The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-02-15
TELLER IS CAUTIOUS
Els Reasons for Delaying Ratification
Of the AnglC-Amsrican Treaty.
NO WAR IN SIGHT JUST NOW
II Is a Document That Requires
Years TO Form, and should
Be studied With the
Greatest Care.

Washington, Feb. lf.-Senator Teller
was asked to-day To furnish the asso-
ciated press with a statement of the
reasons for seeking postpOnement OF
the Anglo American arbitration treaty
and In response prepared the following
signed article;
There has been a good deal Of criti-
cism of the senate because IL does not
at once ratify the treaty of arbitration
between the United States and Great
Britain by those who apparently for
got that the executive department has
been about four years negotiating II.
by the constitution of the United
States the senate is made a part OF the
treaty-making power. The fathers OF
the republic, Jealous OF executive pow
en- were not willing that the president
should negotiate treaties alone; so they
provided that the president shall have
power by the advice and consent OF
the senate To make treaties, provided
tNo-thirds OF the senators present con-
cur. The treaty IL then the act of the
president and the senate. It Is APP
parent that 1t was not intended that
the action Of the senate should be "a
mere perfunctory duty and that the re-
Iuirement of two-thirds majority was
inserted because the trainers OF the
constitution were impressed with the
Importance of treaty making. The sem
ate being part OF the power which
creates treaties, II cannot rid itself OF
the responsibility OF seeing that they
are properly made. IL Is as incumbent
on us to give treaties due consideration
as upon the executive 10 do so.
we heard no complaint Of the delay
/ on me part of the executive depart
mcnt. but no sooner did the treaty
reach the senate than there was a de-
mand for immediate action by tho
senate. The senate being charged with
this duty of advising In the construc-
/ ton OF a treaty cannot transfer that
duty To the president or anyone else.
/ The friends OF the treaty In the senate
| all amdit that II must be amended, and
the committee ON foreign relations has
recommended certain amendments
whicn will, without doubt, be adopted.
Hut what Will he the condition of the
treaty IL the friends of IL do not agree
as To the purport of the proposed
amendments? Some of them asserted
that every controverted question for
consideration by arbitrators must be
acted upon by the senate and house OF
/ representatives before the question can
go before the arbitration tribunal II
this view Is correct we viii he required
To make new treaty or agreement on
each question as IL arises and have the
assent, not Of the senate alone. but OF
the house also. and instead of having
removed causes of disagreement aud
friction between the two governments,
| II viii be found We have multiplied the
causes Of dispute and delayed the de-
termination of the controverted ques-
| ton.
IF the treaty does not require action
on the part Of congress. as some con-
tend II does not. then we are leaving
the question whether the subject OF
controversy shall he arbitrated or not
To the president alone. Ii IL true We
put limitations of an indefinite charac-
/ ter on the executive in providing that
ne must arbitrate a question affecting
our foreign or domestic policy. but it
the president thinks such submission
does not affect that policy he cannot be
held responsible for his act IL he makes
IA mistake. Why should We not maks
this treaty detlnite-exact? Why should
we leave 50 important question as to
who has the power Of submission on
our part In doubt? II we attempt To
submit given question To arbitration
through a general action OF congress.
and Great Britain thinks IL ought To
- '.',',,'s 80, -. si,t ai' ~
only among our own people, but be-
tween this country and Great Britain
az ~, -,,.
'nc mcslucnt hSsuheS tha' nv,
a,oHc mus, ue,e'nllnc "nat supJect ol
ulSpu'e hIust pe supnuitteu anu CON
sress assumes JURISDICTION oi tne mar .
t'i, llsh VIZ haNe hoihe uiincultS and
l"'t'sh que a, ,ne same 'lnne, ine
u'a'y - hot capapie ot sei-eAecutioil.
anu there must nc leslsIatloh 10 carry
'nlp execution, 'ohstess must nS
thr term OF TWO Arpllrators 10 pe app
lheF compensation. rms cannot pe
u"hr az th,s sessloh VI cons.ess' ihe