Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-11
RECIPROCITY TREATIES.
NICARAGUA's AND SPANS SENT
TO THE SENATE.

Both Ordered PrInted-The,Latter to be
Discussed With Open DOOrs-The Drift
of the Debate on Letting the Public
into the Nicaragua Conference Made
Public-A Series of Treaties on the
Tapis.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-The Nicaraguan
canal treaty and the Spanish reciprocity
treaty were sent by President Arthur to the
Senate to-day. They were accompanied by
the usual messages of transmittal, that with
the Nicaraguan treaty embodying briefly a
statement of the political and commercial ad-
vantages to result from the construction of a
canal. Both treaties were ordered to be
printed and referred to the Committee on For
eign Relations. The injunction of secrecy
was removed from the text of the Spanish
treaty, and it was Immediately sent to the
printer, with a view of having comics for dis
tributiOn to morrow. 1t is learned from the
best authority that the cabled COPY, published
in the New York Times, contained no errors of
Importance.
COMING DISCUSSIONS.
1t is expected that a considerable portion of
the time of the Senate after the holiday re-
cess VIII be spent in executive session discus
sing the provisions of the new treaties. These
are seven in number, not including that with
Mexico, which has already been ratified, but
the PRONUNCIATION of which awaits the pas
sage of measures to carry its provisions into
effect. The treaties with Spain and Nicara-
qua are IN possession OF the Senate. Those with
Hawaii and San Domingo have been signed.
The terms of those with Guatemala and San
Salvador have substantially been agreed
upon, and good progress has been made upon
that with the United States of Colombia.
Ratification of these treaties will probably
lead directly to the negotiation of treaties
with other American powers and colonies.
Indeed. movement is already noted in the
British West Indies to secure a reciprocity
treaty with the United States. With the eX-
ceptlOn of the Ncaraguan treaty. which
relates to an inter-Oceanic canal all these
are commercial treaties, and though
differing considerably in detail, they are all
modelled upon the reciprocity treaty with
Mexico. Ihere Is hardly a manufacturing or
productive interest in the country which is
not directly and very seriously interested in
these treaties. 1t is held by the Executive
department of the government that it would
be an imprOprety for it to make public their
provisions, such action belonging, in Its opin-
ion, exclusively to the discretion of the Sen
ate. The present rules of the Senate require
that the discussion of. the Etreaties shall take
place IN secret session, and the new code of
rules adopted last year contains provisions Of
remarkable stringency governing this matter.
POWERS OF TWO SENATORS.
One rule which is applicable to legislation,
as well as executive business, makes it posi-
ble Tor any two Senators, even against the
judgment of their fellow Senator's to cause
the public to be turned from the galleries
and order the doors to be closed. It is sup
that lnasmuch as Senator who intended to
make remarks could alone know what
he was gong to say, to him alone should
practically be given the power of shutting ont
the public. But the first application of the
new rule was in the case where Senator
wished to say something in public and the
Senate wished to shut him up. When the
Mexican treaty was under consideration
senator Van Wyck offered resolution pro-
vidlng that its further consideration be with
open doors: This was radical innovation
Qrif finy,Y %
in the rather scant courtesy with which the
proposition was received.
Senator Miller, of New York, objected to
immediate consideration of the resolution.
Mr.. Anthony said that the resolution must
be introduced in executive session.
Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin, objected to its
Mr.. ingalls, objected to its reception. So did
Messrs. Cockrell and Miller, OF California.
Mr.. Edmunds said that it was not in order
Mr.. Van Wyck asked leave to make a sup-
gestiOn, but the chair (Senator Harris1 held
that the debate was not in order, except upon
an appeal from the decision of the Chair.
Mr. EanWyck appealed from the decision
OF the Chair.
Mr.. Edmunds moved that the doors be
closed.
Mr.. Morgan seconded the motion.
PRIVACY THE OUTCOME.
MT. Edmunds said: 'It is the duty of the
Chair to clear the galleries and close the doors
without putting any question:"
The Chair ordered the doors closed
Mr.. Van Wyck said: 81 suggest to the SEN
atOr that that would excludeS-
MIR. Edmunds, interrupting, said: "NO de-
bate until the doors are closed"
The Senate remained in secret eeasion
twelve minutes, during which time the decis-
ION OF the Chair was sustained. In this wy
the Senate avoided making record upon the
proposition to take the public into confidence
On this occasion Mr.. Van Wyck is supposed
to have stood alone. Later in the session,
however, when substantially the same qucs-
ton was the issue, the occasion being the
proposition to appropriate $25, 900 for the pro-
motion of the Nicaraguan canal project. 1t is
said that the vote of about One-t third of the
Senate was in favor of opening the doors
and admitting the public. The Injunction of
secrecy has formally been removed
from the Spanish treaty, of the text having
already been published, and it is not unlikely
that the precedent will be followed in respect
to the remainder of the series. 1t IS under
stood that an effort will be made to have
these treaties discussed with open doors, but
1t is doubtful if majority of the Senators
will assent to so wide departure from time
honOred precedent as such a concession to the
public would involve.
THE "TINIES'" STATEMENT CRITICISED.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, l A. M.-The sched-
ules of the Spanish treaty are not substan-
TALLY like those published in the New York
Times, the statement of the Associated Press
Tonight TO the contrary Notwithstanding.
They differ in many points. For example:
Nothing is said in the Times report about the
fact that manufactured iron and rice are ad-
mitted into Cuba free under the treaty, nor
about the reductions in cotton goods JfnfOr-
tunately the schedules, which are long are
not half printed at the government printing
office at this hour, and can only be properly
compared with the Times report Tomorrow,
Enough Is known to show that the latter's re-
port is unfavOrable to the treaty. Mr.. Van
Wyck will ask tomorrow that the treaty be
discussed with open doors.