The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-13
CANAL TREATY
BEING CONSIDERED.

sion, Argued for Amendments in
Many Respects, and Threatens
Opposition if They Are Not
Embodied in Treaty.
Washington, Feb. 12.-After the
confirmation of a number of nominal
tons, and the refusal to reopen the
Alaskan boundary question, the Senate
in executive session to-day began con-
sideration of the Panama canal treaty
between the United States and the Re-
public of Colombia.
Senator Morgan Immediately took
the floor to urge that the treaty be
amended in many respects, and to OPP
pose it unless amended. He had been
speaking only a short time when the
suggestion was made that there was
not a quorum present. A roll call
brought in the necessary number, and
the Senator then resumed. He said
the convention is loosely drawn, and
that in order to properly safeguard the
be practically made over.
Senator Morgan directed especial at
tention to the fact that there had been
a failure to embody the act of Con-
gress, providing for the construction of
the canal, in the treaty, as was set
forth in the preamble, and dwelt at
length on the unreliability and revolu-
tionary character of the government.
He said the price of $10000,000 in
cash, which the United States had
agreed to pay to Colombia, was eX-
orbitant, and more than was necessary,
in view of the former agreement to
take 100000.
He also criticised the provision for a
perpetual annual payment of $3.50 00
and declared that, in all probability,
much of these payments would go into
the pockets of private individuals. In
this connection he declared that a re-
government had sold out and abdicated
for 81, 900, 900. He repeated his declara-
ton that the existing government has
no power to enter into treaties, and
said that a treaty with that govern
ment would not be binding. 1t would
be folly, he said, to make the pay
ment of SAT, 100000, as was proposed by
the treaty, depend on so unstable and
unsubstantial an institution as the Co
lombian Congress, especially in view
of the chronic insurrectionary condition
of the people.
Senator Cullom, chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Relations, made
a brief speech in the middle of Senator
Morgan's address 1t was devoted to
an explanation of the terms of the
treaty. Senator Cullom gave especial
attention to criticisms Senator Morgan
had made on Article %, placing the
control of the canal in charge of the
government of Colombia in case OF
trouble, and said that as the CANA
penetrates Colombian territory the ar
rangement was equitable. Moreover
he thought it would be impossible tc
secure Colombia's sanction of the
treaty under any other arrangement
| y CuIlom Defends Provision.
| Senator Cullom also defended tn
provision for a mixed tribunal, for thu
adjudication of legal difficulties in tn,
canal zone, as necessary under the cir.
cumstances. He declared that under
the terms of the treaty the United
States had ample power to protect the
canal. Speaking of the contention thai
the United States should own the cana
right of way, he said that the Colon
bian constitution places an insuperable
obstacle in the way of ownership, by
prohibiting sale for such purposes. He
commended. however, that a lease in per-
petuity would be equally as good as a
transfer by purchase outright.
When an adjournment was suggest
ed at $50 O'clock Senator Morgan said
he would be prepared to go on all night
If required to do so, but Senator Cullom
replied that he had no intention OF
making any such exaction. On the con-
trary, he added. he was ready to close
to-day's session at that time. but he
was anxious to continue tomorrow
Senator Morgan was willing for this
arrangement, but Senator QUAY OBJ
jected, saying that in the interest of
the statehood bill he could not at this
time yield another day to consideration
of the treaty.
Senator Morgan gave notice of thirty
proposed amendments to the treaty.
The first of these amendments of gem
era1 Importance to the body of the
treaty, is to Article 2. 1t provides for
the ownership of the canal by the
United States, instead of lease for 100
years, to be renewed each century aft
EDWARDS, as provided by the treaty as
sent to the Senate.
Article 8 is to be so amended as
to have the canal zone include the
cities of Panama and Colon, which are
excluded in the official draft of the
treaty. The provision for joint COM
mission to enforce police and sanitary
regulations is abolished, and this work
is placed in the exclusive control of
the United States.
Article is so altered as to re-
move the pledge on the part of the
United States not to increase its ter
ritory at the expense of any of the
Central American republics. The
pledge with reference to Colombia
stands.
Article %, which in the official
text provides for the calling in of the
United States forces, at Colombia's in
stance for the protection of the canal,
is left with a plain provision requiring
the government of Colombia to assume
this duty. To that provision the fol-
lowing is added: 1.-THE United States
shall have the right at all times in its
discretion to use it's police and it's land
and naval forces for these purposes"