The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-18
THE TREATY MAY GO OVER
MANY SENATOR'S DISPOSED TO
LET IT LAPSE TO THE SPECIAL
SESSION.
FURTHER AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED.
One to Preserve Intact the Senate's
Treaty Making Power-Senator Dan
el Spoke in Opposition-Senator
Hoar Spoke in Favor.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE feature of
today's discussion of the Anglo American
arbitration treaty by the senate was an
effort to reach a basis whereby the treaty
could be disposed of and other business
taken up. The session closed with an an
nouncement by Senator Sherman, chair
man of the foreign relations committee,
that he would issue call for meeting
of his committee, to be held previous to
tomorrow's session of the senate, in the
hope of being able to present an amend
ment that would be so acceptable to the
senate as to make it possible to secure
the ratification of the treaty before adj
iournmen tomorrow. He also announced
that he would not ask the senate to de-
vote more than one more day to the ques-
tion.
This announcement had been preceded
by debate, in which Il large number of
l to ) o'clock. There were several
speeches on the merits of the treaty as
such, but these were interspersed
throughout the entire proceedings by sug-
gestions as to the importance of speedy
decision on the treaty, either temporarily
or permanently, by agreeing to a post
ponement until the extra session or by
Il direct vote on the document, which
would result either in its ratification or
rejection.
The suggestion which appeared to meet
with most favor was the one looking to
postponement of further discussion until
after March 1, and the prediction was
freely made, after adjournment tonight,
that this would be the outcome of it.
There were innumerable short speeches
during the day, but the spiciest remarks
on the treaty were made by Senator Dan
lis, Stewart, Hoar, Lodge and Chand
Ter.
The assertion made yesterday by SEN
ator Turpe that any negotiations under
the treaty would under its terms neces-
sarily be submitted to the senate, Just as
| any ordinary treaty, formed the basis of
todays proceedings 1t was generally
conceded by all those who spoke that if
there could be any assurance that this in
depreciation would be placed in the
the treaty, there would be no special OPP
position to its ratification. Senator Tur
pie contendcd that no other position was
possible in view of the indisputable fact
that the senate was Il part of the treaty
making power of the United States.
Senator Daniel, however. took an op-
posite view, as did also Senator Chandler,
anu lHOSl VI lllc OtlltI ScllulOTS W lO SpOht.
Senator Daniel made an elaborate ar
gument, taking view radically differ
ent from that advanced by the Indiana
senator. and showing that from his point
of view the government of the United
States would. by the acceptance of the
treaty, place itself in Il position to make
| this country subordinate to England in
| many important respects. He held. with
Senator Morgan. that the senate, in ac-
in,r thn nft. tnlt npilx al
grade its power in treaty making. and
| claimed that it could not legitimatcly do
/ this under the constitution.
Senator Hoars speech was classical
presentation of the merits of the general
subject of arbitration and strong plea
| for the recognition of the principle. The
| final ratification of an agreement for the
settlement of all disputes by resort to Il
| tribunal of peace between the two great
| English-spcaking nations would, he said,
! be Il splendid example to the world at
large, and would, he believed, tend to
make arbitration ge%eral among civilized
nations. 1t would be at least an entering
wedge. He said that he had been willing
| to accept the treaty as reported from the
| committee. but if it could be amended
so as to make it more acceptable with
out destroying its effect, he would be
| willing that this course should be taken.
Senator Chandler announced himself
| for the treaty as amended, and opposed to
| it if not amended, and favorable to q
postponement to March 6. He urged that
| the senate could best consider the treaty
| during a special executive session I'M
mediately following the Inauguration of
| Mr.. Mckinley. when it would otherwise
| have nothing to do except to pass upon
nominations. He urged the treaty to be
| too important question to be disposed
| of hastily, and referred to the fact that
! the senate had held the Russian cxtrad-
| ion treaty year before acing upon it.
Senator Lodge said his interest in the
| treaty was such as to make him anxious
| for its ratification. He would. he said,
accept any amendment that would afford
n better safeguard for the interests of
| this country than those the treaty was
! supposed to contain. He believed that an
amendment could be framed which.
| while preserving the integrity of the
| treaty would make it acceptable to the
| senate.
Speeches were also made by Senators
Vest, Villas and Stewart Blackburn and
| others.
The talk of postponement and the ne
cessity for amendment had the effect of
| bringing Senator Sherman to his feet.
1t was just before the adjournment of
the senate He said he would ask the
senate to consider the treaty tomorrow
and if no conclusion was reached he
would not ask for further time, but
would allow the treaty to be postponed
to the extra session. He added that the
committee on foreign relations would re-
port an amendment covering all points
and removing ambiguity, which he be-
| lieved were the chief objections
"In other words" said Mr.. Hill, "the
senator from Ohio means to notify the
opponents of the treaty that if they hold
out another day he will not further press
the treaty, but will allow it to go over
Without a reputation of this interpre-
tation of his statement, Senator Sherman
allowed the senate to adjourn.
An amendment suggested, which seems
to meet with general favor, provides for
the insertion of the words ''and to the
acceptance of the treaty making powers
of the two governments" after the word
treaty" in the third line of the first ar
icle of the treaty. This amendment, il
is claimed, would render it necessary to