The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-02-18
MANY RIGHTS INVOLVED
WHY THE SENATE PosTPONEs THE
ANGLO-AMERICANT TREATY.
An Important Subject of Arbitration
Cannot BE Rushed In Any Way,
Says He.

Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Teller
was asked today to furnish the Associat-
ed Press with statement OF the reasons
for seeking a postponement of the Anglo
American arbitration treaty, and in re-
tice:
There has been q. good deal of criti-
cism Of the senate because 1t does not at
once ratify the treaty OF arbitration be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain by those who apparently forget that
the executive department has been about
four years negotiating 1t. BY the consti-
tuition of the United States, the senate
is made part of the treaty-making pow
er. The fathers OF the republic, Jealous
of executive power, were not willing that
the president should negotiate treaties
alone. 80 that they provided that the
president shall have power by the advice
and consent OF the senate to mako
treaties. provided two-thirds of the sena-
| tors present concur.
THE treaty is then the act OF the pres
ident and the senate. 1t is apparent that
| 1t was not intended that the action OF
| the senate should be q mere nerfunctory
duty. and that the requirement of a two
| thirds majority was inserted because the
| trainers of the constitution we're Impress
| ed with the Importance Of treaty-maktng.
"The senate. being a part of the power
which creates treaties. can not rid itself
| OF the Responsibilities OF seeing that they
are properly made. 1t is as incumbent on
us to give treaties due consideration as
upon the executive to do We heard
no complaint of the delay on the part OF
the executive department, but no sooner
did the treaty reach the senate than there
was demand for immediate action by
the senate. The senate. being charged
with this duty of advising in the con-
struction of a treaty, can not transfer
that duty to the president or any one
else.
Amendments Necessary.
THE friends of the treaty In the sem
ate all admit that 1t must be amended.
and the committee on foreign relations
has recommended certain amendments
which win without doubt be adopted. But
what will be the condition of the treaty
II the friends OF 1t do not agree as to the
purport OF the proposed amendments?
Some of them asserted that every con-
troverted question for consideration must
} be acted on by the senate and the house
OF representatives before the question
| can 20 before the arbitration tribuHal--If
this view is correct we Will be required
to make a new treaty or agreement on
each question as 1t arises and have the
assent, not of the senate alone. but OF
the house also. and instead Of having re-
moved causes OF disagreement and fric-
ton between the two governments, 1t Will
be found we have multiplied the causes
of dispute and delayed the determination
q of controverted questions.
IF the treaty does not require action
o on the part OF congress- as some con-
q tend It does not. then we are leaving
the question whether the subject Of con
q troversy shall be arbitrated or not tt
g the president alone. 1t Is true we pu
r. limitations of an indefinite character or
e the executive In providing that he mus
J., arbltrate a question affecting our for
Is elgn or domestic policy but II the presl
dent thinks such submission does not af
feet that policy, he can not be held 20
4 sponsible for his act II he makes mis-
take.
: Treaty Must he Definite.
why should we not mese this treat.
s definite, exact? Why should we lelve s.
'e important a question as to who has tn
|
J. doubt? II we attempt to submit give
N question to arbitration through a gen
s. eral action of congress- and Great Brit
le ain thinks 1t ought to have been sui
N mltted through and by the president. W
d | create friction not only among our ow
II people, but between this country an
n Great Britain as well. II the presider
o. assumes that he alone must determin
o. what subject OF dispute must be submi
ted and congress assumes Jurisdiction {
the matter, then we have a home difiicu
ty and foreign one at the same tim
g The treaty Is not capable of self-exec'
=, tion, and there must be legislation to ca
Id ry 1t into execution. Congress must 4
u the term of two arbitrators to be ~
on pointed on our part and also determil
r. their compensation. This can not
ct done at this session of congress.
"The treaty ought to go over and
at carefully examined by the committee, tn
a has already prepared sundry amen
Ial ments, and the senate, when other ma
,rt ters not pressing on that body.
ed More Time Necessnry.
Of "It Is almost impossible at this la
in period OF the session to give matt
-I, of this kind that serious attention whi
,aa 1t requires. There can be no doubt t
~ body Of the people of the United Stat
- | FAVOR arDltrauon, Dut tnat TACT does Il
remove the necessity of care in prepaI
10 ton of the treaty to carry out that Id
me personally, l am in favor of arbitl
teo tion of all questions that can be arbilri
ed, but this is no reason why 1 shol
zen join In ratifying a treaty that lacks
the greatest essential of a treaty, certail
gho as to what it means.
There is no threatened danger OF '
confronting us. We have no occasion
IA. | haste, and nothing can be gained
premature action. When the treaty
of put In proper form. as hope 1t will
It will be ratified.
La "I regret that the agreement has
pro- been considered in open session so
the people could see the defects in It.
ding "U M TETJuR