The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-23
PANAMA CANAL
TREATY PASSES.
Every Amendment to Pact Is
Voted Down Promptly.
Senator Morgan Makes Final
Speech in Opposition.
LITTLE OPPOSITION.
LITTLE OPPOSITION.
Democrats Generally Give Sup
port to Measure
After Speeches Made in ExpIana-
tion of Their Course.

Washington. Feb. 2S.-The Panama
treaty is ratified
The closing days debate on the PAN
anna canal treaty opened at HIS to-
dav. Mr.. Bacon (Ga) took the floor to
explain his vote on the treaty. He said
there had been a serious question
raised as to whether a senator should
be guided by the wishes of his con-
stituents or by his own judgment in
voting on all important matters of
public interest. After giving the ques-
ton due deHberation he said he be-
lieved senator should listen to the
wishes of his state, and accordingly he
would vote for the treaty.
At the same time, he said. notwith-
standing the fact that the interests of
Georgia called for the ratification of
the treaty, the people of the state did
not approve recent occurrences on the
isthmus. After stating his position Mr..
Bacon spoke of his amendment to the
treaty, looking to a peaceful settle
ment of all difficulties between the
United States and Colombia, by paying
sum of money to Colombia in full
compensation for the surrender and
quit claim of all right of sovereignty
over the territory embraced in the re-
public of Panama.
Mr.. Berry (Ark) said that if he be-
Heved the defeat of the treaty would
restore Colombia's sovereignty over
Panama he would vote against the con-
vention, but he declared, the defeat
of the treaty would be unavailing in
that respect. The people of the south
wanted the canal, and therefore he
thought it the duty of the representa-
tives of the south to vote for the treaty.
Mr.. Teller (Colo) said that the pres
ent condition of the finances of this gov
ernment would not permit the taking
of money from the treasury to build the
canal and it would be necessary to bor-
row the money and no one knows how
great would be the loan we must negO-
ttate- The expenditures by the French
people of $3.50, ,O00, 600, he said, built only
about one-quarter of the canal OF the
$40000,000 which this government was
nopinally to pay for the property, he
said, he believed $2O,00O,000 was for the
canal and the other $40, 600 900 would go
to the lobbyists who had put the deal
through
Mr. Simmons IN. c. said he believed
the people of Panama were ready for
revolution and he did not believe the
United States officials connived at it, He
refuted the charges that this govern
ment could be made to account for what
had taken place on the isthmus.
i think the worst thing the United
States has DONE" Mr.. Simmons said
has been to maintain Colombian tyran-
ny on the isthmus for the last so years.
The question of whether the presi-
dent did right or wrong on the isthmus
is not now before the Senate
The only question to consider is
whether the treaty is a meritOrious one
All of those other questions may. and
hope will, receive further considera-
ton"
At this point the senate went into ex-
ecutive session.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Wneh the senate went into executive
session today to bring the Panama ca
nal treaty to a vote, the amendments
which were offered by the COMMITTEES
on foreign relations and afterwards
withdrawn, were again offered and vo-
ted down.
The Bacon amendment providing for
treaty with Colombia with view to
satisfying any future demands of that
country on account of the secession of
Panama, also was rejected by the SEN
ate.
After voting down the amendments
ottered Senator Morgan made an ex-
tended speech in opposition to the
treaty in its present form.
IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, Feb. 23-The naval an
preparation bill was taken up in the
house today Mr.. Foster (VfO being
made chairman of the committee of the
whole and the reading of the bill for
amendment continued.
In endeavoring to get the amount of
the New York navy yard increased by
$S,O00,0O0, Mr.. Fitzgerald IN. W de-
clared that by no other committee of
the house was the cohesive power of
public plunder" so remarkably exem-
plifed.
In opposing the Fitzgerald amend
ment. Chairman Foss declared thaht
since 1925, 900 had been appropri-
ated for the New York navy yard. MI.
F'oss included Mr. Fitzgerald among
that class of gentlemen who believed in
putting all of the navy on the land
After a somewhat heated colloquy
between Messrs. Foss and Fitzgerald
the amendment was defeated
Mr.. Fitzgerald offered another
amendment appropriating 81, 500, 900 for
the improvement of the New York
navy yard, which also was defeated.