The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-21
SENATE KILLS TIME
hut REACHES No VOTE ON IMPORT.
ANT MEASURES,
TREATY FOR PANAMA CANAL
CONSUMED THE BODY,S EXECU
TIVE SESSION.

quay Denied That He Had Violated
Pledge to n Republican Caucus
TO support the Treaty to the En-
cIusiOn of Every other Measure.
General Debate Upon the Question
of Considering the Treaty in Open
Observation-Disclosures in the Senate
Is Tangled.
Washington, Feb. 20-The Senate to-
day spent the entire day in executive
session, it being still the legislative day
of yesterday, and at $50 p m. took
recess until tomorrow at IL O'Clock
The time was taken up in considera-
ton of the Colombian canal treaty. No
vote was taken upon any of the
amendments which have been prepared
by Senator Morgan.
The most interesting event of the day
transpired when Senator Quay rose to
question of personal privilege He
sent to the desk and had read an ar
ticle from a New York paper this
morning, accusing him of violating
pledge which the paper stated he had
made in the Republican caucus We'd
nesday to support the treaty to the ex-
clusion of every other subject
Senator Quay said such was not the
case, but that on the contrary he had
protested against any action looking to
the displacement of the statehood bill
He called upon other senators to testi-
fly to this effect, and several did so.
Senator Morgan, who had the floor,
yielded to Senator Burton, who spoke
for an hour and a half in advocacy of
the statehood bill.
Senator Dubois of Idaho followed
with speech in criticism of the treaty
and of the summary action of the Re-
publican caucus.
When Senator Dubois concluded,
Senator Morgan continued his speech
in opposition to the treaty in it's pres
ent shape.
Wanted 1t in Open Senate.
After Senator Morgan had spoken for
an hour or more he gave way to Sen
ator Quay, but before the latter had
we'll begun Senator Carmack moved
that Senator Morgan be allowed to
discuss the canal question in open
Senate. The motion brought on a gem
eral debate, in which the rules of the
Senate, the advisa bility of cloture, the
necessity of maintaining in the SEN
ate forum of free speech, and many
other kindred topics were discussed.
Among those who spoke were Senators
Teller, Bacon, Depew, Spooner and
Hale, most of whom opposed Senator
Carmack's motion for open doors.
The speakers differed widely, how
ever, as to the eXpediency of the pol
icy of delay which it was charged is
now being pursued in connection with
the Panama treaty on the one hand,
and with the statehood bin on the
other. Some of the sena tors DECLARED
themselves advocates of a rule of clio
ture. Senator Hale said the present sit
uation, in which friends of the state-
hood bill had Joined with opponents of
Nae treaty, was due to previous I'M
outstanding between them and be-
tween Senator Quay and Senator Nor
gan.
Senator Morgan replied, earnestly de-
nying that there had been such combi-
nation.
Senator Carmack's motion was not
put to a vote, and Senator Quay re-
sumed.
Quay Had a Lengthy One.
Senator Quay's speech consisted of a
long report on the isthmian canal ques-
ton. He asked the clerk at the desk TO
read the report, but objection was
made, and the matter was submitted to
a vote. The result was adverse to Sem
ator Quay's request, the vote standing
20 to "a He then began the reading
of the document himself, and continued
for two hours or more.
At $50 O'Clock, in accordance with the
decision of the Steering Committee,
Senator Cullom moved recess until II
o'clock tomorrow, and the motion pre-
vailed.
This decision of the Steering Commit
tee against night session was reached
at a meeting of the committee held
during the afternoon. The committee
decided that the sentiment of the SEN
ate was against holding another night
session until 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. Senators Quay
and Elkins and other Republicans, who
have been faVoring the statehood EfiI,
were called in, and the matter was
Canvassed at some length, but without
approaching an agreement. The DEM
ocrats have not been consulted, and as
they stood solidly against the plan of
compromise for the creation of two
new states, they may not accept any
other compromise proposition. Should
a compromise be agreed upon, it is
stated that it will include the ratilica-
ton of the Colombian and Cuban
treaties