Evening star., 1897-02-10
THE ARBITRATION TREATY
Nj. Morgan Wants to Abrogate the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty.
Criticism Of the Full Reports of the
Executive Session Pub
fshed.

The most important Developments con-
cerning the consideration of the arbitration
treaty by the Senate in executive session
yesterday were the offering Of an amend
ment by Senator Morgan of Alabama pro-
Viding for. the. abrogation of the Clayton
bulwer treaty and the speech by the same
senator in favor of this proposition.
Senator Morgan declared that the conGi-
ticns which called forth the Clayton Bull
Wer treaty had long passed away. 1t was
no longer binding on either nation. nor was
1t of any use or value to this nation.
though it might be of great importance to
Great Britain in case the Nicaragua canal
was constructed. With the treaty now un-
der consideration. he said that no loubt
the question of the abrogatio of the Clay
ton-Bufwer treaty in effect would have to
be submitted to arbitration. While the old
treaty was obsolete and disregarded yet ii
was still used as a menace and bugaboo to
the United States whenever the construc-
ton OF the Nicaragua canal was advocated.
Great Britain, declared Senator Morgan.
had violated the treaty and abroglted il
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
In the same way unless it was declared 10
be void There was no better occasion fer
aGrogating the Clayton-Bulwer treaty than
by providing in this arbitration treaty
said Mr.. Morgan.
Mr. BncOn'a Amendment.
Another important amendment was Of
fered by Senator Bacon of Georgia. 1t pro-
vides for a modification of article 8, SO as
to relieve the southern states from any
obligations that might arise under the
bonds issued in the reconstruction days.
The amendment was the result of a con-
ference among the southern senators, who
concluded that the article might render il
possible to make these bonds hen held by
subjects of Great Britain the object of ar
titration. Mr.. Bacon sought an opportuni-
ty during the day to address the Senate on
the amendment, but was prevented by the
fact that Senator Morgan held the floor all
day.
When Senator Morgan renewed his re-
marks he stated that the treaty before the
Senate should be amended as to excep;
IN Definite terms the Nicaragua canal and
everything relating to that enterprise He
lwelt at length upon this phase of the
treaty, and read from a number of reports
bearing on the subject. showing the inter-
est of the United States in that part of the
contirent, which the Senator declared was
more vital than any treaty that could be
made with Great Britain.
Senator Morgan at $50 concluded his
speech, but said he would discuss other
phases of the treaty before vote was
reached.
A number of amendments have been pre-
pared. which Will be offered in the course
OF the debate. Among them is one direct
ing that all subjects of arbitration must
first be submitted to the President and the
Senate before being sent TO the tribunal
provided for in the treaty. Another ex-
cepts 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.
The friends Of the treaty did not enter
the debate yesterday. During the day
Senator Teller stated hat 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 affected the silver interests. There
were other and sufficient grounds upon
which to base their objections
The suggestion raised by Senator Daniel
in the committee on foreign relations as to
whether the difference between the price
of silver and gold I'm case this country
goes to silver basis) should be made the
subject of arbitration did not receive much
consideration, nor did il attract any par
ticular notice.
The proceedings connected with the con-
sideration of the treaty on it's merits were
day before, and it was impossible to hold
the senators In their seats while it pro-
ceeded
Somebody Must Have Leaked.
The early part of the session, however
was by no means so devoid of interest;
The first two hours were given TO a dis
cussion of the full reports of the secret
session of the previous day that were
printed in the papers. Senator Vest sprany
THIS sub1ect.ds soon as the combinations
were disposed OF. The time was devoted
TO senatorial discussion Of the methods
OF the modern news seeker. which was
mere In the nature of fault-finding than
OF criticism of their accuracy The ronorts
cd fnr ha;,
curacy. and the majority of the remarks
were devoted to an effort to explain their
appearance.
Senator Vest asserted that no one but a
trained newspaper man could give the pro-
ceed1nSs In such detail as sent out by the
Associated Press and contended that an
expert must be employed some where in the
chamber. He complained quite bitterly of
the appearance of such reports as deroea
tory to the dignity of the Senate He was
followed by Senators Hale and Hoar in the
same strain. Senator Gallinger said that
II such fuil reports were to be given out
1t would be better to open the doors and in
vite the world to be present Senator Teller
suggested the wisdom in the absence of
open sessions. of allowing few selected
reporters to be present, saying that his ex-
perience with the profession was such as
to convince him that they could be depend
ed upon to deal fairly and honorably with
the Senate. Senator Hill did not fail to-
take advantage of the opportunity to point
the moral as being that his motion for
open doors should have been adopted. He
said that 1T was claimed that the treaty
was an unprecedented accomplishment in
diplomacy. Even If this was true he said.
1t was also true that the Senate had taken
an almost unprecedented step in making
the treaty itself public. Why not extend
the policy to the extent of having open dis
cussion Of 1t? He however refrained from
renewing his motion to this effect.
When every one had talked on this point
who manifested a disposition to do so Sena-
tor Morgan was permitted to proceed with
his speech on the treaty as such.
1t is probable that the treaty will not be
taken up again before Friday, and pos