Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-13
58TH CONGRESS.
Senators Opposed to Panama
Treaty Have Their Say.
The Presidents Western Trip Will
Carry Him Into Next June.
He Will Visit st. Louis Exposition and
Have Hunting Trip.

Washington, March 1.-THE execu-
tive session of the Senate, today, was
taken up largely with the details of the
agreement to veto the Panama canal
treaty, and after the agreement was
reached, Senator Morgan did not mani
fest any disposition to proceed with
the discussion of that treaty. Senator
Cullom thereupon asked the Senate to
take up the Cuban treaty, which he
has just reported from the committee
on foreign relations, but Senator F'os-
ter of Louisiana, objected, saying that
his colleague, Senator McEnery, who
desired to speak on the treaty, was alb
sent. This objection had the effect of
preventing formal consideration of the
treaty as such, but there was more or
less discussion of the effect of the
amendment to require the approval of
the treaty by the House. Senator
Foster asked when under that amend
ment the treaty would take effect, and
several Republican senators made re-
ply. The general opinion was that it
could not become effective until after
legislation by bill or joint resolution in
which both houses of Congress should
concur.
Among the senators who expressed
the opinion that the treaty would not
become effective until approved by
both houses of Congress, were Sena-
tors Allison, Platt, Conn.,, Teller and
Bacon. These senators also contended
shat the action of the House on reci-
procities is necessary in order to con-
form to the constitution of the United
States. Senator Allison, who always
has taken a leading part in tariff and
financial legisltion, was quite emphatic
in his expression of this view, and cited
the Senate to a number of reciprocity
treaties in all of which the cooperation
of the two houses of Congress had been
secured.
After concluding his remarks on the
effect of the new amendment Senator
Teller discussed the merits of the
treaty in detail, contending that it was
a direct thrust at the sugar industry
of the United States and that it's effect
would be entirely in the interests of the
sugar trust which he claimed would be
benefited to the extent of no less than
100000 annually by the reduction Of
duties on raw sugar He also dis
cussed at some length the amendment
recommended by the committee on for
eign relations which provides that the
reduction of Cuban sugar during the
life of the treaty shall not be more than
20 per cent. and that during this time
there shall be no reduction on sugar
imported from any other foreign coun-
try He ridiculed this amendment, de-
claring that it had been inserted mere
IL for the purpose of catching the votes
II.
states He asserted that it could have
40 possible effect in binding the gov
eminent of the United States, If its
Congress should decree otherwise. In
other words, he said, this enactment
could be repealed just as statute
might might be by Congress.
Senators Plat, Conn, and Dietrich,
Neb., replied ito Mr.. Teller Mr.. Plat
denied that the sugar trust would reap
the benefit of the reduction proposed
by the treaty. He said at this time he
would not go into the question that he
hoped at a later day to be able to cite
facts which would convince the Sen
ate that the contention was unfounded.
Senator Dietrich defended the
amendment providing against further
reductions of the duty on sugar He
admitted that the provision could be
repealed in the future, but he said that
This provision in the treaty, he said,
would be very great. He said that he
and some of the other beet sugar sena- |
tors had eXerted their influence to have
the amendment adopted by the COM
mittee and his confidence in the provi- |
sions was such that it's acceptance or
non-acceptance would determine his
attitude on the final vote on the rati-
fication of the treaty. Without the
amendment he was opposed to the
treaty; with it, he was for the treaty. |