Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
REPLIES TO THE ARGUMENT OF
.-... -- SENATOR MORGAN.
Democrats Will, Outline Their Course
Monday-Indications Against
'.~- Solid Party Action.

-
at the caucus is whether the democrats will
vote sselidly as "a party:on the amendments
they propose or whether individuals will re-
serve the right to vote against the amend
ments. ------------------r
( 1t was said today that the indications
were against solid party action. 1t is not
Thought that the democrats can succeed
in soldifying their forces to vote against
ratification of the treaty. These questions,
however, will all be gone over at what Is
expected to be a full conference of the
democrats~' ''-s'.s'-""hf
The Senate will begin Monday to consider
the treaty under u rule providing for fifteen
minutes debate, and the amendments will
be voted upon. The vote ratification Will
be taken some time Tuesday.
4. There was revival, today of the old story
of the effort of the projectors of the Darien
project to embarrass the pending treaty. 1t
was charged that the Daren advocates
have been urging the acceptance Of the
amendment demanding complete sovereign
ty over the canal strip, which amendment
would be refused by Colombia and ratifica-
ton of the treaty defeated in Colombia.
sc Many Visitors Disappointed.
Without the transaction of any business
in open session the Senate today went into
executive session. Senator Cullom. chair
man Of the committee on foreign relations
moved the executive session within less
than Ave minutes after the Senate had been
called to order, and large number of peo-
pie, most of them evidently visitors to the
city. were turned out upon the order of the
president pro tempore to the sergeant-at-
arms to clear the galleries and close the
doors" Senator Cullom remarked upon
making the motion that he feared the WIS.,
tors had not received their moneys worth,
and evidently many OF them felt the same
ahnrtf hn no tor a o.
parted in apparent good nature.
Prior to the closing of the doors the OFF,
cfal photographers and all the employees OF
the official reporters office were sworn to Sc
crecy, and when the doors were closed one
OF the reporters was invited into the cham
Der to make a detailed report Of the pro-
ceedinss, with the understanding that it
should be published after the vote on Tues
day next Each Of them was sworn to pre-
serve inviolable secrecy in all executive or
confidential business of the Senate until
especially absolved therefrom."
Senator Spooner Speaks.
Senator Spooner occupied a seat in the
rear of the chamber, and was in converse
ton with Senator Hoar when the doors
were closed When the last visitor had left
the chamber and the doors were closed he
arose from his seat, and proceeding down
the center aisle, Immediately began his
speech on the Panama canal treaty in reply
to Senator Morgan. Departing somewhat
from his usual d!rectness. Mr.. Spooner in
PRODUCED his remarks with a series of COM
plimentary illusions to Senator Morgan, in
which he touched upon Mr. Morgans great
familiarity with all questions pertaining to
an interoceanic canal, as well as his gen.
eta ally acknowledged interest in that sub
ject. He also spoke of Senator Morgan's
recent speeches of the latter part of the
last session of Congress, and of the present
called session of the Senate, and said that
a n n q In fa
for anything like SO great a time. On the
contrary, he said that it was his intention
to be brief, and indeed he would not talk
at all but for the fact that he considered
the question of momentouS Importance. He
then spoke of the magnitude of the work
In constructing a canal across the isthmus,
which he expressed the opinion the United
States would soon enter upon, and with, ne
said. he believed, the approval of a vast
majority of the people of the United States.
Speech Legal in Character.
Much of his speech was legal In Its char
scter and was devoted to sustaining the
point of view presented by Attorney Cen
sral Knox in his report upon the title which
the Panama Canal Company is capable of
making to the canal property and fran
chises. He expressed the view that there
could be no doubt that this company has
come legitimately into possession of the
canal concessions. and he said that having
right to transfer 1t in turn to the United
states or to any other purchaser.
Takes Sharp Issue With Morgan
Senator spooner took sharp issue with
senator Morgan as to the necessity of max
ing inquiry concerning the credentials of
Senior Herran. who was Colombias repre-
sentative in the negotiation of the treaty
with that country, saying that such a pro-
ceeding on the part. of our country In ne
gotiation with another would be most ex-
traordinary. and that 1t would certainly be
resented. He contended that one country
IN making a treaty with another must rec
ognize the de facto government of the
other. and that IL could not enter upon in
quiry as 10 the origin or substantially of
the other government.
He also made reply, to Senator Morgan's
references to the religious affiliations of the
Colombian government. Senator Morgan
had contended that the United States had
practically allied itself with the church
party in Colombia. and that 1t had In eff
feet committed Itself to the terms Of the
concordat or agreement between Pope Leo
and the Colombian government.
s...-... Contrary. to Facts.
This view Mr. Spooner characterized as
entirely contrary 70 the facts He said that
under the treaty there would be no pretext
Tor the interference by Colombian authori-
ties with the religious conduct or Affiliations
OF Americans In the canal zone. He ridi-
culed the idea that by making treaty
with the government the United States
could thus be accused of taking a position
against the minority party, or the party
not In power In the country with which
The agreement was made and said that IL
a structure of that kind was applicabl In
me present case Ii would apply to our re-
lations with many other countries whose
people are adherents OF the Catholic faith.
Senator Germans friends were Joking
him today about an Instruction which
they say has broken out In his family.
They say that no sooner has he escaped a
Threatened revolt against his leadership
In the Senate than he Is confronted by
an outbreak at home. The senator's sol.
Mr. Arthur p, German. jr., has jumped
the reservation and has become a political
tnsurgept, IL Is said. Young Mr.. Gorman
has declared his candidacy for the demo-
Netic nomination for the state senate in
~.yland to succeed Mr.. w. ID. Peter of
. Howard county
Young Mr.. German essayed entrance
into politics some time ago, but was dis
suaded by his father, SC the story runs.
because the young gentlemans aspira-
tions interfered with some plan which the
political managers had laid. 1t Is reported
that the senator is not inclined to View with
favor his sons candidacy In the present case.