The Saint Paul globe., 1903-03-17
CANAL TREATY WILL
BE RATIFIED TODAY
This Will Be Done Without
Amendment, Democrats
Voting for 1t.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 16.-
The senate spent six solid hours in eX-
ecutiVe session today in it's efforts to
pass on the amendments to the Pan
anna canal treaty in preparation for the
final vote on the treaty tomorrow. The
greater part of the day was devoted to
debate on the matter of inSuring Amer
lean defense of the canal the Demo-
Gratis contending that the United States
should be given the initiative in that
respect, and the Republicans urging
that the interests Of this country are
sufficiently safeguarded by the terms
of the treaty as it stands. A substitute
for the provision of the treaty placing
the defense of the canal in the hands
OF the government Of Colombia result
ed in a test vote. AS a result of their
frequent conferences since Senator
Gorman's assumption of leadership, the
Democrats cast a solid vote in support
of the amendment, the Republicans
voting solidly against it. The vote was
"a for the Democratic amendment to
46 against it.
During the day Senator German of
fered number of his amendments, but
none Of them received more than ten or
twelve votes. The treaty will be rati-
fed tomorrow by very large majority
and without amendment. On the final
ballot many of the Democratic senators
will vote for it.
The Democratic senators, at their
caucus today, resolved to stand togeth-
er in the senate in support of two
amendments to the Panama canal trea-
ty. One Of these provides for the modi-
f1cation Of the twenty third article so
as to insure the control of the canal
zone by the United States, and the
other enlarges the provision in the
fourth article of the treaty with a dis
IT, n
the United States ito increase it's ter
ritory at the expense of Colombia or Of
the sister republics in Central or South
America" so as to include Mexico.
1t is the understanding that all the
Democrats will support the two amend
ments agree upon, but that after they
are acted upon individuals shall be at
liberty to vote for or against the treaty
as they elect. 1t is also the under
standing that some of the Democratic
senators will support some Of Senator
Morgan's individual amendments, but
they will do so as individual senators.
With reference to the amendment in
Guiding Mexico in the declaration Of
territorial limitations, there was con-
siderable debate. Many of the senators
advocated an amendment striking out
the provision entirely, and practically
all of them agreed that it had no place
In the agreement, but it was concluded
that as it has been incorporated and
probably would remain, the best policy
would be to make an effort to modify
rather than remove It, Mexico was
incorporated because 1t was urged that
the people Of that country are as SEN
sitive as those of any other about
maintaining the integrity of their coun-
try and also as much entitled to the
guaranty as any other. There was
substantial unanimity with regard to
the twenty third article, but much diff
ference of opinion as to the language
of the proposed amendment and COM
plete agreement on that point was not
reached until adjournment of the eau
Gus was forced by the convening of the
senate.
There were many individual confer
ences between senators today over the
Cuban reciprocity treaty, and as a
result of them, it is stated with much
confidence, that the extraordinary ses-
sion of the senate will adjourn finally
before the close of the present week.
One hopeful Republican senator fixed
Wednesday as the date of final ad-
journment, and none of eitbe, party
expects the senate to sit after Friday.
Most of the Democratic senators have
concluded to postpone debate Of the
questions involved in the treaty by
congress next December