Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-02-19
CANAL TREATY
Will Be PUSHED
Republican Senatorial Caucus
Unanimously Agrees to
Force Action.
STATEHOOD STILL LEADS
Sill Continues to Hold the Right O
Nay, and Must Get vots Before
Other Business Can Be Trans
acted-Quay Firm.

| Washington, Feb. 19.-The republican
senators held a caucus yesterday and
decided to have the senate continue
consi !eration of the Panama canal
treaty today and on future days until
the treaty shall be disposed of.
I This result was reached after an
hour and a half's discussion of the
| legislative situation in the senate. The
| conclusion reached was unanimous.
The understanding is that the state
hood bill does not lose its advantage or
position in the order OF business when
the senate is in legislative session. The
republican supporters of the statehood
| bill agree not to antagonize q motion
for an executive session to consider the
canal treaty, nor to make any objec-
ton to the prolongation of such ses-
sions to any extent necessary to secure
| ratification.
The caucus was opened by state
ment made by Senator Allison, chair
man of the steering committee, giving
| 1t as the conclusion of the committee
| that the Panama treaty should be rati-
| fed before adjournment of the present
| session. He added that the steering
committee. being responsible for the or
der of business Should be followed
| when 1t makes a suggestion as to the
order in which questions should come
| before the senate.
Senator c.iIom's Motion.
| Senator Cullom, chairman of the
committee on foreign relations pre-
sentcd motion declaring it to be the
4 sense of the caucus that the sera lie
| should "go into executive session today.
| February is, Immediately after the
conclusion of the morning business, TO
ratify the Panama canal treaty"
| In a brief speech he dwe.t on the fact
that the option of the United States ON
the rights and franchises of the Pam
| anna canal treaty expire Oh the 4th of
| next March. Ee said ether interests
| and other nations might desire TO con-
/; troll SO important an enterprise, SO 1T
was altogether possible that we would
/ not be able to renew the option at so
| low figure as d00a0,cC0, the price
which this country has agreed to pay in
case the bargain is consummated. AS
| only two weeks of the session remain,
and there was determined though i'm
/, tied opposition 10 the treaty, it was abb
| solutely necessary that no further time
\ should he In getting down to Sc
| rious work on the treaty
Several friends of the statehood bill
in speeches expressed the opii,ion that
the chief purpose Of the motion WAS to
! sidetrack the statehood bill. Speeches
| based on this apprehension We're made
| by Senators Quay. Elkins, Gallinger
| and Foraker. They expressed thei. adj
herence to the treaty, but thought the
| proper way to reach Il vote was first to
| take vote on the statehood bill, SEN
ator Quay in addition urging that day
| should be named for a vote on the
| statehood proposition.
Statehood Men Firm.
They also united in their opposition
! to considering Senator Cuilom's promo
| sition as motion. and Senator Alli-
! sons opinion that the steering commit
/ tee should determine the order of BUSH
ness. They We're emphatic on these
points, some of them going to the ex-
tent of declaring they would not be
| bound IL the question should be pressed
| to Il vote.
Replies We're made by Senators Hoar,
Hanna, Lodge, Aldrich and others, and
| much stress was laid on the necessity
of securing the ratification of the
| treaty and on the fact that there was
| no intention to displace the statehood
| bill as the unfinished legislature bust