The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-10
TREATY AMENDMENTS,
Senator'S Prepare Many Changes
In Arbitration Pact.
Morgan Wants Clay-Bulwer
Treaty Abrogated.


washington, reD. lU.-DurITS tne oe'
bate on the arbitration treaty. wirict
occupied the whole day in the senate
yesterday. Senator Morgan offered an
amendment providing for the abrogatioL
OF the Clay-Bulwer treaty. He spoke
to this amendment during the entire
executive session.
Senator Morgan declared that the
conditions which called forth the Clay
ton Bulwer treaty had long passed
away. 1t was no longer binding or
either nation, nor was II of any use OF
value to this nation, though it might be
Of great Importance to Great Britain IL
case the Nicaragua canal was con-
structed. With the treaty now under
consideration, he said that no doubt the
question of the abrogation OF the Clay.
ton-Bulwer treaty, in effect, would have
to be submitted to arbitration. While
the old treaty was obsolete and disre.
gacded, yet II was still used as menace
and bugaboo to the United States when
ever the construction of the Nicaragua
canal was advocated.
Great Britain, declared Senator Nor.
gan, had violated the treaty and abro.
gated 1t by occupying q portion of ths
territory of Honduras. Great Britain
would use the treaty Of arbitration tO
her advantage. and the Clayton-BulweI
treaty would be used In the ;A.me way
unless 1t was declared to be VOID. There
was no better occasion for abrogatins
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty than by sc
providing in this arbitration treaty, saic
Mr. Morgan.
Another important amendment was
offered by Senator Bacon Of Georgia
1t provides for modification of Article
8, 80 as to relieve the southern states
from any obligations that might arise
under the bonds issued in the recon.
struction days. the amendment was
the result OF conference among the
southern senator's, who concluded tha,
the article. as 1t now stands, might rem.
der Ii possible to make these bonds
when held by subjects OF Great Britain
the object of arbitration. Mr.. Bacon
sought an opportunity to address the
senate on the amendment, but was pre-
vented by the fact that Senator Nor.
gan held the floor all day.
When Senator Morgan renewed his re.
marks, he stated that the treaty before
the senate should be amended SO as to
except, in definite terms, the Nicaragua
canal and everything relating to thai
enterprise. He dwelt at length upon thi.
phase OF the treaty, and read from o
number of reports bearing on the sub.
tcct, showing the interest of the United
States in that part of the continent
which, the senator declared, was more
vital than any treaty which could be
made with Great Britain.
Senator Morgan, at $50 p. m, con.
cluded his speech, but said he would dis.
cuss other phrases of the treaty before
q vote was reached.
A number Of amendments have beer
prepared, which will be offered in ths
course of the debate.
Among them is one declaring that al
subjects of arbitration must first be
submitted to the president and senate
before being sent to the tribunal pro.
vided 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 ir
the Straits of Fuca, which separate Van.
couver island from Washington state.
The friends of the treaty did not ell.
ter the debate yesterday. During the
day, Senator Teller stated that he want
ed IL understood that the silver men
were not opposing the treaty as silver
men, and that the opposition was being
made to it because it affected the silver
interests. There were other and suffi.
cient grounds on which to base their OBJ.
jections. The suggestion read by Sen.
ator Daniel in the committee on foreign
relations as to whether the difference be.
tween the price Of silver and gold Qp
case this country goes to silver basis)
should be made the subject of arbitra.
tion, did not receive much consideration
nor did II attract any particular no.
tice.
The proceedings connected with the
consideration Of the treaty on it's merit
were not exciting, and 1t was impossible
to hold the senators in their seats while
they proceeded.
The early part of the session, however
/ was by no means SO devoid of interest
The first two hours were given to q
discussion of the full reports of Mon.
days secret session that were printed
in the papers yesterday morning. Sen.
ator Vest sprung this subject as soon as
the combinations were disposed Of
The time was devoted to q senatorial
discussion Of the methods of the modern
news seekers, which was more in the ma.
ture of faultfinding than of criticism of
their accuracy. The reports were gen.
orally complimented for their accuracy,
and the majority Of the remarks were
devoted to an effort to explain their ap.
pearance. Senator Vest asserted that
no one but trained newspaper men could
give the proceedings In such detail as
sent out and contended that an expert
must be employed somewhere in the
chamber. He complained quite bitter
" Of the appearance Of such reports as
derogatory to the dignity Of the SEN
ate. He was followed by Senators Hale
and Hoar, in the same strain. Senator
GaIlinger said that II full reports were
to be given out, IL would be better to
open the doors and invite the world to
be present Senator Teller suggested
the wisdom, in the absence OF open ses-
sions, Of allowing q few selected re-
porters to be present, saying that his
experience with the profession was such
as to convince him that they could be
depended upon to deal fairly and hon.
orably with the senate.
Seoator Hill did not fail to take ad :.