The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-18
WILL TAKE UP | CANAL TREATY Republican Senators Hold
 Caucus. OPTION WILL SOON EXPIRE Feared That It Cannot Be Re-
 newed for $40, ,000, 900. Statehood Bill Does Not Lose xts
 Place on the Legislative Calendar, But It Win Not Be Pressed.
OPTION WILL SOON EXPIRE

Washington, Feb. H-The Republicon Senators held caucus today and decided to have the Senate continue consideration of the Panama canal treaty tomorrow and on future days until the treaty shali be disposed of. This result was reached af- ter an hour and a halfs discussion Of the legislative situation in the Senate. The conclusion reached was unanimous. The understanding is that the Statehood bill does not lose It's advantageous post ton in the order of business when the Senate is in legislative session. The Re publican supporters of the Statehood bill agree not to antagonixe a motion for an executive session to consider the canal treaty, not to make any objection to the prolonsation of such sessions to any ex- tent necessary to secure ratification. The caucus was opened by a statement by Senator Allison. Chairman of the Steering Committee, giving it as the con- clusion of the Committee that the Pan- ana treaty should be ratified before ad- journment of the present session. He added that the Steering Committee. be- ing responsible for the order of business should be followed when 1t makes a sue- gestion as to the order in which ques- tions should come before the Senate.
 Cullom's Scheme.
 Senator Cullom. Chairman of the Com ulittee on Foreign Relations, presented a motion declaring 1t to be the sense of the caucus that the Senate should Ego into executive session tomorrow, February l8. immediately after the conclusion of the morning business. to ratify the Panama canal treaty"
 L. "A that the option of the United States on the rights and franchises of the Panama canal treaty expires on the fourth Of next March. He said that other interests and other nations might desire to control so important an enterprise so that Il was altogether possible that we would not be able to renew the option at so low a figure as $4O. .000OOO, the price which this country has agreed to pay in case the bargain is consummated.
 As only two weeks of the session re- mained and as there was determined though limited opposition to the treaty. 1t was absolutely necessary that no fur ther time should be lost in getting down to serious work on the treaty.
 Several friends of the Statehood bill in speeches expressed the opinion that the chief purpose of the motion was to sides track the Statehood bill though they ex- pressed their adherence to the treaty and said they agreed fully with all that had been said as to the necessity for its early ratification, but they thought the proper way to reach a vote was first to take a vote on the Statehood bill.
 Quay and Statehood.
 Senator Quay urged that a day should be named for a vote on the Statehood proposition. All supporters of Statehood spoke in the same strain, charging de- termined opposition to the expression of the will of the majority and dissenting from the opinion expressed by Senator Allison that the Steering Committee should determine the order of business. They also untide in their opposition to considering Senator Cullom's proposition as a motion. Republican caucuses in the Senate, they say. always are in the na- ture of conferences and are not necassa- rily binding except as Republican Sena- tors may consider themselves under obli- gations to follow the majority of their party. They were emphatic on this point some of them going to the extent of de- claring they would not be bound if the question should be pressed to vote.
 Replies were made by Senators Hoar. Hanna, Lodge. Aldrich and others and much stress was laid on the necessity of  and on the fact that there was no in- tention to displace the Statehood bill as the unfinished legislative business. Sens- tor Hoar made an argument to prove that the executive business of the Senate occupies different plane from legislative business and that courtesy toward other nations demands that treaties should have preferential consideration at the hands of the Senate. This view was ac- cepted generally by Senators and was the view acted on. Some of the Senators present afterwards commented on 1t as likely to form new departure and an important precedent in the Senate
 Europe's Interest.
 Other Senators made reference to Europe's interest in the canal and Sena- tor Foraker stated that an eminent en- gineering officer had assured him that no fewer than four great European powers were looking with jealous eyes on our movement on the isthmus and would be glad to displsce us there. He said in this connection that no Senator could surpass him in conviction as to the neces- sity of ratifying the canal treaty, but at the same time he repeated his indisposi- ton to have any other measure interfere with consideration of the Statehood blll.
 After a further exchange of views, dur ing which some quite sharp remarks were made as to the desirability of securing a vote on the Statehood bill the Senators on both sides adopted a more conciliatory tone toward one another. The friends of the treaty consented not to press the motion as such and the Statehood advo- cates yielded one by one, Senator Quay being the last to give in.
 Consequently when adjournment was reached the aEnouncenent was made that after the close of the routine business tomorrow Senator Quay should move to go into executive session and that none of the Republicans should oppose the motion and that consideration of the treaty should continue until disposed of.
 Will Represent Mexico.
 Mexico City, Feb. 17.-Jesus Urueta has