chief purpose of the motion was to side
track the statehood bill. Speeches based on
this apprehension were made by Senators
Quay. Elkins. Gallinger and Foraker. They
expressed their adherence to the treaty.
and said they agreed fully with all that
had been said as to the necessity for its
early ratification. but thought that the
proper way TO reach a vote was first to
take vote on the statehood bill. "By
pursuing that course" said Senator Quay
You can get the only obstacle to consid-
Grafton of the treaty out of the way, and
get IL out of the way by legitimate means -
He called attention to the prolongation of
the debate, which, he said, all knew was
far beyond the necessities and urged that
a day should be named for a vote on the
statehood proposition.
All supporters of statehood spoke I'm the
same strain, charging determined oppose
tion to the expression of the will of the
majority and dissenting from the opinion
expressed by Senator Allison that the
steering committee should determine the
order OF business. They also united in
their opposition 10 considering Senator Cul-
Ions proposition as motion Republican
are In the nature of conferences and are
not necessarily binding except. as Repub-
lican senators may consider themselves un-
their party. They were emphatic on this
point. some OF them going to the extent of
declaring they would not be bound If the
question should be pressed to a vote.
Replies were made by Senators Hoar
Hanna, Lodge, Aldrich and others, and
much stress was laid on the necessity of
securing the ratification of the treaty and
on the fact that there was no intention to
displace the statehood bill as the unfin-
ished legislative business. Senator Hoar
made an argument to prove that the ex-
ecutive session of the Senate occupies a
different plane from legislative business and
n,ana. tbat treaties shouid baye suUi.s lois ae
tial consideration at the hands of the Sem
ate This view was accepted generally
by senators and was the view acted upon
Some OF the senators present afterward
commented on il as likely to form a new
departure and important precedent in
the Senate.
Other senator's made reference to Europe 8
interest In the canal. and Senator Foraker
stated that an eminent engineering officer
had assured him that no fewer than four
great European powers were looking with
jealous eyes on our movement on the
isthmus. and would be glad 10 dspace. us
there He said in this connection that no
senator could surpass him in conviction as
10 the necessity of ratifying the canal
treaty. but at the same time he repeated
his indisposition TO have any other meas sure
interfere with consideration OF the state
hood bill
After a further exchange of views dur
ing which some quite sharp remarks were
made as to the desirability and the pos
sibility OF securing a vote on the state
hood b.il, che senators on both sides
adopted a more conciliatory tone toward
one another. The friends of the treaty
consented not TO press the motion as
such and the statehood advocates yielded
one by one, Senator Quay being the last
10 give in. Consequently when adjourn
nient was reached the announcement was
business Tomorrow Senator Quay should
move TO go into executive session and
that none of the Republicans should on
pose the motion. and that consideration of
the treaty should continue until ii was
disposed of
NV he a.,