Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-08-16
MAIDEN SPEECH OF SENATOR
W. A. MASSEY AS DELIVERED IN
SENATE A FEW WEEKS PAST

me maiden speech OF Senator w
A. Massey in the United States sen.
ate al Washington has been receiy.
ed from the seat of government and
is herewith published in part. This
speech was handled briefly by the
big news associations on the day OF
its delivery. and aside from this
important factor. the junior senator
from Nevada has gained fame on
account of his upsetting the tradi-
lions of the senate by securing the
floor and delivering an address be
fore he had occupied the office
month. The speech follows:
The senate having under consider.
alton the bill Ill r. 21969D to pro
vide for the opening, maintenance,
protection. and operation of the Pan
anna Canal and the sanitation and
government of the Canal Zone.
The Importance of the question
involved in the passage Of the act
now pending before the senate and
reported by the senator from Con.
neeticut is the only justification or
excuse have for consuming at this
late hour any of the time of the
senate in discussing this measure
and these amendments
Not only is it important to our
shipping and the prosperity of our
commercial enterprises. but the bill
before the senate involves the ques-
ton Of the good faith of the Ameri-
can nation in so far as IL may con
tract respecting its relations and
its properties and It's rights under
the constitution and the laws of
the government
! propose, senators, II possible
and | believe 1t is possible under
well established rules of legal con
struction, rules founded upon justice
approved by the judgment Of the
Anglo.Saxon race in the administra
ton of equity-to climate. so far as
this bill is concerned, absolutely and
unqualifiedly the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty In other words, | propose
TO address myself to the proposition
that. so far as American rights are
concerned. so far as American in
terests are involved, and in so far
as the congress OF the United States,
with the approval of the execu-
tives concerned. the Panama canal
as nearly constructed is not within
the terms of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty and is not governed thereby
and that congress has the absolute
power for the purpose of lesislatihg
not only in discriminating way
! in favor of American interests 81
all kinds. but so far as II may de
sire, to regulate the tolls of c'hel
nations. without regard to any of Tho
terms or conditions of the treaty
which has been so ably discusse,
by the senior senator from Kentuc
ky (Mr Bradley.
| desire to call TIE attention o
the senate to one or two propos
lions of Interpretation and construct
ion that, to my mind, are conelusT
and relieve tails question 81 any /
ternational INN rttnse so far a
this legislation - concerned.
A treaty. as was well said b
the senator from Kentucky is
mere compact between nations col
corning matters over which the r.
spectiye sovereignties to such trea
les have power to contract; an
/, when those treaties are made the
stand Al the bar of the civilize
! world as the rights of individual
I stand where construction and int
I pretation are necessary; and the
must be controlled by the same ruiz
of construction. upon just and eq
table grounds, as the rights OF !
! dividuals, and must be determine
in so far as rights under a contra
I may be extended or limited.
I shall assume, senator's, in u
discussion of this question that III
treaty is not certain and definate
! its terms. / think have right
! say at this time. justified by G
1 diversity of opinion expressed
! distinguished senators on this flo'
! that the terms Of the Hay-Pauncefo