Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-23
IN THE SENATE.
executive Session Continues. VIII
Very Little to Keen Secret

/
| Washington, Feb. 22.-The Senato
spent nearly the entire day. SATURDAY.
IN executive session. II was the lee,is'
lative day of Thursday, as the Senata
had taken recesses instead of adjourn
| ing. a0'ooii II
Inc Senatelresumed it's sittings at II
LUX. morgan was about to pro-
oeeo with MS speech upon the isthmian
eoiiai, "nen there was a general re-
ques. On the part of senator's to be al
io"eu 10 transact some morning busi-
ness.
Morgan yielded to this demand. and
II soon became apparent that a very
large volume of this business had ac-
cumulated. Mr.. Cullom then moved
an open session of an hour for the
transaction of legislative business
mere was no objection, and accord
lngly, 20 minutes after the beginning
,, OF the session the doors were opened.
Two bills We're passed, one amending
the law concerning the holding of real
estate by aliens in the territories.
Mason gave notice that on Monday
he would ask the Senate to take up
the post office appropriation bill imme-
diately after the disposition of the rou-
tine morning business.
The car coupling bill passed by the
House was sent to conference, Foraker
Willard and Foster of Louisiana, being
named as conferees.
AT this point Quay arose and said:
Il merely rise to make my usual re-
quest, with, l presume, the usual re-
suit, that on Thursday, the Goth of Feb
ruary, a vote be taken on the state
hood bill and all amendments without
further debate" DepeW and Nelson
objected simultaneously, and Quay
took his seat.
When the Senate went into executive
session for the second time Quay again
took the floor and said that he desired
to present certain reports, but that he
was indisDosed and therefore would
like TO have them read by the clerk.
There was no objection, and the read
ing clerk accordingly began the read
ing of long report on the question OF
isthmian canals which Quay sent up.
The reading consumed about three
hours. and at it's conclusion Pettus
made a brief speech, directed princi-
pally at what he termed the repeal of
the Spooner act by the treaty. He cor-
appropriation made by the Spooner law
for the purpose of securing perpetual
control OF the canal would not be
available under the treaty providing
merely for lease of the canal strip.
Platt of Connecticut, took issue with
Pettus, saying that he believed there
were no obstacles in the treaty to the
acquisition by the President of a canal
L..
were any such obstacles they could be
removed by another act of Congress,
reapprCpriating the money.
During the day Morgan secured con-
sent to the removal of the injunction
of secrecy from the amendments to the
treaty which have been offered by him.
Most of the important amendments
have already been given publicity, but
he offered two new ones, Saturday. One
of these provides for an agreement be-
tween the contracting parties that
nothing contained in the treaty shall
be construed to alter the terms of the
Spooner act. The other amendment is
as follows:
1t is agreed that in respect for the
rights of citizens of the United States
under their constitution, and for the
present humane state of the Christian
religion, in which the ordinances and
prescriptions of the Spanish inquisition
have no place or tolerance, the pro-
visions of the concordat of 1888 between
His Holiness Pope Leo XIII. and the
government of Colombia and the laws
enacted by Colombia or that shall be
hereafter enacted, shall not apply to
any citizen CT the United States in Co
lonbia or to any person who shall be in
service of the United States. or to any
officer, agent or servant of the United
States who is in any way engaged in
the construction or operation OF a
canal, or the Panama Railroad under
the provisions of this treaty.
The executive session closed and the
Senate adjourned at 8 O'Clock Col
INN giving notice that he would move
lacain on Monday to continue the execu-
tive sessions for the consideration oil
the treaty.