The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-02-24


Hour or More, Yielded to Quay, Who
Spoke Until Adjournment-Night
Sessions Abandoned.
Washington. Feb. 21.-The senate
spent the entire day yesterday in exec
utive session. considering the Panama
canal treaty. and at 5.25 p. m. took
recess until to-day. No vote was ia
I ken on any OF the amendments which
nave been prepared by Senator Nor
san.
After Senator Morgan had spoken
for an hour or more he gave way to
Mr.. Quay, but before the latter had
well begun Senator Carmack moved
that Senator Morgan be permitted to
discuss the canal question in open SEN
ate. In support of the motion he said
that the question was OF general i'm
portance and that the country should
be placed in possession OF the details.
The motion brought on a general
debate in which the rules of the SEN
ate. the advisability of cloture, the
necessity of maintaining In the senate
q forum of free speech, and many
other kindred topics were discussed.
The speakers differed widely. however.
as 70 the expediency Of the policy OF
delay which IL was freely charged is
now being pursued in connection with
the Panama treaty on the one hand
and with the statehood bill on the
other
! Mr. Quay's speech consisted oC a
/ long report on the isthmian canal
I question. This reading he asked the
/ clerk at the desk to perform, but OBJ
| lection was made and the matter was
submitted 10 a vote. The result was
adverse to Mr.. Quay's request, the vote
! standing 20 TO 81. He then began the
reading OF the document himself and
continued for two hours or more
At $50 o'clock, in accordance with a
/ decision OF the steering committee,
Senator Cullom moved a recess until
to-day. and the motion prevailed.
! This decision OF the steering committee
against a night session was reached at
a meeting Of the committee held yes
terday afternoon al the request OF
| Senator Cullom. who has the Colom-
bian. otherwise known as the Panama
! canal treaty IN charge, and wished the
steering committees advice as TO aban-
ing the night session. The committee
decided that the sentiment of the SEN
ate was against holding another night
session nntil an effort had been made
TO reach an adjustment OF the some
what tangled legislative condition in
the senate In order to bring about
such an adjustment it was suggested
that some compromise might be made
on the statehood bill. The opponents
Of the statehood bill never have be-
/ lieved that the measure could be car
ried as a rider on the postofilce ap-
/ preparation bill in the senate, but the
/ friends OF the measure have declared
carry IL. but TO override the chair
should he decide the rider was not in
order Inquiry about the senate made
the opposition apprehensive, though
not convinced OF the claim. and in the
committee yesterday they said that
should such be the case it would mean
an extra session of congress, and the
| appropriation bill with the statehood
rider would be defeated. 1t was also
| found that leaders in the statehood
fight were willing to assume the re-
sponsibility for this outcome.
In the meantime the option held by
the United States to purchase the ca
nal property for $4,000. 900 will ex-
pire at midnight of March 3. If 1t is
renewed at all the United States will
be compelled to pay largely increased
price Blu; the probabilities are that
the option may not be renewed at all.
and that the shortest, cheapest. and
most, practicable route for an isthmian
canal, according to the report of the
United States canal commission, will
pass into the hands of foreign syn
dictate.
Cable dispatches several weeks ago
announced the formation in Europe OF
syndicate OF capitalists, behind
which the German government was
clearly apparent. to furnish the capi-
tai to complete the Panama canal as
soon as the United States permitted its
option to expire. All the senator's,
with the exception of Messrs. Morgan
and Quay, and their col sagues. Pet
tus and Penrose. recognize the impor-
lance OF early action and are ready to
vote nj onco