Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1903-02-21
THE TREATY HOLDUP
Morgan and Quay Block Sem
ate's Progress.
4 CLOSURE RULE SEEMS PROBABLE
Night Sessions Abandoned by Steer
Ing Commfttee-Leader of State
hood willing to Assume Re-
spongibiIity of Extra Session.


hood willing to Assume Re-
sponsibiIity of Extra Session.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The SEN
ate spent the entire day in executive
session considering the Panama canal
treaty and at 5:25 p. m. took recess
until today at II o'clock. No vote was
taken on any Of the amendments which
have been prepared by Senator Nor
gan.
After Senator Morgan had spoken for
an hour or more he gave way to Mr..
Quay, but before the latter had well
begun Senator Carmack moved that
Senator Morgan be allowed to discuss
the canal question in open senate. In
support of the motion he said that the
question was of general Importance
and that the country should be placed
in possession of the details.
The motion brought on general de-
bate, in which the rules Of the senate,
the advisability Of closure, the necessi-
ty of maintaining in the senate forum
Of free speech and many other kindred
topics were discussed.
Some Of the senators avowed them
selves advocates Of rule Of closure.
Others expressed the conviction that
prolongation OF the present situation
would lead to the speedy adoption Of
such rule.
At this point Mr.. Quay rose and, ex-
pressing impatience with the Interrupt
ton, asked leave to proceed with bis
speech. No one objected, and the course
Of the controversy was shifted without
putting Mr.. Carmack's motion to a
vote.
Mr.. Quay's speech consisted of long
report on the isthnian canal question.
This reading he asked the clerk at the
desk to perform, but objection was
made, and the matter was submitted
to a vote. The result was adverse to
Mr.. Quay's request, the vote standing
20 to "a. He then began the reading of
the document himself and continued
for two hours or more.
At $50 o'clock, in accordance with a
decision of the steering committee,
Senator Cullom moved recess, and
the motion prevailed.
This decision of the steering commit
tee against night session was reached
at a meeting Of the committee held
during the afternoon at the request of
Senator Cullom, who has the Colon
bian, otherwise known as the Panama
canal, treaty in charge.
Inquiry about the senate made the
opposition apprehensive, though not
convinced, of this claim, and in the
committee they said that should such
be the case it would mean an extra
session of congress, and the appropria-
ton bill with the statehood rider would
be defeated. It also was found that
leaders in the statehood fight were
willing to assume the responsibility for
this outcome.
With this situation before them the
steering committee began to discuss
the possibility Of compromise. Sena-
tors Quay and Elkins and other Repub-
licans who have been favoring the
statehood bill were called in and the
matter canvassed at some length, but
without approaching an agreement.
The house passed the Notifications
appropriation BILL adopted the confer
ence reports on the bill for the protec-
ton Of the president and on the legis-
lative, executive and judicial appropri-
alton bill and then spent three hours
! wrangling over the Fowler currency
hill