New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-20
AND OTHERS.


Washington. Dec. 1s.-The objection OF Popus
list Senator-Mr. Allen. OF Nebraska-carried the
second reading OF the Venezuelan Commission bill
over until tomorrow. Before that objection had
been made, however. opportunity was fur.
nished to a number Of Senator'S to give In few
words their views of the position taken by the
President and the duty devolvng on Congress at
the present time.
The objection OF Mr. Allen to the second reads
ing OF the bill is not in any sense to be regarded
as rejecting the temper Of the Senate. 1t Is ae
best a manifestation Of peevishness In an individ-
ual Of the hystercal desire of small man 10 oc-
cupy for brief moment the centre OF the stage.
The second reading of the bill Is matter OF
form, OF course, and can delay the sending OF the
bill to the proper committee twenty-four hours
at the most
As practical move in The direction Of securing
delay in the present instance 1t will amount to
little or nothing To-. the reason that the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations will meet tomorrow
morning and bill 5ill before it. will discuss
the whole subject in all its phases. When the
bill Is finally and formally before it. 1t will prob
ably be able to report 1t back, with such amend"
ments as it may see fit to make. in short time
OBJECTIONS TO THE BILL EXPRESSED.
While the opposition of Mr.. Allen is altogethef
trivial in its nature and of not the slightest efs
feet or consequence, IT would be Idle to deny
that the Senate is disposed to act with proper
caution I'm the matter. The different objections
raised to the bill in the shape in which 1t passed
the House have already been mentioned In these
dispatches. They found expression on the floor
of the Senate to-day Chief among them are the
desire Of the Senate to insist voice In the
selection Of the Commission by the exercise OF
the confirmatory power. and a feeling that
proviso should be attached to the bill making II
obligatory on the Commission TO report wltnlu
given time-say. five or six months.
The desire Of the Senate to share with the Ex.
eoutive the responsibility for the creation OF 50
important Commission is only natural 1t Is
based on the traditional jealousy OF body
which has ever been careful to resist the en-
croachments of the Executive, while guarding
with equal solicitude its own prerogatives. and
even adding to them whenever an opportunity
presented itself 1t is necessary only to recall
the appointment in Mr.. Clevelands first term OK
the Commission which negotiated the fisheries
treaty, and two years ago the selection OF blount
as MY Commissioner to Hawaii'-both without
the advice and consent of the Senate-to under"
stand and appreciate the opposition in the sen.
ate to-day to confiding the creation or a com"
mission equally as important any Of its prede-
cessors, IL not more so. solely TO the nands OK
Mr.. Cleveland. And yet there are reasons, set
forth with great clear rness by Senator Morgan in
his speech this afternoon. why. under certain
conditions IL would be less embarrassing to
allow the President to assume sole responsibility
for the Commission than to divide that RESPONSE
bility between the Executive and legislative
branches OF the Government.
FIXING A TIME FOR THE REPORT.
The other objection to the bill in its presens
shape which it is desired to overcome by hxihs
a definite time in which the Commission Is 10
report Is based on a fear hat otherwise the
work of the Commission will be indefinitely pro.
lOnged, and the effect OF the present nrm stanu
Of the Administration neutralized Against
this again. it is urged that the report or the
Commission might possibly embarrass the Ex-
ecutive if made at inoppcrtune time rms
argument, however, seems to lack force pe-
cause it would always be in the power OF the
President to refuse TO receive the report-as.
suming Of course. that the bill In the shape u
will pass Congress does not provide Tor re-
port TO that body.
These and other points which have bee
raised within the last two days accentuate the
fac: that the Senate will do we'll TO consider be-
fore acting 1t can do so without In the least
impairlng the moral effect cordial and
prompt support Of the Presidents policy. That
it's present disposition is to do so is manifest
from the feeling that nc adjournment or Con-
gress should be had until this matter Is dis
of