Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-26
PRESIDENT AND SENATE.

According to Washington correspond
ents there is threatened conflict be
tween the president and the senate over
the Panama canal situation and the
course Of the administration regarding
Santo Domingo II is stated that there
are number of canal features in which
the senate desires enlightenment. and
that it must have its curiosity satisfied
in several instances before favorable
action is taken on the nomination of the
canal commissioners. Undoubtedly these
nominations will eventually be con-
firmcd, but the senate will not be in
hurry. and in the meantime il is proba-
BILE that the administration of canal
affairs will be pretty thoroughly dis
cussed. OF course no one will object to
this, il the discussion is conducted in
the proper spirit and not simply as a
manifestation Of fault-finding, or of hos
tility to the president. 1t is quite proba-
BILE that the canal commission has not
been altogether judicious in the matter
of expenditures. 1t is perhaps desirable
that congress shall put some restriction
upon it's authority in this particular,
but care must be taken not to make the
restriction so unyielding that it might
result in obstructing the work. So Ear
as the president snd secretary of war
are concerned. there can be no reasona-
II 4I,oI hay ttca1 fhnir host
Judgment in respect TO canal administra-
ton and will be able to convincingly
demonstrate this to the country.
As to the Santo Domingo matter,
there is unquestionahly a strong feeling
ia the senate that the pending treaty.
hich provides for continuing the policy
regarding the black republic adopted ny
the administration. should not be rati-
| fed. There is fear that the precedent
which it would establish might cause
this government no little trouble in the
future. II is said that great many
| mcn,bers of the majority have declared
| that they will not vote for the treaty
| in it's present shape. and indeed. eS-
precs the belief that it ought to be killed
Outright if pressed for ratification
| without the elimination of the clause
which gives authority to the United
| States to take practically any step that
may be deemed necessary to preserve
tae territorial and financial integrity
| o. Santo Domingo. 1t is urged against
| this course that It would be equivalent
| to declaring protectorate over tine
! island. The probability is that the adj
ministration will not insist upon The
retention of this clause, but even In
that event it appears doubtful If the
treaty will be ratified. Apparently
most senators have not been much i'm
dressed with the statement of the preSi
dent in his annual message that If tht
! existing arrangement with Santo To
mingo is terminated by the failure Of
the treaty chaos will follow, and tina
in that event our government may
sooner or later. be involved in serious
difficulties with foreign government
over the island, or else may be forced
itself to intervene IN the island in some
unpleasant fashion.
There is nothing in the situation, 81
far IA disclosed, to indicate any dispo
sltop on the part of the president Il
enter into a contest with the senate
There is reason to think that he doe
not desire it and will make any reason
able concessions in order to avoid a con
fest