The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-15
Takes Issue With Morgan as
to Senior Herran
ALSO DEFENDS THE TITLE
In Answer to Questions He Admits
There Are Some Objectionable
Features, But These Will
Have to Be Looked Over.

| Washington March 14-During his clos
! ing speech on the Panama canal treaty
! today Senator Spooner took sharp issue
with Senator Morgan as to the neees-
sity of making inquiry concerning the
| credentials of Senior Herrln, who was Co.
lomba's representative in the negotiation
for the treaty with that country, saying
that such proceeding on the part of
one country in the negotiations with an
other country would be most extraor-
binary and 1t certainly would be resent
ed. He contended that one eopuers. in
making a treaty with another, T@ -
ognize the de racto government zae
| Other.
He also made reply to Senator Nor
| gan's reference to the religious aff1lia-
| tions of the Colombia government. Sena-
| tor Morgan had contended that the
| United States had practically allied itself
with the church party in Colombia and
that 1t had in effect committed itself to
the terms of the Concordator agreement
between Pope Leo and the Colombia gov
ernment. This view, Mr.. Spooner charac-
terized as entirely contrary to the facts.
He said that under the treaty there
would be no pretext for the interference
by Colombian authorities with the re-
| ligious conduct affiliations of Amer
| leans in the canal zone. He ridiculed the
idea that by making a treaty with the
| government Of the United States we could
| thus be accused Of taking a position
| against the minority party or the party
| not In power in the country with which
! the agreement was made and said that IL
| a structure Of that kind was applicable
| in the present case 1t would apply to our
relations with many other countries
whose people are adherents of the Cath
Ollie faith
Discusses the Title.
In his discussion of the title of the Pam
anna company, Senator Spooner traced
the history OF the liquidation proceedings
concerning the canal concessions through
the French courts. Beginning with the
transference of the original concession to
NJ. Delesseps In 1897 he showed how, in
1888 wIen the company organiyed by NJ.
DELI Sc haG become involved. toe courts
int~ifsrse siei after arpoll =, i.1uida-
tor had authorized the organization of a
new company which is the company from
! which the United States secures its total.
This neW company had been recognized
| by a law passed by the Colombian gov
ernment In 1890. which confirmed the
! original concession and made provision
| for payments of stocks and money 10
| Colombia,
There also had been other subsequent
| acts by the Colombian government which
| were of such character as to leave no
doubt of a perfect understanding between
| the Colombian government and the new
canal company.
| Mr.. Spooner contended for the regular
! lty of every step taken and. therefore,
urged that the claim of title was per-
feetly good.
Senator spooner claimed that the United
States would have an indisputable right
| 20 ha
provision of the treaty authorizing its de-
fence
Questioned BY Morgan.
Towards the close of his address. Sena-
tor spooner was questioned by a number
Of democratic senators. particularly by
Senator Morgan. In reply to these dues-
tions and also of his own accord, Senator
Spooner said there were some features OF
the treaty which he would prefer 20 have
otherwise, but that the terms were tho
best It had been possible to secure. and in
view of the popular desire for inter-
oceanic canal he believed that expediency
demands that the treaty should be ac-
cepted 1t had been sent TO the senate
| by the President.
| Mr.. Spooner closed at five minutes past
| s o'clock, after speaking just five hours.
He was followed by Senator Depew, who
read a written speech. supporting the
treaty as in the interest OF the people Of
the entire country He referred to the
criticism that tn canal would be Injurious
to the railroad interests of the country.
and that a railroad man ne was thor
| oughy convinced that such would not he
the case. lie was of the opinion that the
construction of the canal would stimulate
all lines of business.
Morgan's Amendment.
Senator Morgan submitted a number OF
| m m n a fo
had previously presented.
Among the more important OF Senator
Morgans proposed amendments incIud-
ing those offered today. are the follow
ing:
Article 3. amended so as to give the
United States a perpetual right to the
canal tract and the right to fortify the
| same.
Article 8, as amended accords to the
United States the right to fortify the
group Of small islands In the bay of
| Panama.
The amendment to article Il provides
| that the United States shall have control
off the admission Of persons to perma-
nent residence In the canal zone.
| A further amendment provides that the
government of Colombia engages to pro-
tect. defend and fully to indemnify the
United States against all incumbrances
and valid claims against the property
to be conveyed to the United States un-
der the treaty.
Article % Is amended so as to provide
that should 1t become necessary to en-
ploy armed forces for the safety or pro-
lection of the canal, the republic of Co
\ lombia is to furnish the same when re-
quired from the United States, but the
United States is to have the right at
all times TO enter the canal zone and
to occupy the same with its land and ma
val forces and provide that nothing in
the treaty shall be construed as modify
Ing the Spooner act and thta the con-
cordat between the vatican and Colombia
shall not apply to citizens or agents of the
| United States.
At $40 the senate adjourned until Mon
day.