Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-30
TO REPORT FAVORABLY
FOREIGN RELATIONS C0NMITTEE
AND THE CANAL TREATY
Senator Morgan Speaks for an Hour
ON His Resolution-Prospects
In the Senate.

The Senate COMMITTEES on Foreign Ie1a-
tions met today to consider the canal
treaty. and at the end Of the meeting de-
termined upon q course which It II believed
will result in the making Of a favorable no
port on that treaty to the Senate. probably
tomorrow.
The meeting today was well attended.
most OF the time being taken up by re-
marks Of Senator Morgan OF Alabama,
chairman Of the committee on interoceanio
canal, who spoke on his resolution calling
upon the President for Information concern
ing the validity Of the powers exercised by
Minister Herran Of Colombia, and also con-
corning the legal status Of the president of
Colombia. He urged the committee that
this Information should be In the hands OF
the Senate, and almost all Of the time Of
the one hour during which the committee
was in session he continued speaking.
The committee Is, with the exception OF
Senator Morgan. unanimous in its opposi-
ton to making a favorable report on this
resolution. Members of the committee take
the view that the standing OF a minister
into negotiations with the State Department
Is q matter that should be left to the State
Department Interference In such matter
they regard as interfering with q preroga-
partment. Then, too. they do not see what
good can come from this resolution, but see
possible great delay In Its passage. They
are satisfied to leave with the Secretary OF
State the discretion OF determining the
validity Of the minister's credentials.
To Insure Action ON the Treaty.
Entertaining these views the committee
has no intention OF recommending the pas
sage Of Senator Morgan's resolution. but
Senator Morgan's course In taking the en-
tire time Of the meeting today to urge the
passage Of this resolution II regarded by
members Of the committee as a threat to
defeat the treaty. Some senators believe
that he may succeed In doing this, but at
the end OF the meeting today a course was
decided upon which, 1t IS believed, viii in
sure action upon the treaty It was deter
mined to call another meeting OF the COM
mittee for tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
and to remain in session until the treaty u
voted upon. 1t would simply be a test OF
endurance. Senator Morgan will be given
matter and the vote on the treaty win be
reached, it is expected While the treaty
was under negotiation leaders In the Sen
ate were kept informed in a general way
of its provisions. so that It Is satisfactory
to them. The only question that has yet
been raised about the treaty Is embodied in
the fact that It recites the passage Of the
act providing for the purchase Of the Pan
anna canal property In such way as to
make 1t q part of the treaty.
Some Of the senators regard that as I'M
fortunate. but at the same time It Is not
believed that great harm can come from
including the terms Of the purchase as q
part Of the treaty. and it Is expected that
the entire instrument will be satisfa Glory
to the committee without change.
With the treaty once before the Senate,
many senators believe that as Senator Nor
gan Is entirely without support in urging
upon the Senate the adoption Of his resolu-
ton Of inquiry he cannot alone delay q
vote on the treaty for q great length Of
time. If the demand on the time Of the
Senate should be so great that sufficient
time cannot be given to considering the
treaty there will be nothing to do except to
allow 1t to go over and to hold an extra
session of the Senate beginning Immediately
upon the adjournment Of Congress, when
the treaty will be brought up and kept be-
fore the Senate until 1t Is disposed Of.