Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-02
INJUNCTION OF SECRECY
As TO the Arbitration Treaty Still
Holds.
REPORTED TO THE SENATE
In Executive Session, but No Date for Consid-
GRAFTON Named.
THE NlcARAGuaN CANAL BILL
Gets Black Eye from Senator Vilas-Rail-
road Ticket Scalpers Win Victory
Large Number of Bills Passed
in the House.
REPORTED TO THE SENATE
He NlcARAGUAN CANAL BILL

Washington, Feb. 1.-Immediately af-
ter the senate convened at noon, Mr..
Sherman moved an executive session,
stating that 1t would require but a short
time When the doors were closed he
reported the general treaty of arbitration
as amended Saturday by the committee.
The first of these amendments adds at
the end of the first article the clause:
But no question which affects the for
eign or domestic policy of either of the
high contracting parties, or the relations
of either with any other state or power,
by treaty or otherwise. shall be subject
to arbitration under this treaty except
by special agreement"
The second strikes. out all reference,
wherever it occurs, to the King of Swe-
den and Norway as the umpire, where
the tribunal fails to agree upon such
umpire.
After the report was made, Mr.. Sher-
man asked that inasmuch as the text of
the convention had been made public,
the injunction of secrecy be removed
from the text of the amendments, but
Senator Morgan objected and the request
was denied. No attempt was made to
arrange time for the consideration of
the treaty, nor was anything said about
debating it in open session.
The doors were re-opened at 12:45 and
legislative business was proceeded with.
Various petitions in favor of the rati-
fication of the arbitration treaty were
presented; among them one from New
York Board of Trade, presented by Mr..
Hill, and one from the Connecticut leg
islature, presented by Mr.. Platt, (rep. of
Connecticut)
Senator Chandler offered a resolution
directing the committee on privileges
and elections to inquire into the recent
presidential and state election in Della
ware, and whether that state is in the
enjoyment of a republican form of gov
ernment. Referred to the committee on
privileges and elections.
A message from the president, with a
report from the secretary of state giving
the information called for by a senate
resolution as to the arrest and condemna-
tion in Cuba of Julie Sanguilly, an Ameri-
can citizen, was laid before the senate
and referred to the committee on for
eign relations. ,ti sr~-s
The two resolutions which were offered
last week by Mr.. Allen, pop. of Me-
braska), looking to the suspension of the
proceedings for the judicial sale of the
Union Pacific railway property, and
which are lying on the vice presidents
table, liable to be taken up for action
in the morning hour, were not taken
up, although Mr.. Thurston, (rep. of Ne
braska), who had Indicated an intention
to speak upon them, was in the senate
chamber.
The Nicaragua canal bill was taken up
and an unsuccessful attempt made to have
a day and hour fixed for a final vote.
The discussion then proceeded on Mr..
Villas motion, submitted last Thursday,
to have the bill recornmitted. Mr.. Villas
spoke of the interoceanic canal project as
a historic dream, and quoted Senator
Sherman's statement the other day that
the canal could not be constructed by
any Incorporated company, and must be
built If at all, by the government; and
also that the bill could not possibly pass
the house in the present congress. Mr..
Villas had not finished his speech, when,
at s p. M, the senate proceeded to ex-
ecutive business, adjourning soon after
wards.