The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-27
OF COMMITTEES IN EXECUTIVE
SESSION.
POSITION OF THE PARTIES.
THE REPUBLICANS CONTENDED FOR
A MAJORITY OF THE REPRE-
SENTATIVES.
TALK ON ARBITRATION TREATY.
Tendency Now Seems TO BE to r.
strict the Argument to Pecuniary
Claims Alone.

WASHINGTON, March 26.-The SEN
ate spent considerable time in execu-
tive session today in the consideration
of the status of the committees in
which vacancies exist. The discussion
arose over a point Of order made by
Senator Allen against a report, which
the postoffice committee attempted to
make, favorable to the confirmation of
Hon. Joseph L. Bristow as fourth as
sistant postmaster general Attention
was called in this matter to the fact
that the postoffice committee was en-
tirely+ without Democratic representa-
ton. This point brought out state
ment of the position of the various par
ties in the senate. The Republicans
contended for majority representation,
If they were to continue to be held re-
sponsible for the conduct of the COM
mittees, while the Democrats held out
for the privilege of filling the vacancies
caused by the retirement of Democratic
senators.
Senator Cannon stated the position
of the silver Republicans to be favor
able to a coalition of all the silver sup
! porters in the senate for the organiza-
ton of the body on a silver basis, but,
he said, they did not desire to make
this attempt until after the passage
of the tariff bill because of differences
on that question.
The subject was dropped without ac-
ton to take up the arbitration treaty,
but the steering committee took it up
again after adjournment with the hope
of reaching an adjustment. All parties
realize that the present crippled condi-
ton OF the committee is liable to work
much inconvenience If allowed to con-
tinue.
The debate on the arbitration treaty
was continued in executive session to-
day. Senator Gray, member of the
committee on foreign relations, held
the floor during the two hours that the
question was under consideration, but
he yielded to numerous Interruptions
some of which amounted to independ-
ent speeches. Mr. Gray defended the
treaty as one which would reflect credit
upon its authors and upon the two ma
tons which it was intended to bind to-
/ gether even more closely than thew are
at present bound
Senator Thurston took occasion dur
ing the afternoon to explain his posi-
ton, which was that there should be a
declaration so explicit, on the charac-
ter of disputes to be settled under the
treaty, as to leave no room for misun
Outstanding on this point in the fu-
ture He said it should be made en-
tlrely clear that all questions Of Amer
I lean policy, whether foreign or domes-
] tic, were to be reserved from the or
erations of the treaty and he would
vote for the amendment that would
bring out this fact in the clearest Ian
/ guage.
The afternoon developed quite a pro-
nounced tendency in the direction of
an amendment similar to the first
amendment originally reported by the
foreign relations committee, excepting
all questions Of policy, and 1t was sug-
sested by some that there should be
a return to the original position Of
Lord Salisbury, favorable to the arbi
tration Of only pecuniary claims. leav-
ing out all questions Of policy and Of
| territorial rights