New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
TREATIES AND THE HOUSE.
LIMITS OF THE TREATYMAKING POWER.
A FORMAL EXPRESSION OF OPINION DESIRED FROM
THE REPRESENTATIVES.
TpiYcR APH TO TRIBUNy.I

A FORMAL EXPRESSION OF OPlNloN DEoi"@D '-
THE REPRESENTATIVES.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRrBUSsI
WAsHINGTOy. Jan. 24.-There is considerable
fee,ing among Coneressmen In favor OF obtaining for
nal OF the House In regard to the policy oi
commercial treaties and the power Of the President WIN
the aid of twothrds OF the Senate TO bind the oh'cu
States by treaties affecting the revenue laws ihis '
be done by the adoption Of resolution ike tha ohere
by Mr. Hurd yesterday but limited in its scope to what
are technically known revenue bills ana an h'esg"
tion and report by the Judiciary Committee as 10
whether in its opnion treaties affecting the revenue
are an invasion OF the constitutional prerogaVe Oh he
House of Representatives IN respect TO such DIS in
proposton to offer such resolution ana press IL 10
vote has been favorably discussed among Representa-
tives who are opposed to the pending commerciai
treaties and their views shared TO some extent by
man who do not on the whole regard these treaties as OBJ
,ec,ionabe except as their provisions may trench upon
the rights of the peoples branch OF the Natonai Lcgsa
tire The position akenby Mr. Hurd' III support Vi "hoh
be has prepared elaborate argument that
treaty negotiated by the President and ratified by the
senate il law of the land under the Constitution ana
that no action by the House is required to give IL erect
% M, shared by many Congressman The stipuations
in tbe proposed treaty with Spain and In the Mexican
treaty. which require anccedent legislation by congress
I'm order to make treaty provisions operative III the
opnion of good many influential Representatives, do
not avoid or remove the constitutional objections, al
uph
ogniton ana by the President and Senate OF
the constitutional right OF the House OF Representatives
I'm the first place. 1t is urged that the making OF com
,narc,a treaty. l. the originating OF revenue meas
ure no how stringent may be the conditions re-
action to give the treaty erect III
which action the House must share In tho second pace
the Iouso is deprived of its right to change amend
tho provisions affecting the revenues II must acocP
them as they presented, or reject OIL when otner
wise "a part might he accepted ana par rrJectu
IL Is further c0ntended that the representatives
Of forcgn nowers unfamiliar with the important powers
and functions the House, may regard the condition
renurnp ia assent merely Incidental ana Formal ana
hich will be complied Win ny tnat Douy its hit
Tor of course The failure refusal OF the House TO
raty the conditions 1t Is urged VIII result III piagns
the treaty making power OF inc uhltcu atcs I.lo u
merited contempt and placing ~ ~ disauVan'age III
any future negotiations which IL may desire TO under
taEe with such powers. still another objection Is
stated with force, ana III seems 10 DC
worthy of consideration. II Is, that II the proposed
iho iIned States Government. In case OF war or any
other emergency requiring sudden ana large adllon
TO the of the Treasury might hhd seIi pounu
by treaty provisions which would 80 dlnlhIsh thc
sources OF TO serious embarrassment
II ia the opnion OF well informed members OF tho
House Committee Foreign Affairs that neither the
Treaty nor OF tho other proposed concrcih
treaties will he aed by the Senate at this session Even
hnd the spanlsh treaty be ratified there would be no
rosnect m legislation by this Congress to carry II into
effect The feeling toward the Mexican Treaty blll IN
the House is rat favorable, but the probability OF any
this session IL lcSsenng daily. Abfan
Hewitt will make n strong effort Ia bring the BIZ be-
for. the House consideration on Monday II ne sue
cceds II will he a surprise TO majority of inc ways ana
Means COmInlttec A.,
made public through TIE TRIBUNE, good many Con
ressmen without much reflection. declared in favor OF
H. since them however. they have studied Inc subject
with greater and the result Is growing feelng OF
doubt or complete change of opinion In REGARD he
dosirability OF the proposed undertaking.