Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-29
IN THE SENATE.
Panama Revolution and Presidents
Right to Withhold information.

Washington, Jan. 2S.-The time of
the Senate. today, was devoted to de-
bate rather than to set speeches on
the attitude of the United States to-
ward the Panama revolution. There
was a variation, however in that the
discussion also had reference to the
right of the President to withhold in
formation called for by the Senate.
The immediate foundation of the con-
stroversy was the Democratic caucus
resolution calling on the President to
state whether he has supplied the pa
pers in the archives bearing upon the
Panama affair.
The debate was opened by Culber
son and was participated in by Cor
man and Bacon on the Democratic side
of the chamber and by Cullom, Spooner
and Lodge on the Republican side. The
Democrats contended for the right of
the Senate to demand informa ton in
the possession of the executive depart
ment bearing on treaties before the
Senate. while the Republican speakers
spoke in defence of the discretion of
the President to withhold information.
Among the petitions presented in the
Senate, today. were one each from the
boards of trade of Philadelphia and
Brunswick, Ga, for the prompt rat-
fication of the Panama canal treaty.
The joint resolution authorizing the
acceptance from the citizens of France
of a reproduction of dangers bust of
Washington, was passed.
Then MCrgan'S resolution calling for
Minister BuchanaH's letter concerning
amendments to the canal treaty was
laid before the Senate. Morgan with
drew it, saying that he had been in
formed that it WAS the intention of
the President to send the document to
The Senate in executive session.
The resolution of Culberson, intro
duced at the instance of Democratic
caucus, requesting the President to
inform the Senate whether all the cor
respondence relating to the construct
ion of an isthmian canal have been
sent to the Senate was taken up. Gull
lom objected to the resolution as too
broad as to date and on his sugges-
ton Mr. CulbersOn amended it SO as
to limit the request to all correspond
ence since June 26, 1902, the date of the
approval of the SpoOner act
Cuilom then suggested that the res
olution be further amended SO as to
relieve the President from the necessi-
~ Of sending information to supply
which would in his opinion be incom-
patable with public interest Mr..
Culberscn declined to accept this
amendment, and made q speech in
support of his objection and in favor
of the adoption of the resolution as it
stood.
Culberson said that the resolution
calls only for public documents and
these. he commended, the Senate is en-
titled to receive.
Cullom assured Cuiberson that
whether his amendment was accepted
or not 1.-The Senate will get all the in
formation there is i'm the department
to the general question"
Clay asked whether the Senate as a
part of the treaty-making power has
not right to all the information bear
ing upon treaty which the executive
itself has.
Cullom replied that it was his opin-
ion that the President has a right to
refuse to comply with the resolution,
whether the modification was inserted
or not. He had no doubt, however, that