The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-17
DEMOCRATS ARE
 WIDELY APART Caucus in Senate Fails to
 Bring About Harmony MANY VIEWS ABOUT CANAL
Carmack's Resolution Declares 1t the Sentiment of the Party That Canal Law Should Be Put In Opera
 ton by the President.

IlO1 DV ln6 FTGSlOCnhs
 Washington, November 16.-Democratie members of the senate were in caucus today from 1:S0 until , o'clock but were unable to get together on programme as to canal legislation. Four distinct propositions were submitted in the way of resolutions and many other sugges- tions were made informally, but no agreement could be reached, and the cau- GUS adjourned to meet again on the call of Senator Gorman chairman.
 Several senators in leaving the caucus bitterly complained of the lack of harmony which prevailed. and compared the dem ocratic position with the attitude of the republicans, who they said, with twice as many representatives, had not strag- ger, while hardly two democrats were of the same opinion.
 Senator German said of the caucus:
 Tt was our first pow-wow in which we all talked, and we will do our think ing afterward."
 Carmack's Resolution.
 The resolution which was discussed at great length was offered by Senator Car mack of Tennessee. It declared the senti- ment of the democrats to be that the present canal law should be put into op- eration by the President. The resolution declared the Spooner act to be the pres ent law" governing the authoritative course of the United States in regard to the building of a canal, and held that un- der that act the President should pro- ceed to the building of the canal on the Nicaragua and Costa Rica route.
 It asserted that the reasonable time'' for the acquiring of the Panama route lapsed at the death of the Hay-Herrah treaty. and that the President conse- quently was left with no alternative but to build the canal on the more northerly isthmian route.
 In support of this resolution speeches were made by Senators Carmack, Du- bois, Teller Blackburn, Patterson and others. The speecl es were interrupted by senators digsrins with the proposi- ton, the principal arguments being made by Senators Bacon, Clay and Cockrell.
 Displeasing to Minority.
 It was apparent at the outset that a motion of such radical character could not harmonize the minority. Censure tor the President for his alleged assistance in the Panama revolt, but to pledge sup POIl II d treaty were HtSOlldltu with the new republic, was the purport of a resolution offered by Senator Bacon, as a substitute for the Carmack plan. This oposte extreme met immediate re- jection. It was at this point that some of the senators withdrew from the eau GUS.
 Then compromise plans were suggested. The first was offered by Senator New lands, who proposed that the steering committee be authorized to hold a con- ference with a committee of democratic members of the house to be appointed by Representative John Sharp Williams, the house minority leader, for the pur- pose of preparing some party policy on all matters which will come before the senate in the extraordinary session. This resolution was antagonized on the ground that the democrats of the house already have adopted their programme in relation to the Cuban reciprocity en- abling act, and that any opinion the house may have on the canal treaty could not affect the position of the sen- ate.
 Plan to Harmonize Fails.
 A proposal to authorize Senator Cor man to appoint a committee of five to devise a programme on which there would be at least fighting chance of united action, was made and for time if appeared that a solution of the differ ences had been reached. Severl sen ators left the caucus under the impress sion that this course would be adopted, hut objection was raised by those demo- crats who had supported Senator Car mack's resolution, and the caucus then adjourned.
 It was said tonight by a leading mem- her of the senate steering committee that the minority party in all probability will meet the question of canal legisla- ton without organization of any kind, and will act according to it's individual opinions,
 Hoar Offers Amendment.
 Washington, November 16.-Mr. Hoar todav nroposed an amendment to senate rule s6. by adding additional article providing that when by request of the senate or committee documents or pa ners are sent to the senate by the Presi- dent or head of a department in refer ence to matters which are secret or con- fidential under the rules. such papers sbould be considered secret, and only be made public by consent of the senate.
 Nominations Confirmed.
 rho senate in executive session confirm ed among others, the following nomina- 
 tions:
 John Barrett, Oregon minister pleni- notentiary to Argentine republic; John B. Jackson, New Jersey minister plenipoten- tiarv to Greece. Roumania and Servia; diplomatic agent in Bulgaria, Stanford Newell Minnesota minister plenipoten- t,arv to the Netherlands and Luxemborg; Hal King, Michigan, minister. plenipoten- tiary to siam Spencer F. Eddy, Illinois, secretary of the embassy al St. Peters burg. Russia; II. M. Clabaugh, Maryland, chief justice of the supreme court of the District of Columbia; J. c. Pritchard, North Carolina, associate justice of the eunreme court District of Columbia; $. N Dexter, Massachusetts, director of the census; P. S. oliver. New York. assist ant secretary of war; to be lieutenant general. Major General Sam B. Young. IT a A; to be major general, Brig. Gen. Samuel S. Summer; Col. George F. Ellis, IT s. marine corps, to be brigadier gem eral. commandant of the marine corps: also A number of army, naval and marine corns promotions and appointments
 BILLS INTRODUCED. ouav Favors Admission of New Mex