The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-29
SENATORS TALK
AGAIN ON PANAMA
AGREED TO REACH A VOTE
ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE DEM
OCRATIC CONFERENCE.

ence-CuIIOm Thinks the President
Would Submit All He Has if Asked.
Something May Ee Done for CO.
IOmbia.
Washington, Jan. 2S.-The time of
the Senate to-day was given up to
debate rather than to set speeches, but
the attitude of the United States to-
wards the Panama revolution was still
the subject under consideration. There
was a variation, however, in that the
discussion also had reference to the
right of the President to withhold in
formation in his hands when called for
by the Senate.
When Mr.. Morgan's resolution calling
for Minister Buchanan's letter con-
corning amendments to the canal
treaty was laid before the Senate,
Mr.. Morgan withdrew it, saying that
intention of the President to send the
document to the Senate in executive
session.
The resolution of Mr.. Culberson, in
troduced at the instance of the Demo-
cratic caucus, requesting the Presi-
dent to inform the Senate whether
all the correspondence relating to the
construction of an isthmian canal has
been sent to the Senate, was taken
no.
Mr.. Cullom suggested that the reso-
luton be further amended so as to
relieve the President from the neces-
sity of sending information, to supply
which would, in his opinion, be in
compatible with the public interest.
Mr.. Culberson declined to accept this
amendment, and made a speech in
support of his objection and in favor
OF the adoption of the resolution as
it stood
Mr.. Cullom assured Mr.. Culberson
that whether his amendment was ac-
cepted or not the Senate will get
all the information there is in the de-
partment pertinent to the general
question:
Question of Rights.
Mr.. Clay asked whether the Senate,
as a part of the treaty making power,
has a right to all the inform alton
DtdllllS uPOAl a bAIclNS NAAACAA SAAN ~
| ecutive itself has.
Mr.. Cullom replied that it was his
opinion that the President has right
to refuse to comply with the resolu-
ton. He had no doubt, however, that
the President would send every scrap
of the information.
Suppose he does not?" asked Mr..
Tillman.
Then" replied Mr.. Cullom, 1--WE
1T ;
comes"
Mr.. Hale referred to the controversy
which occurred during Mr.. Cleveland's
administration over the point as to
whether papers bearing on presidential
nominations should be sent to the Sen
ate. The President had refused the
wishes of the Senate and ultimately
had won his point.
Mr.. Tillman contended that there is
a difference between nominal tons and
treaties, but Mr.. Cullom contended
that the President, as the head of one
branch of the government, has rights
which pertain to his Office exclusively.
He feared, he said, that the resolution
was for mere effect"
Mr.. German replied, saying that
there is not now and there is not
likely to be a resolution presented on
this side of the chamber which is not
couched in the most respectful Ian
guage. We have too high a respect
for that high office to pursue any other
course" He stated that the discre-
tionary clause had been purposey
omitted from this resolution, but said
that the omission was no indication of
a desire to reflect on the President.
Was News to German.
Mr. Aldrich suggested that the reso-
he -
include papers covering present nego-
tiations which may now be on for the
satisfaction of Colombia, and Mr.. Cor
man replied that he had not before
heard that there weere such negotia-
lions in progress. He was delighted to
hear that such was the case, and he
hoped for the honor of the country that
the negotiations would be pressed to a
successful elimination.
Mr. German said that Mr. Cullom
should not be so sensitive about the
President. That official could take care
of himself, and no senator should re-
fuse to give his assent to a request for
the fullest possible information on a
question so important. There is no
insinuation in the resolution" he said,
land why hesitate about it's passage ?"
Mr.. Spooner replied to Mr.. German.
The resolution, he said, was understood
to be the fruit of the collective ciyili-
cation of the Democratic side of the
Senate" He did not adopt the sugges-
ton of Mr.. Cullom that there was an
Interior motive in it's introduction. for
he knew how absolutely guileless the
senator from Maryland and the senator
from Texas are in matters political -
Yet he could not restrain the thought
that possibly there was a purpose of
using the matter on the stump. He
wanted it understood, he said. that
Democratic senators have no MONOPOLY
of regard for the national honor.
bacon Took Issue.
Mr. Bacon took issue with the con-
tention of Republican senators that
the Senate could not demand informa-
, ton at the hands of the Executive De-
partment. He quoted literally from ex-
pressions made by Republican sena-
tors during the Cleveland administra-
ton to support his contention. One Of
the speakers on that occasion was Mr..
Spooner, from whom Mr.. Bacon made
liberal quotations. On that occasion
the Wisconsin Senator took the posi-
ton that Congress is entitled to all
papers bearing upon nominations.
Mr.. Tillman interrupted to illustrate
the situation" for tine purpose of ex-
culpating the Senator from Wisconsin
from the charge Of being on both sides
Of the question. II is now as 1t al
ways las been, he said. IF a Demo-
cratic President gets up tree the Re-
publican dogs bark at him; IL a Re-
publican President gets up a tree, the
Democratic dogs bark at him. It is a
Republican President we are after
now, but is it not unreasonable to ex-