The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-18
Seventy three to Five Spells
the Story.
THERE ARE NO CHANGES
The Struggle for Amendments is Prosecuted
With Vgor, but They are all Voted
Down and the Canal Treaty
Rushed Through.
(By the Associated, Press.)


Washington, March 17.-Without dot
ting an az or crossing st. even with
out changing a single punctuation mark,
the Senate today voted to ratify the
treaty with the republic of Colombia for
the construction of an isthmian canal.
The vote for ratification was 73 in the
affirmative to in the negative
The Senate VAIN executive session
when the result was announced so that
only the Senators themselves and a few
confidential employees were present. All
the Senators announced themselves as
gratified to have the long struggle termi-
mated. but none Of them manifested their
appreciation by cheers or handclapping.
On the contrary all OF them seemed more
concerned about getting away from the
chamber than about anything else, so
that by the time the Senate could ad-
journ, which it did almost Immediately
after the result was announced, most of
the Senators had left their seats and
some of them had donned their hats and
overcoats.
The day was given UP almost entirely
to general debate on the treaty, and in
addition TO the set speeches made under
the general agreement by Snators Nor
gan and Cullom thre were many short
addresses and a rather long speech by
Senator Daniel, of Virginia. The only
party vote OF the day was taken on the
substitute for Article A. which was agreed
upon by the Democratic caucus and
reference to the acquisition of territory
in Central and South America by the
United States. There were a number of
speeches on this amendment, but it wa&
voted down by an almost two-thirds ma
jority, the ballot footing up fifty-one
ayes to twenty seven noes.
Senator Money offered the substitute
for the fourth article of the treaty, which
disavows any intention on the part of the
United States to increase its territory
at the expense OF South or Central Amer
lea,
Speeches were made in support of the
Money amendment by Senators Bacon,
Teller, Daniel, Morgan, Bailey and 9TH
ers. They contended for an impartial
recognition Of all American republics,
urging that under the language of the
lOuIlH dTllCIG VI the treaty M6AlCO WOulu
be left as the only American republic to
which the avowal of non -encroachment
could be held as non applicable Senators
Sponer and Hoar replied contending that
there was practically no difference be-
tween the language of the amendment
and that of the article as it stands. At
ter the vote was taken, Senator Daniel
then offered an amendment providing that
the treaty should not take effect until it
had been approved by the Congress. Mr..
Daniel spoke in advocacy Of this provis-
ion.
The fact soon showed tina Senator
Daniel had offered his amendment for
the purpose Of making a general speech
upon the treaty and when the fifteen
minutes allowed to him for his speech on
It's ownamendment had expired and the
amendment was voted down, Senator
Morgan presented four or five
of his amendments, which were each in
turn defeated, but upon all
of which Senator Daniel continued to
speak. All told he spoke for about
an hour. His speech was an arraignment
of the Republican policy in pressing the
treaty with what he asserted was undue
haste. He referred to the enormous eX-
penditure that would be required to con-
struct the canal, and charged recklessness
in rushing into such an enterprise, as he
declared was being done.
After Senator Daniel had closed sew
eral other Senators on both sides of the
chamber addressed the Senate in fifteen
minutes speeches for and against the
treaty. Among those who spoke against
it was Senator German, who devoted
himself especially to the question of the
necessity of adequate defense of the
canal which he said, could only be as
sured by the United States. He asserted
that Senators were not thinking for
themselves, but were following blindly in
the lead of the Secretary of State IN
deed. he declared that Senators were
practically surrendering their own offices
IN order to maintain reputation for
party allegiance.
Senator Platt, of Connecticut. was one
of the very few Senator's, if not the
only Senator, to announce his entire
satisfaction with the treaty. He criti-
cised the Democratic Senators for using
undue minuteness in their efforts to find
defects in the agreement. He was sure
they were splitting hairs
When, at 4:45 p. m, it became ap-
parent that the fifteen minutes speeches
had been concluded, Senator Morgan sur
prised the Senate by refraining from pre-
senting any more individual amendments.
and by presenting all of the fifty which
he had prepared in one block, submitting
them with the portions of the text of the
treaty, which he had not changed as
substitute or the whole agreement. He
did not demand a roll call, and the sub