The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-18
CANAL TREATY
TO BE PRESSED
Omnibus Bill Sidetracked For
That Purpose.
QUAY FINALLY CONSENTED
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS CoNSID-
Erred THE MATTER.

III ASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE Re
wv publican senator's held a caucus
( today and decided to have the
senate continue consideration of the
Panama canal treaty tomorrow and in
future until the treaty shall be dis
posed of. This result was reached after
an hour and half's discussion Of the
legislative situation in the senate. The
conclusion reached was unanimous.
The understanding is that the state
hood bill does not lose its advantageous
position in the order of business ex-
cept when the senate is IN executive
session. The Republican supporters of
the statehood bill agree not to antag-
onize a motion for an executive session
to consider the canal treaty, nor to
make any objection to the prolongatiou
of such sessions to any extent neces-
sary to secure ratifica tor.
The caucus was opened by a state
ment by Senator Allison, chairman of
the steering committee, giving it as the
conclusion of the committee that the
Panama treaty should be ratified be-
fore the adjournment of the present
session. He added that the steering
order of business, should be followed
when it makes a suggestion as to the
order in which questions should come
before the senate.
Mr.. Cullom's Motion.
Senator Cullom, chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, pre-
scented motion declaring it to be the
sense of the caucus that the senate
should go into executive session to-
morrow, Feb IS. Immediately after she
conclusion of the morning business, to
Tatify the Panama canal treaty" IN
a brief speech he dwelt on the fact that
the option of the United States on the
rights and franchises of the Panama
canal treaty expires on the 4th of next
March He said that other interests
and other nations might desire to con-
troll SO important an enterprise so that
II was altogether possible that we
would not be able to renew the option
at so low a figure as $40 0OO. 600 the
price which this country has agreed
TO pay in case the bargain is consum-
mated As only two weeks of the ses-
sion remain, and there was determined,
though limited, opposition to the treaty,
1t was absolutely necessary that no fur
Their time should be lost in getting
down to serious work on the treaty.
Friends of Statehood Object.
Several friends of the statehood bill
IN speeches expressed the opinion that
the chief purpose of the motion was to
sfdetrack the statehood bill. Speeches
based on this apprehension were made
by Senators Quay, EIkins, Gallinger
and Foraker. They expressed their adj
herence to the treaty and said they
agreed fully with all that had been said
as to necessity for its early ratification,
but thought that the proper way to
reach a vote was first to take a vote on
the statehood bill. BY pursuing that
course said Seantor Quay, you can
get the only obstacle to the considera-
ton out of the way and get it out of
the way by legitimate means" He
called attention to the prolongation of
the debate, which, he said, all knew
was far beyond the necessities, and
urged that a day should be named for
vote on the statehood proposition All
supporters of statehood spoke in the
same strain. charging determined OPP
position to the expression of the will of
the majority and dissenting from the
opinion expressed by Senator Allison,
that the steering committee should de-
termine the order of business. They
also united in their opposition to con-
sideration of Senator Cullom's propo-
sition as d motion.
Will Not Be Bound
Republican caucuses in the senate, he
said. are always in the nature of con-
ferences and are not necessarily bind
ing. except as Republican senator's may
consider themselves under obligations
to follow the majority of their party.
They were emphatic on the point, one
of them going to the extent of declar-
ing that they would not be bound
should they be pressed to a vote.
Replies were made by Senators Hoar.
Hanna. Lodge. Aldrich and others; and
much stress was laid on the necessity of
securing ratification OF the treaty. and
on the fact that there was no intention to
disDlace the statehood bill as the unfin-
ished executive business. Senator Hoar
made an argument to prove that the
executive business Of the senate occupies
d different plane from legislative bust
ness. and that courtesy toward other ma
tiOns demands that treaties should nave
preferential consideration at the hands
Of the senate. This view was accepted
generally by the senator's, and was the
view acted upon. Some Of the senators
present afterwarG commented on it as
likely to form a new departure and en- i'm
portant precedent in the senate
Quay Finally Yielded.
Other senators made reference 10
Europe,s interest in the. canal and Sen
engineer officer had assured him that no
fewer than four great European powers
were looking with jealous eyes on our
movements on the isthmUS. and would be
glad to diSplace US there He said in this
connection that no senator could surpass
in conviction Is to the necessity OF ratify-
ing the canal treaty. but at the same time
he repeated his indispogitiOn 70 have any
other measure interfere with eonsidera-
ton Of the statehood bill.
After a further exchange of views, dur
ing which some quite sharp remarks were
made as to the desirabllity and possibility
of securing a vote on the statehood bill,
the senators on both sides adopted
more conciliatorv tone toward one ana
other. The friends Of the treaty con-
scented not 10 press the motion as such
and the statehood advocates yielded one
by one. Senator Quay being the last TO
give in.
Consequently, when adjournment was
reached, the announcement was made
that after the close of routine business to-
morrow Senator Quay should move to go
into executive session. and that none of
the Republicans should oppose the motion,
and that consideration Of the treaty
should continue until 1t was disposed of.