Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19
MORGAN IS ANSWERED
PRESIDENT GIVES DETAILS OF
PANAMA CORRESPONDENCE.
lNCLUDESPOONER'SSPEECH
agreement is Made to Have All Talks
OF Senators in the Treaty Published
in Congressional Record-Wiscon-
sin Senator Takes FIoor-Stenoc-
raphers Sworn to Secrecy.

Inc senate yesterday made public
the reply of the president to Senator
Morgan's resolution asking for ipfor-
nation as to the present state of the
negotiation or agreement between the
new Panama canal company and the
United States, together with a COPY of
the agreements touching the sale OF
property since Dec. l, 1902 The re-
ply is by Attorney General Knox. He
says that all negotiations have been
conducted with the understanding that
the consent of Colombia was neces-
sary to enable the canal company 10
sell and the United States to buy the
canal rights. The cablegram of Knox,
Feb. II, accepting the offer of the
company to sell to the United States
the canal property is given, as is also
the reply of the canal company in it's
stated acceptance, and is considered
as being in conformity with the offer
to the company. Knox says there
have been no other negotiations or
agreements.
In executive session Senator Morgan
charged the French courts had over
stepped their legitimate au.4orlty to
dispose OF the property situated in
Colombia and the limitations and re-
strictions imposed by the Colombian
government on the international in
teroceanic canal association. He con-
tended that as Colombia never really
had parted with the canal zone, and as
that country was guaranteed an annual
income OF $250,000 for the proposed
canal, that country was the ultimate
sole beneficiary OF Tie enterprise and
the concessionary company temporary
recipient of the tolls of the canal for
its compensation or indemnity" He
claimed therefore that the decree of
the French court, authorizing the sale
to the United States was void He
also contended that the French legis-
latiOn attempting to validate the acts
Of the French courts was clearly with
out authority. he argued at length
upon this line and insisted lat nearly
every step in the sale of the canal was
irregular.
When Senator Morgan concludes
Senator Spooner took the floor, but did
not proceed. He said, however, that
he desired to go on today. 1t was then
suggested that as the general agree
ment for the vote Tuesday included
tie printing of Spooner's speech the
official stenographers should be sworn,
and that agreement was extended so
as to provide for the reporting of all
speeches to be made in the future on
the treaty, with a view Of having the
letter of them printed after the vote
is taken Tuesday. Some stenograph-
ers were then sworn to secrecy, and
all the remaining employees in the Off
cial reporters room will be required to
submit to the oath today.
May Close Next Week.
Washington, March 1.-THE repub-
lican steering committee yesterday
considered the general condition of
business in the senate. At the open
ing it was expected that it would be
possible to fix the day for the final
close of the session not later than next
Friday or Saturday. No resolutions
to that effect, however, will be intro
duced until the effort shall have been
made to name the day for voting on
the Cuban reciprocity treaty.
No Extra Session.
Washington, March 14-Senators
who talked with the president yester-
day believe it unlikely an extra session
will be called next autumn. Among
the reasons assigned is that important
state elections next fall will require the
attention of congressman and it is
doubtful if a quorum could be main
tanned. They also point out that on
the eve of presidential compaign it is
highly important that every effort will
be made, especially in doubtful states,
to maintain the strength of the party
organizations. If the session is not
called until November it would be so
close to the regular session as to rem
der it practically unnecessary