The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-03-20

The democrats IN tue Senatt naNc
been seriously misrepresented With
regard to their attitude toward the
Panama canal, said Senator Arthur
T.. German, when asked to make a
statement by your correspondent:
1.-The democrats" he continued
"hold the view that an important
treaty OF this character should not
be treated as party measure. II
should be considered and perfected
according to the best judgment OF
the Senate. A majority in Con-
gress, without regard to party, ia
vors the construction Of an isthmian
canal, as is demonstrated by the
fact that the act authorizing such a
canal received almost unanimous
support from members Of both par
ties. The minority believes that
the treaty negotiated by Secretary
Hay requires several amendments,
in order to bring it into harmony
with the act of Congress under
which it was negotiated, and to
safe guard the interests OF the Unit
ed States. Article % is in obvious
violation of that provision Of the
Spooner act which provides that the
United States shall acquire the right
to police, protect and govern the
strip through which the canal shall
pass, in way that obviously implies
sovereignty These facts have been
presented to the republican leaders
and some of them appreciate the
force of the democratic contentious.
What their course will be am not
prepared to predict.
Just after Mr.. German made the
above statement, the republican
steering committee held meeting
to consider the program for the re-
mainder Of the special session, and
determined to ratify, if possible, the
Panama canal treaty as it stands.
They further decided to accept the
amendment offered by Senator Ba-
con in the committee on Foreign
Relations, aud adopted by that com
mittee, which provides that the Gu
ban treaty shall not 60 into effect
until it has been approved by the
Congress. An agreement has been
reached between the leaders OF both
parties to read the canal treaty to.
day for amendment, all speeche:
/, being limited to fifteen minutes du
!, ration, and to permit two hours de-
bate, followed by a vote tomorrow
The Cuban treaty will then be taker
up in earnest and as amended, vii
be ratified and adjournment taker
Immediately afterwards. II il
deemed probable that the specia
session will adjourn the latter par
OF this week, although no definite
decision has been reached.
The President does not hest at
to say that he regrets the adoption
OF the Bacon amendment to the Gu
ban treaty, and he has threatened
/, to call both houses of Congress II
special session to pass the legisla
ton necessary to put the terms o
the treaty into effect. Such
} course would meet with no opposi
ton from the majority OF the demo
, Gratis, whose only object in securing
the adoption Of the amendment wa
, to avoid violation OF the consiitu
r ton, but the republican leaders
many Of whom are secretly opposed
' to any form Of reciprocity becaus
,lthey fear it means the beginning o
t the end Of the protective system
express themselves as emphatIcall.
5 opposed to an extra session befor
r election, and it is probable that MI
r Roosevelt will give heed to thei
K wishes and, if he calls an extra ses
e sion at ell, refrain from 80 doin
: until next November. He assert
now that he will certainly do .
then if not before.
! Senator Aldrich is believed to b
preparing to urge his financial bill
With possible some notifications
7 next winter. He has obtained tn
consent Of the Senate to call III
9 committee in session during tn
= recess, and, it is known that b
does not contemplate any tariff re
/. vision, it is believed his purpose
to frame some sort Of currency les
Ilslation. II is generally concede
! that the Fowler currency bill, eve
! il it passes the House, will be r.
:, iected by the Senate. The upp'
:, chamber, at least 10 SO far as tn
: majority is concerned, is unalter'
bly opposed to any form Of fiat Gu
!. rency, which is what the Fowl'
q bill provides for. An extension
! the banking system OF currenc
n along lines agreeable to the nations
' bankers may be expected from Il
ipI Aldlich committee, and doubtless
nr serious effort to accomplish sue
D. enactment next session will
r. made.
+. -, n.l--s ~o.~ cont a ~, ri a 4