Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-03-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.)!

I
Senate have completed their pro-
gram for the special session and
hope to adjourn not later than the
end of this week. The panama
canal treaty will be read for amend
ment to-day, tomorrow there will
be two hours for general debate and
a vote will taken. 1t is understood
that the democrats will vote to
amend the agreement to provide for
absolute ownership by the United
States of zone of land through
which the canal will pass with the
right to fortify it, and will favor
the elimination of article ~ which
provides that under no circum-
stances will the United States ac-
quire territory at the expense of
Columbia or any other South Am
erican republic. Both of these
amendments have been given care
full consideration by the Republican
steering committee, which subse-
quently determined to ratify the
treaty as negotiated. In some re-
spects the amendments were deem
ed desirable, but Secretary Hay adj
vised the leaders of the Senate that
any amendment would mean the
failure of the treaty and the inde-
finite postponement of the canal
and the changes were not deemed
of sufficient Importance to warrant
that risk.
Democratic senator's have insisted
on an amendment to the Cuban
treaty providing that it shall not
go into operation until approved
by the Congress" and the Republi-
cans have agreed to accept such an
amendment, such having already
been favorably reported by the
committee ON Foreign Relations.
The vote on the Cuban treaty, the
ratification of which is regarded as
assured, will be taken as soon after
the approval of the Panama treaty
as possible and will be followed by
immediate adjournment. A hear
ing has been had on the Hay-Bond
Newfoundland treaty but there is
no intention of reporting it out Of
committee and the best authorities
in the Senate say it will never be
ratified.
President Roosevelt is much
chagrinned at the amendment to be
attached to the Cuban treaty and is
seriously considering calling the
Fifty-eight Congress in special ses-
sion next November as soon as
practicable after the fall elections.
He characterizes the amendment
accepted by the Republicans as "a
concession to the enemies OF Cuban
reciprocity and holds that under
the circumstances he would be
fully justified in calling special
session Immediately. The leaders
ofthe party, however, would oppose
special session at any time be-
fore the fall elections, but there
are many good reasons why u
special session should he called at
that time. Next year will be u
presidential year and an early adj
journment of Congress, in order
that the campaign may not be in
terferred with will he desired.
The democrats propose to engage
in long tariff discussion and were
Congress to meet II few weeks be-
fore the first Monday in December
they might be accommodated with
out interfering with the public bust
ness. The President believes that
the Cuban treaty should be put in
operation before this years Cuban
sugar crop is marketed, but this
argument is met by leading sena-
tors with the assertion that the
] sugar buyers will anticipate the re-
duclion iu the tariff and the only
effect Of delay ia modifyin. the
uuiH schedule viii l., 90 keep
Cuban sugar "A little longer ia bond
cd warehouses. Mr., Rooscyclts 3
argument that 40 time should be
. lost before securing control OF the