The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-14
CAUCUS ON CANAL
WILL BE HELD BY THE DEMO-
Gratis MONDAY
TO DETERMINE THEIR COURSE
TWO OR THREE INSIST ON ITS BE-
ING RATIFIED.

RepubIicans Have Decfdedsto OPP
nose All Amendments-It Is Now
For the Democrats to Decide
whether They Want the Treaty as
1t Is Drawn-Debate Is TO BE Had
to Enable Both Parties to Go on
Record Regarding the Canal.
blackburn VIII stand by Morgan.
BY R. M. Larner.
Washington, March 13.-Democratic
senators are to decide at a caucus to
be held next Monday morning whether
they will unite in voting against the
un-American canal treaty, which is
now pending before the Senate. The
Republicans, at the dictation Of the
Steering Committee, to-day decided to
oppose all amendments to the canal
treaty 1t requires but a majority to
amend, but two-thirds to ratify. There
are two or three Democrats who are
disposed to bolt the caucus if the de-
cson is reached to vote against rati-
ticaton.
The Senate proceedings tomorrow
Will De D6n1nQ CLOSED uOOTS, UuI ny
unanimous consent, the official report
ers, after being sworn to secrecy, will
take down the debate, which will be
general. Senators Spooner and Frye
and other Republicans will endeavor to
combat the claims of the Democrats
that the. canal shall be under the abso-
lutte control and operated in the inter-
est of the American people. Blackburn
and others will join Senator Morgan in
insisting that the Democrats are not
opposed to an isthmian canal built
and owned by Americans with the
right to fortify and protect it against
all foreign powers.
The debate is to allow both
sides to go on record as to
their exact position concering the
pending treaty.
Is the Title Valid:
When the Senate went into executive
session to-day Senator Morgan entered
on a discussion of Attorney General
Knoxs opinion as to the validity of
the title to the Panama canal prop
erty, which can be given by the new
Panama Canal Company. This opinion
he attacked as defective in some points,
and especially in it's failure to deal
with the jurisdiction of the French
courts, which have passed upon the
canal company's title.
Senator Morgan read at length from
the speeches he has prepared for pub
lication. He charged that the French
courts had overstepped their legitimate
authority in assuming to dispose OF
property situated in Colombia without
reference to the rights retained by
Colombia and the limitations and re-
strictions imposed by the Colombia
government upon it's agent, the Inter
national Inter-Oceanic Canal Associa-
ton. The concession had been made
to this company, he said, and this
company, having been created by Co
lombia, is made subject to the exclusive
jurisdiction of that country.
Discussing the efforts of the Panama
Canal Company to secure an extension
of it's concession, Senator Morgan said
this was accomplished in 1900 for the
purpose of unloading the enterprise on
the United States.
Rejected by Columbia.
This company" he said, bought
from the President of Columbia for 81
100000 francs in French coin, to be paid
in Paris, prolongation of the extern
sion for six years from the 31st of Oc-
tober, 1902. This proposed agreement
was laid before the Congress of CO.
lombia and was rejected. The conSti-
tuition and the laws of Colombia re-
quired that such contracts should be
confirmed by Congress, but the Presi-
dent of Colombia, in violation of both
the laws and the constitution signed
the contract and received the $1,000,0 600
in gold from the new Panama Canal
Company. The House of Representa-
tiVes thereupon voted that the office
of President of Colombia was vacant
and dissolved"
When Senator Morgan concluded
Senator Spooner took the floor, but did
not proceed He said, however, that
he desired to go on tomorrow
1t was then suggested that, as the
general agreement for a vote next
Tuesday included the printing of Sem
ator Spooner's speech, the official
stenographers should be sworn, and
the agreement was extended SO as to
provide for the reporting of all the
speeches to be made in the future on
the treaty, with the view of having
them printed after the taking of the
vote on Tuesday. Some of the ste
nographers were then called in and
sworn to secrecy, and all the remain
ing employees in the official reporters
room will be required to submit to the
oath tomorrow.
EARLY in the day Senator German
announced his intention to call
Democratic caucus for tomorrow, but
when the Senate adjourned it was
stated that the caucus had been post
poned until Monday.
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