The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-13
TALKING OVER THE TREATY.
Must lie Amended Materially II II Is
To Pass.

mittee on foreign relations will to-mor-
row morning endeavor to frame an amend
ment that will meet the objections that
have been advanced in debate against the
general treaty of arbitration with Great
Britain that has been under discussion in
secret session for the past week. Unless
this amendment can be satisfactorily
framed. it is probable that the considera-
ton of the treaty may not be pushed un-
I'll after the fourth of March.
The debate so far has shown that not
four men In the Senate look at this treaty
from identically the same standpoint. 1t
is charged with being ambiguous, but TINS
defect is found by different men in differ
ent portions of the instrument. That lt
will be amended before being ratified Is
admitted by It's best friends. The amend
ments are in fact the only things that
will save 1t, for few, If any, agree with
Senator Turpie that the treaty is perfect
as IL stands. Mr.. Turpie's position Is
based upon his own construction OF the
terms Of the convention, and II the sen
ate was able to bring itself TO think as
Mr.. Turpie does, the treaty would be rau-
fed without moments delay.
The Indiana senator $ speech mas, now
ever made strong impression, ana his
ideas have suggested to the committee an
amendment which will be patterned attef
that which Mr. Morgan yesterday gave
notice that he would otter az the proper
time. This viii change article ! so tnat
1t will provide for the submission under
this treaty for arbitration of all subjects
subject to the limitations of this treaty
and in the manner and form provided by
either of the contracting parties Tor Ile
negotiation and ratification of treaties
This, it is claimed will make the intent
of the senate clear. and provide that every
subject to be submitted to this tribunal
must be first submitted to the President
and by him to the Senate, as now pro
vided for in the case of original treaties.
In this manner the objection that the
Senate is yielding it's prerogauye y met,
and that body maintains control OF every
matter connected with the subject of ar
bitration This Is the amendment Whlch
Mr Sherman will submit tomorrow, III
an effort to bring about speedy action;
The debate to-day was begun by Mr..
Stewart who laid some additional stress
upon the necessity for eliminating the
Alaskan boundary question, and pointed
out In what particulars ne beleVeu the
treaty to be too vague and indefinite.
Mr. Blackburn of Kentucky was against
the treaty and was ready 70 vote. IL
seemed idle to consume more time, fQr, hs
he believed every man in the Senate knew
lust how he intended TO vote. This treaty
went entirely too far in It's scope. sun,
he had no fear OF war from any tiihs ena' lse
might be in the treaty; war was more
likely to come from the things that We're
not included. 1t would be sate enough 70
leave the question OF arbitration 20 the
Senate when the cases arose and let inc
Senate then in existence deal with the SUP
ject ,,
Mr. Hoar OF MASSACHUSETTS, salu ne Woutu
vote for the treaty as 1t reached the senate
or he would vote for II as amended. Whai
| he wanted was a treaty of arbitration, ano
! the sooner the Senate ratihed the treaty
the better he thought 1t would De lot ths
Mr. Chandler Of New Hampshire gave
| no deciNNd expression as 10 now ne STOOD
! He mieht vote for the treaty If amended
| He favored the committee amendments
| but intinated that Ii might be necessary
to make the instrument perfect and thor
| oughy protect the interests or the coun-
| try. If the amendments were rejected
| he should vote against the treaty. Mr.
| Chandler called attention to the fact tnai
there was wide divergence OF opinion
in the Senate among several very aDle
gentlemen as to what this treaty ala oi
| did not do, and he suggested that II would
! be best 10 let II go over until more con-
/ Venient season. The obligations or the
| senators required that they should give
| this thing their careful consideration II
| should be fully discussed. For TINS rea-
son he urged that Ii go over until the SEN
ate convened after March T. There would
| be then two weeks when the Senate would
| have nothing TO do but consider nomlna-
| tions and plenty of time could be given
| 10 this treaty and a better conclusion
| could be reached than now, when the
| effort was being made to hurry the con-
sderation Of so important matter 50 as
| not to interfere with other legislation.
Mr.. Daniels antagonized the treaty on
| general principles as being disadvantage
| Gus 20 the United States. Cases for arbi-
|
! eral treaty should be provided. Each case
| should be met when It came up. lie also
| criticised that provision which makes the
| members of the supreme court members
| Of the tribunal. Themembers Of that court
would in all probability, he said, be call
| ed upon at some time, either before OF
| after the arbitration TO sit Judiclauy on
! the same or similar questions. To be com.
| PEELED to act In this dual capacity would
| be embarrassing TO the members or the
| court and might initiate against their
| "a N certain SuCn
a contingency ought not to be made possi-
| BILE
| advocates In Senator Lodge who urged
| that action be taken. He declared that he
was not irrevocably joined 70 the COM
| mittee amendments; lie would 1aVor any
| amendment that might be suggested that
| would remove the doubt existing IN the
| treaty, " such amendment would be con-
| ducive to action. He did not believe the
| treaty could possibly be ratllled unless "
| was amended somewhat on the lines OF
| the committee amendment. lie Favored
| the treaty because arbitration was the
| policy Of this country, and he believed IN
| the American policy He wanted the
| treaty 10 pass. and for that reason hoped
| the amendments that might be framed
| would be satisfactory 10 the Senate,
| MIR sherman then made a statement that
| was construed as an intimation that the
| committee intended to consider the treaty
| again in special session tomorrow morn
| ing He said that If the discussion went
over until tomorrow he thought the COM
| mittee would be able TO bring IN an
/ amendment or amendments that would re-
| move all doubts and ambiguity from the
| text of the treaty. When this was done
| he hoped the Senate would be able "a
come TO a speedy vote. II such proved
| not 10 be the case, then Mr. Sherman
| said he would not feel justified ia press
| ing the consideration OF the treaty further
| to the hndrance Of the business that was
| pressing upon the Senate
| Mr.. Hin replied 1ocularly thai the Senate
| was TO understand that II the opposition
| morrow, the senator from Ohio would
| withdraw the treaty from further consid-
! GRAFTON.
Mr.. Sherman denied that this interpre-
tation was just, and the Senate adjourn
| ed.
I'he amendment indicated above will be
reported to the Senate tomorrow when
| the treaty is again taken UP.
-s-e-s--