The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-20
Senate and Treaties.

Yesterday, Senators Quay and Morgan
made an exhibition of the obvious and oc-
cult meaning of the term senatorial dig
nifty" as conceived by the senate Quay,
with the purpose OF promoting his state
hood bill and clearing the boards of all
obstruction, and Morgan, with fanatical
hatred Of the Panama canal route
and still nursing his Nicaraguan
route fad. resort to the decided
ly undignifled and puerile tactics
Of talking and reading down the Panama
canal treaty. great pubic measure which
awaits ratification; more important, in
deed. than any statehood bill which has
been talked about in this congress. There
was a report yesterday to the effect that
the Panama Canal company is not will
Ing to bind the bargain for the franchise
until the treaty is ratified by the senate,
as proposed by the attorney general. This,
probably, was put out to stimulate rati-
f1cation. but, however. that may be- it is
cock sure that, if the senate does not
reach ratification of the canal treaty in
eleven days from now. the senate will have
to prepare for extra session which will
be called by the president, and action one
way or the other must be had. The coun-
try would greatly prefer to have in it's
senate a body Of statesmen deeply sensible
Of their responsibility to the public inter-
ests, and too dignified to indulge in dila-
tory tactics which would be a disgrace to a
between British and Russian possessions
There are other treaties waiting ratifi-
cation. The Alaskan boundary treaty has
fortunately been disposed of, and, as it
does not provide for arbitration and men
ace us with a loss of territory, but re-
quires six men, three on each side, to
agree on the boundary line fixed in 1925
between British and Russian possessions
In the northwest, it involves no hurt to
the ma tional pride. The Cuban reciprocity
treaty, however. reflects the earnest de-
sire of our government and the nation to
regard and fulfill its sacred obligations to
Cuba It Is not only this, but it, incident
ally. by it's preferential clauses, makes
the acquisition of all Cuba's trade by the
United States a real possibility, and that
trade is destined in a few years to rise tc
the important figures Of $500, 900, 900. The
business interests OF the country wanted
such a treaty a year ago, but the senate
fought the public desire on the grounc
that it was a menace to the principle o.
protection, view known by all practica.
political economists to be a delusion and {
snare. for the Dingey tariffs reciproclt,
provisions yield a 20 per cent reduction
on Dingley rates to reciprocating coun
tries.
Again: The senate has paid no atten
ton to the Hay-Bond reciprocity treaty
which will enhance our trade with New
foundland. and which is favored by New
England commercial and popular senti
ment in an overwhelming degree, but i
antagonized by a, single interest-the Glou
cester fishermen, who catch their fish, no
In American, but in alien waters, an
who are largely foreigners. The Kasso
reciprocity treaties are doomed to repos
in pigeon holes, although such of them a
the French treaty would, in operation, Civ
us substantial trade advantages wit
France. who gives us three times as larg
reductions as we give to her.
In number GA of the Federalist, Hami
ton. writing of the treaty-making powe
said the president and senators would a
ways be men who best understand OF
national interests and who are 'be:
able to promote those interests an
whose reputation for integrity inspire
and merits confidence" 1t is unfortunat
that exceptions must be recorded as
this Hamiltonian forecast to-day. -.