The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-05
CONGRESS- IS
 IN SESSION Roosevelt ss in Mes sage Panama. DE .o1E BEGINS IN SENATE
 - McC0mas of Maryland De- fendS Presidents Course. MT. Morgan of Alabama Says the Action of the Elective is Usurpa- ton of the Powers Granted
 Congress.

Congress.
 Washington, Jan. 4.-The senate's first session following the holiday recess was devoted entirely to Panama. President Roosevelt sent a message on the subject which was received with great interest. Discussion continued throughout the day. speeches being made both in defense Of and against the policy which has been pursued. Mir. McComas defended the President and asserted that his action would stand if tried in court. He maintained that evon without recognition the new republic of Panama would have been established and maintained indefinitely.
 MT. Stewart of Nevada severely crtti- cized the Bogota government for its sel- fish action in preventing the construction of the canal. Mir. Morgan of Alabama stated his preference for the Nicaragua route and maintained that the present course of the administration was break ing down the established policy of the United States regarding neutrality. He said the President now desired the assist ance of three Democratic Senators to maintain his policy.
 New Chaplain Prays.
 The Rev. Edward Everett Hale. the newly elected chaplain of the Senate, clad in black silk clerical robes, occupied the chair of the presiding officer just preced- ing the session and on the body, being called to order offered a stirring invoca- tion. His prayer was for the wisdom of Heaven in the affairs of the government. He referred briefly to the Chicago disas- ter and asked blessing on the stricken fsff Tnafr fn death of the wife of Senator Hoar of Massachusetts. His invocation was pre- ceded by a short Scriptural lesson and concluded with the Lords Prayer.
 At the conclusion of the prayer Mir. Lodge gave notice that he would address the Senate on the Panama question to- morrow. Roosevelt was received by the Senate an It's reading begun.
 The reading sbs message was cOm- pleted at 1:B.
 Upon the pending resolution of Mir. Morgan, declaring that neither the Pres. ident nor the President and the Senate as the treaty-making power of tho United States has tho lawful power to wage war or declare war against any foreign power without the consent of Congress when such a country is at peace with the Uni 
 discussion of the isthmian situation. He characterized the Presidents message as "clearly cogent and abundantly convinc- ing presentation of the situation"
 Mir. Morgan interrupted with question to bring out the point, as he he'd. that the recognition of the new republic was simply de facto." MT. McComas held otherwise maintaining that the recogni- ton was official and would be held so by the courts
 Right to Make Recognition.
 Mir. Cuiberson questioned the right of the executive to make such recognition but MT. McComas maintained positively that the executive had such authority and he could bring to the attention of the Senate two insances in which the power had been exercised
 MT. Tillman wanted the instances cited and Mir. McComas promised later to pre- sent them.
 But I want to know broke in Mir. TIllman, whether the Senator contends that the executive. without instruction of the Congress can employ the army and navy to defend his executive action by warning away and preventing Colombia from asserting her supremacy anywhere except on the Panama railroad?"
 Tn answer MT. McComas referred MT. Tillman to the closing statements of the Presidents message. He said the execu- tive had not only had the right but the exclusive right to take the action he had. He again referred to two similar instances and said that while both resulted in war. they were wars which public sentiment endorsed.
 Mir. Bacon inquired how long the new republic would last should the sustaining power of the United States be withdraw.
 For many years" replied Mir. Mo
 
 straininR power of the United States the independence of Panama would have been established long ago.
 twill the Senator state the respective populations of Panama and Colombian" asked Mir. Bacon.
 Panama and Colombia.
 Panama has about 3g0,OO0 and Colombia 4,5O0C0O," was the reply.
 And yet the Senator thinks the 300 OO0 could maintain themselves against the four and a half miIlions?" again inter jected MT. Bacon.
 Such things were frequent events in history" was the reply.
 MT. McComas addressing himself to the Democratic side of the chamber declared that some excellent men have made a political blunder.
 and have mistaken their partisanship for a moral sense He would not say, he aQOeOs OppOoiIlOu was but it was perversely and persistently wrong The Presidents Panama canal record. he said would elect him in November and result in the construction of the canal
 Mir. Stewart followed with an indorse- ment of the course of the administration on the Panama question, although. he said he had formerly been in favor of the Nicaragua route. Mir. Stewart declared that the object of Colombia was to delay matters until the expiration of the FVench canal concession and charge the United States S1o.OOOOOO for the conces- sion.
 Tt is time." he added. i've should be- gin to treat them acording to their true characters, as highway robbers. levying blackmail on the nations of the world"
 we have got the right of way now for the canal" concluded Mir. Stewart. "The people want the canal and Burning to the Democratic side of the chambar) you had better get onto the band wagon, be- cause it Is moving, The people don't care anything about that little band of robbers at BoSota and we arc going to