Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-03-20
CANAL TREATY RATIFIED.
THE SENATE ACTS AT LAST ON TREATY
WITH THE COLOMBIAN REPUBLIC.
1t Passes Exactly as Negotiated Democratic
Amendments Being Rejected-The Cuban
Reciprocity Treaty Is Then Taken Up-Ad'
iournmeut This Week Probable.

Amendments Being Rejected-The cuban
Reciprocity Treaty Is Then Taken Up-Ad'
iournment This Week Probable.
The senate Thursday decided to vote
on the Panama canal treaty Tuesday,
having made terms satisfactory 10 MT,
Morgan. The Cuban treaty was read
and considered, and provision was
made requiring the approval OF the
house to make the treaty effective.
When the president heard of this pro-
vision ne began to consider the advlsa-
bility of calling an extraordinary SEES
sion of Congress either this spring or
next fall in order to secure action up"
on it. The presidents reply to the
senate resolution asking information
as to the present state of negotiations
or agreement between the new Panama
canal company and the government or
the United States was made public III
says that all negotiations have been
conducted with the understanding that
the consent of Colombia was necessary
to enable the canal company to sell ana
the United States to buy canal rights
Senator Morgan then spoke on the Fan
anna canal treaty, reading at length
from speeches he has prepared FOR pup
| LEGATION.
Six hours were spent Monday in an
effort to pass on the amendments TO
the treaty in preparation for the hnal
vote Most of the time was spent In
debate on the matter of lnsurlng
American defense of the canal, the
democrats contending that the United
States should be given the initiative
in that respect and the republicans urg-
ing that the interests of this country
are sufficiently safe guarded by the
terms of the treaty as it stands. A
substitute for the provision of the
treaty placing the defense of the canal
primarily in the hands Of the govern,
ment of Colombia resulted in test
vote of "a to 46.
The senate Tuesday voted to ratify
tbe treaty with the republic of Colon
i bia for the construction of an Isthmiar
canal The vote for ratification was Z
in the affirmative to five in the mega
tive. Instead of cheering, the sena'
tors showed their joy at the termina
ton of the struggle by getting away
from the chamber as quickly as posi-
BILE. The day was given over almost
entirely to general debate on the
treaty and many addresses were made
An amendment offered by the demo
Gratis having reference to the acquisi'
ton of territory in Central and Soutf
America by the United States, wa:
voted down by almost two thirds ma
jority. 20
The Panama canal treaty ratified
Tuesday, was signed at Washington or
January %, 1903 1t was negotiated
by Secretary Hay on the part of the
United States and Thomas Herran
charge d'affaires, on the part of Co
lombia. who signed the document. Or
Jan. % it was sent TO the president
and by him sent to the senate on thu
same day, and reported back on Feb. 3
The treaty was discussed at some length
during the last congress. On the 9TH
the day the special session OF the sen
ate convened, the treaty was again re
ferred to the committee on foreign rela
lions. and on the 9th was again report
ed to the senate, since which time 4
has been under discussion. Neither
in committee nor by the senate was thu
treaty amended, and it was ratified a:
first negotiated.
The interior department has decided
that the bar to allowance of pension t.
soldiers who served in the Union arm!
during the civil war and who had pre-
viously served in the confederate arm!
is removed by section Of the joint res
olution of July l, 1902, relating to thu
pensionable status of such soldiers, ant
ii is held to be unnecessary for suct
claimants to file new application fo
pension subsequent to July l, 1902
The application of these veterans tilee
previously to that date, it is held, gives
them legal status as pension claim
ants. The department holds tina
claimants who had been pensioned ant
afterward dropped from the roll be
cause of such service are entitled Il
restoration and that those who hat
claims pending which were rejected
under departmental decision in 1879.
are entitled to have their claims adju
dictated on their merits notwithstand
! ing previous confederate service.
The senate agreed unanimousl,
Wednesday night to vote on the Cubar
reciprocity treaty the next afternoon
The session was devoted largely to ad
verse criticisms OF the treaty. A plei
for annexation was made and an amend
! ment presented inviting the island Il
become state of the American union
, The race oueStiOn was also discussed