New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-10
PRICE THREE CENTS.
IT'S RATIFICATION IN DOUBT.
THE SENATE MAKING LITTLE PROGRESS
WITH THE ARBITRATION TREATY.


THE AGREEMENT HAVE IT IN THEIR
POWER TO PREVENT ACTION AT
THIS sEssroN-A POINT SCORED
BY SENATOR MORGAN.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNEl
Washington Feb 9.-The two days already
spent in frultess and desultory debate over the
proposed treaty Of arbitration with Great Britain
seem TO leave the ratification Of that convention
by the Senate during the life Of the present Con-
gress a more distant prospect than ever. Proba-
bly, not even the most sangune friends Of the
treaty had counted making any very sub
stantial progress toward ratification In two sit
tngs: yet the stubbornness OF the opposition al
ready encountered added 10 the manifest ina
bility Of the Committee on Foreign Relations to
check the flow Of a discussion which promises to
be endless. has plainly operated serious dis
couragement to the supporters OF the convention
in it's present form.
Senator Morgan, and, perhaps one or two
other ardent advocates Of the Nicaragua Canal
bill seem to be not averse 10 applying TO the ar
bitration treaty the same methods OF debate
which proved fatal 10 their own pet project: and
as the time which can reasonably he given 10 the
discussion Of the convention IS extremely limited
it is easily within the power Of handful Of de-
termined opponents TO compel its abandonment
by the simple process Of talking out a few moro
sessions behind closed doors
The life of the present Congress runs out
three weeks from Thursday and there are
enough appropriation bills now held back to oc
cupy the Senate's entire attention for at least
fourteen Of the remaining nineteen legislative
days. Mr.. Sherman and the other members OF
the Foreign Relations Committee have, there
fore. all the odds against them in their fight
10 force action on the treaty before March T.
| That they can induce the Senate 70 give more
than two or three more days TO an irregular
and scattering debate, not only on the amended
text Of the convention, but also on confused
mass Of additional amendments and excisons,
seems scarcely probable The pressure Of other
business will, indeed, become intense by the
end OF this week that unless far more salts
factory progress can be made than that
achieved to-day and yesterday. it will be neces
sary to remand the treaty by Saturday or Non
day 10 the limbo of the Senate's executive
/ calendar.
one point made by Senator Morgan In his
/ speeches Of to-day and yesterday seems to have
made strong impression on his colleagues u
all shades of opinion. The Alabama Senator.
among his other objections TO the arbitration
4 convention. raised the issue that the ratiica-
ton of such a standing compact would, for the
period Of its operation. suspend the exercise
/ of the Senate's constitutional functions as
part OF he treaty-making power The EXecu-
tive. under the compact. would have sole turis-
dictiOn over all questions TO be submitted &c
/ arbitration under the convention. and could
resort to arbitration at any time without the
! advice consent Of the Senate. Mr.. Morgan
| argued that 1t was unWise and impolitio for the
| Senate 10 waive its vested right to pass upon
the agreements made between this Govern
ment and other nations. and maintained that
specific and individual treaties of arbitration
with any country were preferable 10 general
arbitration system. BY the former. certainly,
/ the Senate would more surely retain its i'm
pOrtance and dignity az a coordinate part Of the
/ treaty-making power.
Mr.. German agreed in this view with Mr..
Morgan. and other Senators showed an equal
! repugnance to yielding any portion 81 the bodys
! present power a check the initiative OF
! the Executive Department.