The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-22
Quay Holds the Fort for Three
Hours.
PETTUS ON SPOONER ACT
Holds That Panama Canal Could no! be De-
Tended by us al all Times Under
Terms Of Treaty With
Colombia.
(By the Associated Pressl

Washington, d. c., February 21.-The
Senate spent nearly the entire day in
executive session. 1t was the legislative
day of Thursday as the Senate had taken
recess instead of adjourning. The SEN
ate met at IL o'clock, opened the doors
at IL and for more than an hour dis
posed of routine business. Upon resum-
ing the executive session the Colombian
Canal Treaty was taken up. Senator
Quay had a report read on Isthmian Ca
nal matters.
The reading of the report sent up by
Mr.. Quay consumed about three hours
of time, and after this was concluded, Mr..
Pettus made a brief speech directed prin-
cipally at what he termed the repeal of
the Spooner Act by the treaty. He con-
tended THAT as a legal proposition the
legal Appropriation made by the Spoonef
law for the purpose of securing per
petnal control" of the canal would not be
available under the treaty providing
merely for lease of the canal strip. He
also said that the American people would
not be satisfied with anything less than
thoroughly American canal, one which
could be defended by us at all times
which tho Panama Canal could not be
under the terms of the treaty.
Senator Plat, of Connecticut, took is
sue with Senator Pettus as to the effect
of the treaty. saying that he believed
there We're no legal obstacles in the
treaty to the acquisition by the people
Of the canal zone, but he contended that
il there were any such obstacles they
could be removed by another act of Con-
gross re-appropriating the money.
During the day Senator Morgan secured
consent to the removal of the injunction
of secrecy from the amendments to the
treaty which have been offered by him.
Most of the important amendments have
already been given publicity. but he of
fered two new ones today One of these
provides for an agreement between the
contracting parties that nothing contained
in the treaty shall be construed to alter
the terms of the Spooner Act.
The other amendment is as follows:
%Tt is agreed that in respect for the
rights of citizens of the United States
under their constitution, and for the
present humane state of the Christian re-
ligon in which the ordinances and pro-
ScflpLlOUS Oh lHe ppdHlSi lHuuiSA-
ton have no place or tolerance, that the
provisions OF the concordant of 1888. be-
tween His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII and
the government of Colombia, and the
laws enacted by Colombia. or that shall
be hereafter enacted in furtherance or
execution of said concordant, shall not
apply to any citizen of the United States
in Colombia or to any person who shall
be in the service of the United States
or to any officer. agent or servant of the
United States who is in any way engaged
in the construction or operation of ca
nal or the Panama Railroad. under the
provisions of this treaty"
The executive session closed and the
Senate adjourned at 5 o'clock Senator
Cullom giving notice that he would
move again on Monday to continue the
executive session for the consideration
of the treaty.