The San Francisco call., 1897-02-16
SPAR
FOR PRECEDENCE
Sherman Scores a Point,
but Morgan Wins on
a Rollcall.
Arbitration Treaty Sidetracked
and Clayton. Bulwer Resolu-
tion Taken Up.
The Alabama Senator Argues in
Favor of Abrogation-Says the
Proper Time Has Arrived.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 15.-In the
Senate to-day the House bill to prevent
forest fires on the public domain was
passed. and resolution requesting the
President to transmit copies of correspond
ence with the German empire, IN reference
to American insurance companies, was
introduced.
The joint resolution declaring the Clay
ton BuIwer treaty abroeated was laid be-
fore the Senate and Morgan spoke upon
it. Before ne had finished his first sem
tencc, he was interrupted by point of
order raised by Sherman (R.) OF Ohio that
joint resolutions cannot be taken up in
the morning hour except on regular mo-
ton, and the chair decided that the poirt
was well taken.
Several efforts were made to secure
unanimous consent for Morgan to pro-
ceed, bat Sherman objected every time.
Then Morgan moved to take up his reso-
luton, and. to the surprise of every one,
it prevailed, by the close vote of 80 to 81.
Morgan was proceeding to discuss the
resolution when Mr.. Hoar suggested that
the subject was executive session business,
and the vice. president directed the SER
geant-atarms to clear the galleries and
close the doors. Morgan had succeeded
in sidetracking the general arbitration
treaty. and his action in calling up the
Clay yton-Bulwer resolution in open ses-
sion created quite sensation in the SEN
ate. The discussion was continued in Sc
cret session.
doors Morgan took the floor and began a
IN for 1f 80 1y,t;
went over the past history of Great
Britain in connection with that treaty
and showed that on several occa sions that
Government had violated the provisions
of the treaty. He contenced, despite the
opposition Of several Secretaries of:State
that the treaty was null and void by the
very acts of one of the contracting pow
ers, ana that the proper time had now ar
rived for the United States to officially
take notice OF what had been done and
abrogate the treaty.
At o'clock, while Morgan was still
speaking on his resolution, the matter was
laid aside and the Senate went into regu-
lar executive session business for the con-
sideraJion of the nominations on the cal
endar.
The doors were opene ed at :55 and legis-
lative business was resumed, the bank
ruptcy bill coming up as unfinished bust
ness.
The Senate substitute for the bill was
read in full, and substitute for the six
teen sections was introduced by Nelson
(R.) of Minnesota. 1t was not read. The
bill was then laid aside.
A conference report on the Senate bill to
provide time and place for holding terms
OF the United States courts in Utah was
presented and agreed to, the House amend
ments being concurred in. A conference
report on the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill was presented
and agreed to. A conference was ordered
on the agricultural bill.
The private pension bills on the calen-
dar, mum bering twenty-four, were taken
up and passed.
Quay (R.) of Pennsylvania gave notice
that on Thursday next he would move to
take up the House bill authorizing the
appointment of a non partisan commits
sion TO collate and recommend legislation
on the problem presented by labor, agri-
culture and capital.
Senate bill for the revision and codifica-
ton of the criminal and penal laws of the
United States was passed.
At Sis P. NJ. the Senate adjourned until
tomorrow.