The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-02
ARBITRATION TREATY.
Among Many Amendments, Senator
Butler Offers one to Guard Against
Wilful use of Executive Power.

Among Many Amendments, Senator
Butler Offers one to Guard Against
Wilful use of Executive Power.
Washington, April 1.-The Senate to-
day in executive session concluded its
consideration of all amendments TO the
arbitration treaty. The voting on addl-
tional amendments began at four O'Clock
after three hours of general debate, and
i'm the hour and half which followed
about a dozen propositions were passed
upon. Two only were adopted except
some making verbal changes. Of those
adopted, one, offered by Senator Bacon,
exempts the claims against Southern
States from the operations of the treaty,
and the other, introduced by Senator
Morgan, eliminates article 8 of the treaty.
Much of the debate of the day turned
upon these amendments. Their support
ers contended that under the constitution
State claims could not be made the sub
ject Of negotiation under a treaty. The
point was also made that the claims a.
gainst the Southern States We're con-
tracted during the period of recOnStruc-
ton and were not legitimate obligations.
1t was held on the other hand that under
the amendments already adopted it would
be impossible to hold the Southern
claims subject to the treaty. Senators
Gray and Lindsay presented the latter
view Many of the amendments voted
down were directed to putting hmita-
tons upon the first article. Propositions
of this character were made by Sena-
tors Butler, Chiffon and Bacon and all
were rejected by the uniform majority
Of five. This was the result of pre-
concerted move to sustain the committee
on foreign relations, which took posi-
tion against further amending this arti-
Gle
Senator Buffers amendment is fair
specimen Of others offered to this article
He moved to add the words Treaty or
convention TO the article, making it
provide for the submission to arbitration
OF all questions in difference to settle
ment by diplomatic negotiation. treaty
or convention. Mr.. Butler explained his
purpose to be to avoid construction
of the language Of the treaty as it now
stands which would permit the settle
ment of all international disputes by
diplomatic negotiations, and saying that
that wilful chief executive might refuse
to bring any international controversy to
tDP attention Oh the Soeudlc IOT It's cO-
operation unless the clause should be
modified in some such manner as his
amendment provided. When the point
was made that this was a strained con
struction the North Carolina Senator
called attention to the claim set up for
Mr.. Cleveland in the Cuban indepen-
dence matter, that the power of recogni.
ton rested exclusively with the executive.
He warned the Senate against leaving
any opening for the extension Of execu-
tive power.
An interesting incident Of the session
was that of Senator Chandler's refusal
TO agree to a final vote on the treaty to-
day. lie called attention to the AssOciat
ed Press dispatches in regard to the sit
uation IN Crete, and said that he did not
feel disposed to enter into negotiations
with any power whose guns were trained
upon a community Of Christians strug-
CLING to throw off the yoke of Hoslemisn
He also spoke of England's conduct to-
wards the Beers OF the Transvaal as de-
serving Of condemnation and a cause for
hesitation in the present negotia tons.
Senator Hale ridiculed this view as SEN
timental No day was fixed for final
vote.