The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-13
Unless Amended He VIII Not
 Support t
II IS TOO LOOSELY DRAWN
Directed Especial Attention to the Fact That Negotiations Had Failed to Embody In the Treaty Act of
 Congress Authorizing Canal.

Washington. February 12.-Considera- ton of the Panama canal treaty occupied nearly the entire time of the executive session of the senate today. Immediately after the doors had been closed a motion by Senator Pettus of Alabama to re- consider the vote by which the Alaskan boundary treaty was ratified yesterday by the senate, was laid on the table and then, after after the confirmation of rumber of nominations the Panama canal treaty between the United States and the republic of Colombia was brought before the session.
 Senator Morgan immediately took the floor to urge that the treaty be amended In many respects and to oppose 1t unless amended. He had hardly begun his speech when the point of no quorum was made, but a roll call showed the nee essary number present and the senator resumed. He contended that the con vention is loosely drawn and said that in order to properly safeguard the in- terests of the United States, it should be practically made over.
 Important Matters Eliminated.
 Senator Morgan directed especial atten- tion to the fact that there had been a failure to embody the act of congress. providing for the construction of the ca- nal in the treaty, as was set forth in the preamble and dwelt at length on what he termed the unrelability and revolutionary character of the government of Colombia. He asserted that the price of ten million dollars in cash which the United States had agreed to pay to Colombia, was ex orbtant and was more than necessary in view of the former agreement to take $70oO,O0O He also criticized the provision for a perpetual annual payment of $25O,- 900 and declared that in all probability much of these payments would go into the pockets of private individuals.
 In this connection, he declared that recent chief executive of the Colombian government had sold out and abdicated for a million dollars. He repeated his declaration that the existing government has no power to enter into treaties, and asserted that a treaty with that govern ment would not be binding. He declared that it would be folly to make the pay ment of $47,000,0O0, as was proposed by the treaty, depend on so unstable and un- substantial an institution as the Colom- bian congress, and especially in view of the chronic insurrectionary condition of the people,
 OCHaacI OdIoiI GNPidtfGus
 Senator Cullom, chairman of the com mittee on foreign relations, made brief speech in the middle of Senator Nor gan's address. It was devoted to an ex- planation of the terms of the treaty. MT. Cullom gave special attention to criti- cisms MT. Morgan had made on article 23, placing the control of the canal in charge of the government of Colombia in case of trouble, and said that as the canal pene- trates Colombian territory, the arrange ment was equitable. Moreover, he thought It would be impossible to secure Colom- bias sanction of the treaty under any other arrangement He also defended the provision for a mixed tribunal for the ad- judication of legal difficulties in the canal zone, as necessary under the clrcum- stances. He declared that under the terms Of the treaty the United States had ample power to protect the canal. Speak ing of the contention that the United States should own the canal right of way. he said that the Colombian constitution places insuperable obstacles in the way of ownership by prohibiting sale of such purposes. He contended, however, that a lease in perpetuity would be equally as good as a transfer by purchase out right.
 When adjournment was suggested at 5;S0 Senator Morgan said that he would te prepared to go on all night, if required to do so, but Senator Cullom replied that he had no intention of making any such exaction. On the contrary, he added. h, was ready to close the days session at that time, but he was anxious to continue tomorrow.
 Thirty Amendments.
 Senator Morgan was willing for this ar- rangement, but Senator Quay objected saying that In the interest of the state. hood bill he could not at this tune yield enother cay to the consideration of the treaty
 Senator Morss gave notice of thirty proposed amendments to the treaty. The first of these amendments, Of general im- portance to the body of the treaty, was to article ?. It provides for the owner ship of the canal by the United States. instead of a lease of 100 years. to be re- newed each century afterwards, as pro- yided by the treaty as sent to the senate The amendment provides for the altera. lion of the text so-as to make it read as