The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-24

Y,
| ate spent nearly the entire day in exec
utive session. 1t was the legislative
| dav of Thursday as the senate had
taken recess then instead of adjourning.
The senate met at IL o'clock, opened
the doors at Il and for more than an
| hour disposed of routine business. Upon
| resuming the executive session, the
Colombian canal treaty was taken up.
Senator Quay had report read ON the
isthmian canal matters
The reading of the report sent up
by Mr.. Quay consumed about three
hours of time. and after this was con-
cluded. Mr.. Pettus made a brief speech
| directed principally at what he termed
| the repeal of the Spooner Act by the
treaty. He conteuded that as Spoon
er law for the purpose of securing
| perpetual control of the canal would
not be available under the treaty pro-
viding merely for lease of the canal
strip. He also said that the American
| people would not be satisfied with any,
! thing less than thoroughly Americas
| US at all times, which the Panama ca
| nal could not be under the terms of the
treaty.
Senator Platt. of Connecticut took
issue with Senator Pettus, as to the
| effect of the treaty. saying that he be-
| lleVed there were no legal obstacles in
| the treaty to the acquisition by the
| president OF the canal zone, but he
c0ntended that if there were any such
| obstacles they could be removed by an
other act Of congress. reappropria ting
| the money.
During the day Senator Morgan Sc
| sured consent to the removal of the in
junction of secrecy from the amend
| ments to the treaty which have been
| offered by him. Most of the important
amendments have already been given
| publicity, but he offered 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:
| 1T is agreed that in respect for the
rights Of citizens of the United States,
under the constitution and for the pres
ent humane state of the Christian re-
ligion, in which the ordinances and pro-
| scriptions Of the Spanish inqustion
have no place or tolerance, that the
| provisions of the concordant of 1881,
| between his holiness, Pope Leo XIII
| and the government cf Colombia, and
the laws enacted by Colombia or that
| shall be hereafter enacted in further
ance 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 con-
| struction or operation Of canal or the
Panama railroad, under the provisions
t, Of this treaty"
The executive session closed and the
| senate adjourned, at o'clock
THE HOUSE
/! The day in the house was devoted 70
| debate upon the Fowler currency bin.
| Mr.. Fowler, the author Of the measure.
spoke for over two hours. The speakers
| were Messrs. Thayer, Massachusetts,:
| Lowering, Massachusetts; Lewis, Geor-
| gia, and Prince, of Illinois Mr.. Lewis
| opposed the bill. The general convie-
! ton that the bill has no chance to be-
! come a law and the fact that there are
house detracted from the interest in the
| debate.
While Mr. Thayer was explaining the
features and advantages of the minor-
ty bill, Mr.. Cochran, of Missouri, OBJ
jected to the appellation minority bill -
There is no minority BILL" he said,
the bill you are supporting will not
| command ten votes on this fthe demo-
| cratic) side
Mr.. Thayer replied that the bill he
| was advocating was the one introduced
by Mr.. Padgett, of Tennessee.
A communication from the president
transmitting a request Of the anthra-
cite coal strike commission asking for
authority to publish 5000 copies of It's
report wien completed was laid before
the house. The message Of the preea-
dent said he concurred In the request.
The house adjourned until Monday.