The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-13

washington, ID. c., March 11.-De-
cided progress was made today toward
reaching an agreement for a vote on
the Colombian Canal treaty and when
the senate adjourned a few minutes
before o'clock. there was a general
understanding that tomorrow, in all
probability, some hour next Tuesday
would be definitely agreed upon as the
time when a vote should be taken up
on the treaty and all amendments Ali
statements to this effect were, however,
accompanied by the announcement
that there were yet some details to be
arranged, leaving it impossible to alb
solutely conclude the agreement before
tomorrow. There is, however, no doubt
in the minds of leading senators that
the vote will be taken on Tuesday.
The arrangement was brought about
largely by Senator Frye, who by vir-
tue of long service with Senator Nor
gan on the committee on foreign rela-
tionS has come to be on terms of great
intimacy with the Alabama senator.
No other senator has so far shown any
disposition to delay the final disposition
of the treaty, so that all that was nee
eSSdTy was W SGCuIc NIL. dS-
sent to taking the vote.-The negotia-
ton was begun early in 1he day, and
after Senators Frye and Morgan had
been clOSeted for some time, the latter
sought out Senator German and talked
the situation over with him. The result
of these and other conferences was the
announcement at the close of the days
session of the strong probability Of a
vote on Tuesday.
Senator Morgan eXacted consent to
the printing in the Congressional Rec
Ord of the remarks which he has pre-
pared, giving his best recollection of
sIeeches he has made in the executive
sessions Of the senate on the treaty.
These speeches are contained in the
pamphlets sent to the senators yester-
day by Mr.. Morgan. They have been
read by a number of republican Sena-
tors who say they find nothing objec-
tionable, and that there is no reason
why they should not be printed, ex-
cept that they bear upon a treaty
which is always considered secretly ex-
executive. They generally, however, ad-
wise that permission be given to print
in order to save time, which they con-
slider now more important than the con-
servation of senatorial etiquette.
Democratic senators have practically
agreed unanimously to urge an amend
ment to the 23rd article of the treaty,
right of the United States to control
the canal and they express confidence
in obtaining some republican votes for
it. Many senators also express the
conviction that the change in the
treaty, committing the United States
to policy of non-acquisition of Cen
trail American territory should be eli
| minated as entirely out of place. The
indications are, however that the
treaty will be ratified without modifica-
ton in any particular.
The agreement made today does not
bear upon the Cuban treaty in any re-
spect, except that it opens the way for
it's early consideration In the senate
and the committee on foreign relations
will meet tomorrow in order to take it
| up with view of reporting it to the
senate The democrats will make an
effort to kill the Cuban treaty both in
committee and in the senate so as to
require action by the house and they
also threaten to antagonize it with the
French reciprocity treaty which Is quite
| Objectionable to many republican SEN
ators. The Indications, however, are
| that the Cuban agreement will soon be
reported by the committee. That it
will have such smooth sailing in the
! senate is not cutie SO certain. Four or
! five democratic senators are favorable
! to it. but while there is only one re-
/ publican senator who has announced
| his intention to vote against, there are
| a number who are Indifferent to its
! Gate 1t appears now as if it would be
| difficult to hold a quorum Of the SEN
! ate in Washington while the treaty is
! under consideration. If a quorum can
not be held, it will be impossible to Sc
cure it's ratification, for there is suf-
| fcient opposition to require this con-
| formity with the rules of the senate.
| Senator Morgan continued his remarks
! in the senate today in opposition to
| the canal treaty, but most Of the time
! was given up to the reading of docu-
ments by the clerk at Mr.. Morgan's S
request. The few remarks made by
/ him related to the unsanitary condi-
tions of the vicinity Of Panama canal
and to the division Of the money to be
paid to Colombia by the United States.
The Guatamala and Mexican extra
dition duties were ratified.
! The understanding among members
of the committee on foreign relations is
that none of the reciprocity treaties
before the committee should be report
ed for considerable this session and
that the cuban treaty will be the last
to receive the attention of the commit
tee for the present.