The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-18
Senators Decide to Give t the
 Right of Way
DECISION IS UNANIMOUS
Advocates of Statehood Bill Secured an Agreement That Their Meas ure Would Not Lose It's Place
 During Legislative Sessions.

Washington, February 1.-The repub- lican senators held a caucus today and decided to have the senate continue con sideration of the Panama canal treaty to- morrow and on future days until the treaty shall be disposed of. This result was reached after an hour and a half's discussion of the legislative situation in the senate. The conclusion reached was unanimous.
 1 The understanding is that the statehood bill does not lose it's advantageous posi- ton In the order of business when the senate is in legislative session. The re- publican supporters of the statehood bill agree not to antagonize a motion for an executive session to consider the canal treaty. nor to make any objection to the l prolongation of such sessions to any ex- tent necessary to secure ratification. The caucus was opened by statement by | Senator Allison, chairman of the steering committee, giving it as the conclusion of the committee that the Panama treaty should be ratified before adjournment of the present session. He added that the steering committee, being responsible for the order of business, should be followed when it makes a suggestion as to the order in which questions should come be- fore the senate.
 Collum Presents Motion.
 Senator Culom, chairman of the com mittee on foreign relations, presented a motion declaring 1t to be the sense of the caucus that the senate should "go into aAya fxap IV,I, immediately after the conclusion of the morning business, to ratiry the Panama canal treaty."
 In 8 brief speech he dwelt on the fact that the option of the United States on the rights and franchises of the Pana- ma canal treaty expires on the 4th of next March He said that other in- terests and other nations might desire to control so important an enterprise so that 1t was altogether possible that we would not be able to renew the option at so low figure as $4O,OOO.0OO, 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 limited opposition to the treaty 1t was absolute | that the executive business Of the senate be lost in getting down to serious work | on the treaty.
 Several friends of the statehood bill. l in speeches. expressed the opinion that the chief purpose of the motion was to sidetrack the statehood bill, though they expressed their adherence to the treaty | and said they agreed fully with all that | had been said as to the necessity for | it's early ratification, but they thought l the proper way to reach a vote was first to take a vote on the statehood bill.
 Quay Urges Statehood Bill.
 Senator Quay urged that day should be named for a vote on the statehood proposition. All supporters of statehood spoke in the same strain charging deter mined opposition to the expression of the will of the majority, and dissenting from the opinion advanced by Senator Allison | that the steering committee should de- termine the order of business. They also united in their opposition to considering Senator Cullom's proposition as motion. Republican caucuses in the senate, they l say always are in the nature of confer | ences and are not necessarily binding, ex- | cept as republican senators may consider themselves under obligation to follow the majority of their party. They were em- phatic on this point, some of them go- ing to the extent of declaring they would not be bound if the question should be pressed to a vote.
 Replies were made by Senators Hoar Hanna Lodge, Aldrich and others and much stress was laid on the necessity or