The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-22
MORGAN EXPLAINS
HIS PANAMA BILL
ANNEXATION OF THE ISTHMUS
PRACTICALLY THE PURPOSE OF
THE PENDING TREATY.

.,,homa senator Thinks 1t Wiser
"a Accomplish This Result by Leg
i.IatiOn-DimcuIties Encountered
with Panama, Morgan Says, Have
R4en Due to the Precipitancy of
RooseveIt-PIatt Defends the Pres
ident.
washington, Jan. Ex-senator Platt
of connecticut concluded his speech
an Panama to-day, consuming most
If the time of the open session. after
the expiration Of the morning hour. He
defended the course of the President
throughout the Panama revolt, and
euIogized the executive personally as
brave and fearless.
During the morning hour, Mr.. Nor
gan smoke in explanation of his bill
for the annexation of Panama to the
United States, basing his argument
nm the ground that the pending canal
treaty. practically contemplated that
result, and said in effect that if it was
n be done at all it should be done by
legislation, and not by treaty.
T.
u hich the country had encountered in
Panama, saying that they are not OF
the country's seeking, but were due
TO the precipitancy of the President of
the United States. 1t was, however,
impossible to undo what had been
done. and he contended that further
proceedings should be in accordance
with legislation.
In order to get rid of the conse-
ouences of our acts we must make, he
said. some equitable arrangement with
Panama, for it was not to be supposed
that Colombia meant to submit calm
". IT,. he argued, we are to build a
canal in Panama, we must have the
good will OF Colombia. for without it
the obstacles of disease and outlawry
will be infinitely increased.
Mr.. Morgan predicted that the Pres
ident would not be able to secure fu-
ture appropriations. Indeed" he said,
Il don't believe that he wants appro-
priations. 1t is better for campaign
purposes that legislation on the canal
question should consist of purposes
only"
He said that he had inserted in his
bill the provision for the payment OF
1000 for the pacification of Co
IOmbia, because he had heard that the
President had entered into an agree
ment for the payment of that sum for
that purpose.
Defended Roosevelt.
Mr.. Platt defended the President
against the charge of committing an
act of war or even an act of inter-
vention, denying that his acts in con-
nection with the Panama revolt
amounted to either. The charges that
the President knew of the revolution
and had connived at it Mr.. Plat char
acterized as disgra ceful and untrue. He
maintained the President had the right
to protect transit across the isthmus
even against Colombia.
Mr.. Plat referred to the retirement
of Colombian forces and was inter
rupted by Mr.. Tillman, who asked if
the attitude Of the Colombian forces
was not in the nature of "a dicker or
badger to increase the price of go
ing"
Mr.. Platt replied that Mr. Hubbard
and his fortytwo men had nothing to
90 with the buying of the departure
OF the Colombian troops. The act OF
Panama nation was defended on the
ground that he was engaged at the
time in civilian duty and raised the
nag after the new government was
formed. There would he, added be
no difficulty in accepting the theory
OF good faith in those matters if SEN
ators wanted a canal at Panama and
did not want it at Nicaragua.
Doesn't Want to Steal 1t.
Il want a canal at Panama" re-
sponded Mr.. Tillman, "if we don't have
to steal it,
TO this expression, Mr.. Platt took
exception rs unworthy.
When Mr.. Platt closed, Mr.. Tillman
was recognized to read the Ostend
manifesto and the comment made upon
II by the Republican platform of 1856.
he commended that the policy of the
present administration was that might
makes right. "It is" he said, "the doe
trine of the wolf in Aesop's fable that,
whether the stream runs up or down.
am above you, and 1 want you for
supper. He declared our course in
Fdnama to be simply greedy and
Mr. Teller spoke briefly in reply to
Mr. Platt, and the Senate adjourned
until tomorrow.