Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-28
58TH. CONGRESS.
Panama Canal Treaty Sup
ported By a Democrat
Committee to at nace Investigate
Charges Against Smoot.
uraent Deficiency Bill Discussed IN
Lower Branch.

Washington, Jan. Lt.-1he
proceedings, today, included Speech
by Simmons Of North Carolina In sup,
mort of the Panama canal treaty anu
the passage of a number OF DIS anu
resolutions. Simmons was the hrSl
Democratic senator to FAVOR the iheaS-
,,re He announced his disapproval of
the Intervention OF the united states
IN the Panama revolt, but said that as
IN. revolution was an accomplished
fact and was such before the treaty
was made he could not accept the the
ory that the treaty itself was invalid.
Among the bills passed was one
granting to citizens of Porto Rico and
PHILIPPINES the right to take advantage
of the naturalization laws OF this
country, but SpOoner moved to recon-
. slider the vote thus leaving the ques-
t,on undispcsed. The resolution giving
authority to the committee on prlVl-
lepes and elections to proceed with the
investigation of the charges against
Mr.. SmOOt was passed.
The resolution on the Panama caii"i
question, introduced by Daniel WAS
laid before the Senate and Summons
of North Carolina, spoke in support Oh
the canal treaty. being the first Dem
ocratic senator to take an open posi-
ton on that side of the controversy
He announced his conviction that potn
under the SpOOner act and under MS
general treaty-making power the fres-
;dent had authority to enter INTO d
treaty with Panama. after IL pecdiiie
an Independent state for the construc-
ton of the canal via the fanaIiia
route. He said:
"what has been done in Panama mas
been done and cannot be undone. IL
was not done by the Democratic party
neither could that party have prevent
cd its doing If what has been done III
Panama can be undone at all by thlS
Government 1t can only be undone by
doing a greater wrong to Panama than
has already been done to COLOMBIA
Surely the defeat of this treaty Will no'
either undo or remedy that wrong.
IT am not here to defend the actions
of the President either in connectloi
with the revolution in or recognition
of independence of Panama.
Simmons said he joined his colleagues
nm b,s side of the chamber in condemn
ing whatever wrong the President ana
tho administration may have done IL
connection with bringing about the III,
aonordcpce of Panama. but declared
his intention of voting for the treaty
,as well as for the various resolutions
~ inouiry. He closed with an expires
sion of a desire that COLOMBIA niSh
he compensated for her loss.
simmons said that he believed mat ,h'
President and the secretary or Stat'
should he relieved of all charge ol com
nlicity in the Panama revolt. He adhe'
that he did not believe that the posses
sion of information concerning an ap
proachinC revolution should be accepted
as discrcditing the statement of the Pres
ident.
Simmons announced his belief that Tho
charge of recommendation by the 18TH
milan canal commission from the Nlcar;t'
qua to the Panama route had berii th'
result of honest conviction. lie charac
terized the Spooner act as deliberate
pronouncement by Congress in favor OF
Panama and a direction to the President
To construct the canal route. IF posi-
Bile to acquire the title in reasonable
time" He did not believe that there was
any lapse of reasonable time which would
have made it the Presidents duty to turn
to the alternate course designated in the
statutes. He continued:
II join my colleague on this side of tho
chamber in CondemninE whatever wrong
the President and administration may
have done in connection with bringing
about the Influences of Panama, but in
my vote on the treaty propose to recog-
nize and act on the fact that Panama il
an Independent state with rights and
powers make this treaty without but by
the consent of all the civilized nations oi
the world
Simmons closed with the expression of
a desire that Colombia might be compcn-
stated for her loss.
Considerable discussion followed on n
hill providing means for citizens of Porto
Rico and the Philippines to become citi-
zens of the United States. PcttuS sIE-
gcsted that Porto Rico be made a terri
tory. and Foraker says he has not as
much objection to a measure with that
end in view some of his colleagues The
hill passed but SpoOner entered a motion
to reconsider. which went over
Among the bills passed We're: Author
fzing the erection of a bronze statue of
Henry Wadsworth LonGfellow on govern
ment land in Washington.
Giving the President authority to have
derclicts destroyed and appropriatin;,
$1,000 for that purpose
The Senate went into executive session
at 3.55 and at $50 T. NJ. adjourned.