New-York tribune., 1909-02-15
FEAR FIGHT ON TREATY
DEMOCRATS MAY GET AID.
T7co Features of Proposed Panama
Pact Objected To.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, Feb. 14-An interesting situation in
the Senate seems certain when the Panama treaty
is taken up for consideration. Certain Democratic
Senators have all along protested against two feat
of the treaty, and the prospects that they
will receive little assistance from those most
interested in the construction of the canal and
whose experience the Canal Zone entities them 10
a respectful hearing AS has already been told IN
these dispatches. the features which are most OBJ
jectionable the Democrats are, first, the pro-
vision which will prevent the sale of supplies OF
all kinds to employees of the canal commission By
the commissaries, thus saving these employees the
payment of the duty assessed by Panams and the
profit exacted by Panama merchants, and, second
the proposition submit differences with the gov
ernment of Panama TO an arbitral tribunal N
which the President of Peru shall cast the de-
Gliding
The Republican and even some Democratic mem
bers of the Committee Foreign Relations, have
been disposed to treat these objections lightly, but
ii is learned that the view entertained by hign OH
cials of the canal commission is that both pro
visions viii be detrimental 90 the interests Of the
United States It is maintained that the first
which would compel the employees of the commits
sion purchase their supplies from the merchants
OF Panama, viii completely dsorganize the labor
situation the isthmus,, and may even cause a
material increase IN tin wage scale, with con-
sequent enhancement of the cost of the canal
Secretary Root when before the Committee on
Foreign Relations, said frankly that the employees
of the Canal Commission receiving much
higher pay than they could secure in the United
States. that he had sympathy with their con
tentions and that he deemed them "a pampered
set" 1t is believed that Mr.. Root referred espe-
cially to the American employees, who had been
clamoring vociferously against the proposed ar
rangement: but the Panamans say frankly that II
is not the custom of the American which they
seek but Of the negro laborers. From high au-
thority it learned that the proposed arrangement
would so far the of living to this class
of employees that the alternative Of a strike or
decided increase IN wages would he almost IN
evitable This easily he ascertained by the
committees Of Congress, and particularly by the
Committee on Foreign Relations, II there Is a dis
position 20 do so. and it is not improbable that
Presdent-eIect Taft will call the attention Of Sen
ators 70 the facts when he comes to Washington
this week.
The contention, thus far set forth only oy the
Democrats that an arbitral tribunal in which the
chief executive Of South American republic casts
the deciding vote would invariably decide against
the claims Of the United States. is also supported
by high authority or the isthmus. and seems GER
tain 10 receive much more consideration than has
thus far been given it before the Panama conven-
tion is ratified.
In view of the fact that the Panama negota-
tions were fathared originally by Mr. TAFT, tlat
they were carried TO an apparently successful con
clusion bv Afr- 1toot, that II the Panams treaty
goes over until next session without ratification II
will probably be earnestly supported by Senator
elect Root and finally. that President nt-elect Taft
Will be intensely interested in the rapid progress
Of tho canal construction without hitch or !n-
creased cost the situation promises to be most
interesting.