Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-29
Democratic Caucus Resolu-
ton as to Panama.
CULL0M AM ENDMENT
INSERTED BY 80 TO 20, A PARTY
VOTE, WITH ONE EXCEPTION.
Asks President, in His Discretion, to
Transmit Papers and Letters-House
Busy With Urgent Deficiency Bill.

The democratic caucus resolution calling
on the President to inform the Senate
whether all the papers In possession of the
executive department bearing upon the
Panama revolution had been sent to the
Senate was Immediately taken up on the
assembling of the Senate today, the especial
question under consideration being the mo-
ton of Mr.. Cullom to add a clause relieving
the President of the necessity of supplying
the documents If considered incompatible
with the public interest.
Mr. Cockrell contended that the Senate
had no right to ask for information con-
corning a treaty while it was under nego-
tiation but it had the right to all possible
information after the negotiation was COM
pleted and the treaty sent to the Senate
Mr.. McLaurin spoke in support OF the
resolution and in opposition to the amend
ment He protested against the charge
that the resolution had been introduced for
party advantage but added that the best
way to place the republican administration
in a proper light before the country was to
make public all the facts bearing upon the
Panama affair.
Referring to the treaty with Panama,
Mr.. McLaurin said that "the very first ar
ticle of the treaty is declaration Of war
against Colombia if Colombia sees proper
to assert it's authority in the face OF the
United States" and he argued that. this
being So the Senate should have full in
formation as to whether the United States
had done anything in establishing the gov
eminent of Panama that would justify US
in taking the responsibility of provoking
possible war
Cullom Amendment Adopted.
The vote was then taken on the Cullom
amendment inserting the discretionary
clause, and the motion prevailed-39 to 70
a party vote, with the exception Of Mr..
McEnery, who voted with the republicans.
Resolution Adopted.
The resolution was agreed to without
division. AS amended it is as follows:
Resolved That the President be re-
quested to inform the Senate whether all
the correspondence and notes between the
Department of State and the legation of
the United States at Bogota, and between
either of these and the government of Co
lombia in relation to the construction of
an isthmian canal. since June 2S 1892, and
all the correspondence and notes between
any department of the government of the
United States and any of it's officials or
representatives or the government of Pan
anna. concerning the separation of Panama
from Colombia, have been sent to the SEN
ate, and. if not, that he be requested to
send the remaining correspondence and
notes to the Senate in executive session, If
not. in his judgment, Incompatible with the
public interest"
Mr.. Tillman then introduced a resolution
asking for more specific information from
the Secretary of the Treasury concerning
the nomination of w. D. Crum collector
of customs for the port of Charleston S.
c., than was contained in the letter from
the Secretary received yesterday by the
Senate He said that the Secretary's let
ter is ambiguous and fails entirely of its
object. He asserted that the Secretary
had with great adroitness lodged the is
sue"
The Crum Resolution.
Following is the text of the resolution:
Resolved, that the Secretary Of the Treas
ury be. and he hereby is, instructed to send
to the Senate information in regard to the
appointment of w. d. Crum as collector
of the port of Charleston, s. c., and that he
answer specifically the following questions:
First. Is w. D. Crum now holding
commission as collector? If SO, give date
and send to the Senate verbatim copy
Thereof.
Second. Was his second appointment
made in accordance with law, and if so
what law?
Third. Is there any law or precedent for
the holding of an officer of this kind by a
de facto official?
Fourth Is it the contention or intention
to claim and exercise the authority to make
such appointments during constructive
recess. as this appears to be-"
EhSSSiS. AiuiicI anu SpooHtT ouJeCteo "
immediate consideration, and the resolution
went over for day.
To Adjust Colombia's Claims.
The Senate then at the request of Mr..
Bacon took up the resolution introduced by
that senator advising the President that
the Senate suggests a treaty with Colon
bia looking to satisfactory adjustment
of all claims on the part of that country
against the United States growing out of
the Panama revolution. Mr.. Bacon adj
dressed the Senate in support of the reso-
luton. saying that its purpose is that of
securing an amicable settlement of the
dispute with Colombo which might avert
hostilities. He contended that the measure
is in direct accord with the policy of this
government to avoid conflict whenever it is
possible to do SO. and quoted many author
tiles in support of this statement.
H0IICE on REpn EcEnrr A mn rc