The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-02-12
OBSOLETE OLD TREATY.
Morgan Wants Clayton-Bul-
wer Agreement Abrogated.
AMENDMENTS TO ARBITRATION.
Number Proposed by the Senators.
Bacon Afraid Southern Bonds Might
Figure-They Wonder How Newspapers
Secure Secret Information.

WASHINGTON, Feb. IO.-The most i'm
portant developments concerning the
consideration of the arbitration treaty
bv the senate in executive sessions were
the Offering of the amendment by SEN
ator Morgan of Alabama, providing for
the abrogation of the Clayton-Bulw
treaty and the speech by the same sena-
tor in favor this proposition Senator
Morgan declared that the conditions
which called forth the Clayton Bulwer
treaty had long passed away 1t was
no longer binding on either nation, nor
was il of any use or value TO TINS ma
tiOn. though ii might he of great I'M
pOrtance to Great Britain in case the
Nicaragua canal was constructed. With
the treaty now under consideration, he
said that no doubt the question OF the
abrogation of the Clayton Bulwer treaty
in effect would have to be submitted TO
arbitration.
While the old treaty was obsolete and
disregarded yet it was still used as a
menace and bugabOo to the United
States whenever the construction OF
the Nicaragua canal was advocated
Great Britain, declared Senator Nor
gan, had violated the treaty and abro-
gated IT by occupying portion OF the
territory of Honduras. Great Britain
would use the treaty of arbitration TO
her advantage and the Clayton Bulwer
treaty would be used i'll the same way
unless it was declared TO be void.
There was no better occasion for abro-
eating the Clayton -Bulwer treaty than
by so providing in the arbitration treaty,
said Mr.. Morgan.
Another important amendment was
offered by Senator Bacon of Georgia.
1t provides for modification of article
s. so as to relieve the southern states
from any obligation that might arise
under the bonds issued in the recon
structiOn days. The amendment was
the result of a conference among the
southern senators, who Concluded that
the article as 1t now stands might rem
der il possible to make these bonds,
when held by subjects of Great Britain,
the object of arbitration.
When Senator Morgan renewed his
remarks he stated that the treaty before
the senate should be amended so as to
except in definite terms the Nicaragua
canal and everything relating to that
ENTERPRISE. He dwelt at length upon
this phase of the treaty, and read from
a number of reports bearing on the sub
iect, showing the interest of the United
States in that part of the continent,
which the senator declared was more
vital than any treaty that could be
made with Great Britain.
a number of amendments have been
prepared which will be offered in the
course of the debate. Among them Is
one directing that all subjects of arbi-
tratiOn must first be submitted TO the
president and the senate before being
| sent to the tribunal provided for in the
I treaty Another excerpts from matters
subject to the treaty, the Alaskan
boundary dispute, also any controversy
as to the boundary line in the Straits OF
| Fuca, which separate Vancouver island
| from Washington state.
Senator Teller stated that he wanted
it understood that the silver men were
not opposing the treaty as silver men
and that no opposition was being made
TO it because 1t effected the silver inter
ests There were other and sufficient
grounds upon which to base their OBJ
| jections.
The suggestion raised by Senator Dan
iel i'll the committee on foreign rela
| tiOns, as to whether the difference be
tween the price of silver and gold coli
lin case this country goes to a silver ba
sis) should be made the subject of arbi
tratiOn did not receive much cOnsidera
ton, nor did it attract any particula
notice.
The first two hours We're given to
discussion of the full reports Of the Sc
cret session that were printed in tn
papers, there being much wonder as t,
how the newspapers got hold of it.