The Portland daily press., 1892-03-24
President and Senate Ready to Pro-
tect the Seals.
HARRISON'S REPLY TO SALISBURY
MAKES A SENSATION.

Win Be Resorted to Against the Bland
biIl-Mr. Lodge Speaks.
WASHINGTON, March 2S.-The Presi-
dents message, transmitting Lord Sails
bury's reply to the last note from this
government relative to the modus viven-
di, was laid before the Senate in execu-
tive session at / o'clock. Lord Salisbu-
RVS reply, as already stated, is virtual
reiteration of his declination to renew
the modus vivendi on the same terms as
existed last year. After half an hours
discussion the correspondence was re-
ferred to the committee on foreign rela-
tons, and the doors were reopened. The
correspondence was not made public.
The President, in his letter, announced
that he had made rejoinder to Lord
Salisbury's reply. Lord Salisbury's note
NAV be described as synopsis of the
detailed reply to the State Department
note which is to follow by mail. His re-
fusal to consent to q renewal of the mo-
dus vivendi is accompanied with several
counter propositions, the reading OF
which was received
With Ill Suppressed Irritation
by the Senate. The general character of
the note is described as evasive and
equivocating.
The Presidents rejoinder was also
transmitted to the Senate. 1t is a pun
gent communication, in which the Presi-
dent broadly but in diplomatic language
hints that Lord Salisbury has not met
his overtures in straight, forward, bust
nesslike matter. The President insists
upon a renewal of the modus vivendi
without reference to insignificant or ire
levant conditions, and closes his note
with the stirring assertion that if the
government of Great Britain declines to
assist in the protection of the seals dur
ING the arbitration of the claims of the
United States he will proceed to enforce
the laws and exclude poachers from
Behring Sea, if the military force of the
United States is required to accomplish
it, The note created sensation in the
Senate.
The gravity of the case has led to re-
newal of the strongest efforts OF the Sen
ators to prevent the public from being
made acquainted with the facts until the
correspondence has progressed further.
the President in his letter of tranSmittal;
but this was not needed, in view of the
clearly defined position assumed by him
in his reioinder to Lord Salisbury, which
appeared
To Meet With the Unanimous Approval
of the Senators, although the debate it
self was too short to disclose officially
the standing of the Senators. G f:
Although there has been nothing in
the nature of a direct vote upon the treaty
of arbitration and there is well defined
opposition to it as a surrender by the
United States of her rights required by
treaty from Russia, it can be stated that
the treaty will soon be ratified by the
Senate. But a resolution will accompany
it reciting that there does not appear to
be any sufficient reason for the abate-
ment by the United States of it's claims
to jurisdiction, pending arbitration, and
authorizing the President to use all the
force of the military arm of the govern
ment to secure the protection OF the
rights of the United States.
ITS OPPONENTS WILL FiLIBUSTER.
The Fight Against the Bland Coinage Bill
WASHINGTON, March 23.-The silver
debate in the House of Representatives
today showed an intensity of public in
terest in that great question. The gen.
tlemen who pinned their hopes on
chances of a compromise at the last hour
by the substitution of bill providing
for an international monetary congress
are losing courage today and even the
indomitable Mr.. Tracey of New York,
comedies that the free coinage bill will
have clear majority if a final vote is
ever reached upon its passage.
Mr.. Tracey announced that the first
motion to be made by the opponents of
the bill, at the conclusion of the debate
and before any disposition to fllibuster is
manifested, will be in the form of res
olution recommitting the bill to the coin
age committee, with instructions to re-
port substitute bill providing for an in
ternational monetary congress Tor the
adjustment of the entire silver problem.
It is believed that this motion will re-
ceive the support of many gentlemen
who will otherwise feel compelled to vote
for free coinage and that it is therefore
the strongest motion that can be made by
the opponents of the bill.
If it is defeated, all the resources OF
parliamentary rules will then be invoked
to tire out the friends of the bill and pre-
vent final vote upon its passage.
II desire to give notice." said Chair
man Bland at the opening of the debate,
ssthat at o'clock tomorrow shall de-
mand the previous question on the silver
bill and pending amendments"
This means merely that the general de-
bate will close at o'clock tomorrow and
that final vote will then be taken on the
bill and the amendments unless the OPP
ponents inaugurate series of filibuster-
ing tactics.
The first speaker today was Represen-
tative Pierce, of Tennessee, who made
speech in support of the measure.
Mr.. Stone, of Pennsylvania, denounced
the pending bill as being not a bill for
the free coinage of silver, but bill for
the unlimited issue of paper money.
Mr.. Bland asked consent that the de-
bate on the bill, which would expire
tomorrow night, be extended until Fri
day afternoon at 5. Mr.. Simpson of
Kentucky objected on account of the
failure of the friends of the bill to make
any allotment of time to representatives
of the Peoples party.