The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-02-24
TO SCRATCH dirt
That Is Now the Next Step
in, Panama Canal
Progress.
TREATY IS RATIFIED
BY Overwhelming Vote of 90 to 1
Senate Stamps The Instrument
With Its Approval.
Fourteen Democrats Voted With the
Majority on the Important
Measure.

Washington, Feb. 24.-The United
States ratified, without amendment,
the treaty with Panama for canal
across the isthmus of that name by
vote of &c to IA. The result was a
foregone conclusion, the interest in
the matter being only in the division
of the vote on the Democratic side,
which was not known definitely until
the roll was called, all the Republicans
being for ratification.
Fourteen Democrats voted for ratif-
cation and fourteen against The only
other vote was on the amendment Of
fered by Senator Bacon providing for
an arrangement to compensate Column
bia for loss of the territory of Panama.
This was rejected by vote of "a to
40. Senators generally commend the
management of the treaty by Senator
CuIIom, chairman of the committee on
foreign relations who has had charge
of the measure during both the
plain and stormy sailing. The vote
was taken much earlier than was an
ticipated at first when it's opponents
were vigorously trying to secure
enough votes to prevent ratification.
generally on the merits of the treaty
The debate in executive session was
with reference to the secret papers
which were sent to the senate by the
president Senator Morgan made a
set speech which occupied the greater
part of the time. Senator Culberson
made comments on the secret CORES.
pondence and asserted that it showed
that the reasonable time" referred TO
in the SpOOner act was known to have
expired both for negotiating the Hay
Herran treaty and its ratification
Senator Culberson read from a letter
addressed to DR.. Albert Shaw by the
president dated Oct. 10, 1908, in which
the president said he saw no hope for
any negotiations with Columbia and
that he would be delighted should a
revolution occur on the isthmus.
Preparations for Next Step.
Everything is ready for the speedy
contamination of the Panama canal
treaty, and both the war and state de-
partments have made preparations for
the next step, the former by the dis
patch of troops to the isthmus and
the latter by the completion of ar
rangements for the exchange of ratifi-
cations of the treaty which must take
place in Washington. There is no
reason why this ceremony should not
occur within the next forty-eight
hours. NJ. Bunau-Varilla, the minister
from Panama, called at the state de
partment in relation to this matter
and very soon after he has made the
exchange of treaties will lay down his
mission, according to notice he has
already given. His successor as minis
ter here will probably be Pablo Arosa-
mena, the present head of the consti-
tutional convention and father of the
secretary of the Panama legation here
Mr.. Arosa mena is described as a law
yer of ability and a man of means.
The administration intends to press
the canal project by all proper meth
DDS. As a cabinet officer expressed it,
the next step after the appointment
of the commission will be TO scratch
dirt" and already such members of
the commission as are assured of their
places, like Admiral Walker and Major
General Davis have been giving some
attention to the provision Of the cIer-
icaI force and the engagement of en-
cheering talent to conduct the actual
work OF canal digging.
To Provide the Way.
Senator Kittredge, of South Dakota,
a member OF the interoceanic canal
committee after the ratification of
the canal treaty introduced a bill to
provide for the temporary government
of the Panama canal territory and
the protection of the canal works and
for other purposes connected with the
construction of the canal The bill
was referred to the committee Of inter-
oceanic canals of which the late Sen
ator Hanna was chairman. The filling
of the vacancy has caused consider
able discussion and it virtually has
been desided to leave it untitled for
the present. Senator Plat, of New
York will be the acting chairman.