The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-30
DID SENATE GET
ALL THE FACTS?
PRESIDENT is ASKED THAT
THE SENATE ADOPTED THE DEMO-
GRATIS RESOLUTION.

Republican,, However, Amended
the Resolution by Leaving 1t with
the President TO Furnish the In
formation If He should See Fit.
Senator BacOn's Resolutions Sug-
gesting Payment for Colombia
Considered.
Washington, Jan. 29.-The Senate to-
day adopted the resolution introduced
by Mr.. Culberson for the Democratic
caucus, which calls upon the President
to state whether the Senate has been
supplied with all the facts bearing
upon the controversy over Panama.
There was no division. so that the
vote on the resolution was unanimous;
but there was roll call on the amend
ment suggested by Mr.. Cullom for the
Republican side of the chamber, call
ing for the information only in case
the President should consider it not
incompatible with the public interest
to supply it, and it was adopted by the
decisive vote of SO to 20, all the Re-
publican senators present voting for
the amendment, and all the Democrats
except, Mr.. McEnery, who voted for
the amendment. with the Republicans.
casting their votes against it.
There were during the debate fire.
quent assurances that Notwithstanding
the modification all the papers bear
ing upon the question would be sent
to the Senate. Speeches on the reso-
luton were made by Mr.. Cockrell and
Mr.. McLaurin. and both were favor
able to the resolution and opposed to
the Cullom amendment.
The Senate then, at the request of
Mr.. Bacon, took I'D the resolution in
troduced by that senator, advising the
President that the Senate suggests a
treaty with Colombia looking to a
satisfactory adjustment of all claims
on the part of that country against
the United States growing out of the
Panama revolution. Mr.. Bacon ad-
dressed the Senate in support of the
resolution, saying that it's purpose is
that of securing an amicable settlement
of the dispute with Colombia, which
might avert hostilities. He contended
that the measure is in direct accord
with the policy of this government to
avoid conflict. whenever it is possible
to do so. and quoted many authorities
in support of this statement.
Bacon for Arbitration.
Much of Mr.. Bacon's discourse was
| devoted to presenting the question of
arbitration for the settlement of inter-
national disputes, and he quoted many
port of that policy. He reached the
conclusion that the people of the Unit
ed States were thoroughly committed
to a policy of concession to avoid war
in all proper cases, and he commended
that in the present instance the United
States could not afford to violate the
, we'll established rule.
He said we should first proceed by
conciliatory advances toward Colombia,
and in case our proffer should not be
favorably received, then the entire
matter should be submitted to arbitra-
ton. He said even if we assumed that
all of the representations of the Unit
ed States were true and all those of
Colombia false, still there was an issue,
and the proper way to settle it was the
way of peace and Cancellation. He did
not contend that our right to recognize
Panama should be arbitrated, but he
QlQ uOIQ SIldI a QQCSllOi IOI
ton was presented in the differences
that have arisen over the construction
of the treaty of 1886 All he wanted
was that we should approach the Co
lombian government in proper spirit
and not treat that country in a
naughty and defiant manner.
Speaking of the proposition to tender
the good offices of the United States
looking to a settlement of the contro-
hof CnInY,,hia Do
Mr. Bacon said that this mode Of pro-
ceeding would be inadequate. because
it would not take into account Colom-
bias differences with the United
States. In this connection he reiterated
his conviction that the Panama revo-
luton was an accomplished fact and
added his further conviction that the
canal would be built at Panama. This
being true, he argued that there is
more important duty than to remove
whatever source of friction there may
be-"
From BogOta to the Canal.
He had heard it stated that Colon
bia would be perfectly conciliated if
the United States would devote &c.
100000 for the purpose of building a
railroad connecting Bogota with the
canal, and if such were the case he did
not believe the United States could do
better than to meet the suggestion in
a favorable way.
Mr.. Platt of Connecticut suggested
that if 1t was to be the understood pol
icy of the United States to buy its
peace with all countries which made
claims against this country or have
controversies with it, we should have
an abundance of opportunity for the
expenditure of our money.
The Senate adjourned until Monday.