Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-14
M0RGA { Daniel AND CAMERON

Washington, Feb. 13.-The meeting OF
the senate committee on foreign rela-
tions this morning made it apparent that
no agreement could be reached on the
general treaty of arbitration with Great
Britain, that would bring the contending
factions either in committee or in the
senate together. While Sherman was
not told so in exact words, the inference
to draw from what Morgan, Daniel and
Cameron said was that under no crcum-
stances could this treaty be ratified at the
present session of the senate. 1t is be-
lieved that with the executive session
of this afternoon Sherman will cease
to press consideration of the convention
and permit other legislative business to
have the right-of-way.
After an hour and half in discussion
the committee this morning framed an
amendment along lines indicated in the
dispatches of the Southern Associated
Press. 1t is based upon an amendment
of which Morgan gave notice and puts
into language the Interpretation placed
upon the convention by Turpie. 1t pro-
vides that all subjects to be submitted
to arbitration under this general treaty
must be submitted after the manner and
in the form provided for submission and
ratification of treaties originally. This
removes the objections aimed at the
treaty by Morgan and others to the
effect that submission of all subjects to
arbitration under the treaty as now word
ed would be left entirely to the presi-
dent. If it is amended as suggested by
the committees action of this morning.
only such matters as have been agreed
TO by the full treaty making power of
the United States, the president and SEN
ate acting Jointly, can be submitted to
an arbitrator. The power to negotiate
and conclude treaties in Great Britain
is lodged entirely in the 10
exercised for the crown by the premier.
There has been no suggestion that the
British treaty making power has been
charged by the terms of this treaty and
Turpie's contention was that in like man.
ner the full treaty-making power of the
United States was to sit in Judgment
upon all subjects that ought to be taken
before this high tribunal of arbitration.
The senate did not agree with Turpie in
his Interpretation, but found it the easi-
est way to a possible solution of the prob
lem confronting it, giving expression to
that Interpretation in the text of the
convention. With such amendment, the
treaty is safe guarded absolutely and
friends of the instrument say there
should not be a dissenting vote in ratify-
ing it for the reason that every ques-
tion could then come up before the ex-
listing senate as an original proposition.
The action of the committee in adopt-
ing the amendment did not bring about
harmony. On the contrary the more the
whole subject was discussed the more
evident it became that the differences
We're irreconciliable. Morgan, Daniel
Mills and Cameron refused to consider
the treaty in a favorable light even after
they voted for the amendment They op-
posed the convention on general grounds
and said it was impossible for them to
believe that the country would be bene-
fitted by its ratification at the present
time at least. They refused to listen to
the pleading of Sherman and his asso-
ciates and declined to even admit that
the amendment had accomplished what
had been sought.
The committee adjourned with a ma
jority feeling anything but comfortable
over the outlook. Mr. Sherman notified
his colleagues that he should move an
executive session early in the day for the
purpose of testing the sense of the sem
ate and intimated as he did on the floor
last evening, that If there was no possi-
blity of speedy vote he would not fur
ther press the consideration of the treaty.
Mr.. Sherman made his demand for an
executive session few minutes after
the senate convened, refusing To yield to
anything but the most routine Of morn
ing business.
Early in the executive session Senator
Chandler offered an amendment to the
convention in the shape of an additional
article which is, in fact a declaration.
1t states, that both the contracting par
ties in making this treaty, do it for the
purpose of enuncia ting their belief in the
principle of international arbitration and
to bring about, If possible, the policy of
a general disarmament among the ma
tions 1t is further declared that each of
the ntracting parties express their will
ingness and intention of making similar
treaties with other ma atoms, including not
only those that are strong and able to de-
fend themselves. and who have large mill
tary establishments, but also with the
smaller families of nations with whom
differences, similar to those covered by
this treaty, might arise.
Mr.. Teller, of Colorado, was one of the
first speakers. He advocated the post
ponement of the consideration Of the
treaty until after the 4th of March whs n
the senate would be in extra session with
ample time to look into the instrument.
The debate of the afternoon revolved
about a question of the Interpretation Of
the words used by the committee in its
new amendment. which provides that all
matters for arbitration shall first be
submitted to the senate for approval"
What was meant by the word approval
was the question generally asked, and to
which no satisfactory answer appears to
have been given. There was also a wide
difference of opinion among senators as to
whether under this amendment such ap-
proval would have to be given by two
thirds vote or by majority only Some
contended that inasmuch as the whole
congress had to appropriate the money
to meet the expenses of the arbitration,
the congress might have a vote in the
settlement of the matters to be submit
ted.
There was no regular debate on this
subject. 1t consisted entirely Of ques-
tions and cross questions. with abso-
lutely no conclusion being reached. Sem
ators Gray, Turpie. Lodge, sherman.
Daniel, Davis, Lindsay. Caffery and Hoar
participated. Mr.. Caffery. who today for
the first time, discussed the treaty, came
out strongly for 1t and advocated its
speedy ratification.
Mr.. Af!i,s finally got the floor and made
the only set speech of the day. Mr.. Mills