Evening star., 1897-02-09
ARBITRATION TREATY
1t Was Discussed at Length by the Senate
in Executive Session.
Senator's Sherman and Morgan the
Chief Speakers IntimatiOns of
Other Amendments to Be offered.

was under consideration by the Senate from
l o'clock until $50 yesterday. The entire
proceeding was in executive session. and
consequently behind closed doors. The first
half OF the session was spent In debating
a mot:on introduced by Senator Hill to con-
s:der the treaty in open Senate. and the
most animated part of the proceeding was
ba sed upon this motion. The debate was
characterized by several sharp passages at
arms between the author of the motion and
Senator's Morgan, Lodge and Sherman, the
three last-named contending strenuously
for the observance of the senatorial Gus
tom of secrecy in dealing with the treaty.
1t was stated that it was the wish of the
administration that the public should be
excluded from the debates.
The only vote of the day was secured on
the Hill motion, which was defeated the
count showing only for. 40 against. The
negative vote was cast by two gold demo-
c1ats, Hill and Lindsay; two silver demo-
cIats, Roach and Tillman; two independent
silver republicans, Teller and Pettigrew;
two populsts, PETER and Stewart, and ore
straight republican, Brown.
1t was made apparent that the treaty
would stand no chance without the COM
mittee amendments.
Senator Shermnn's Explanation
The supporters of the treaty are not
however. sanguire of early action as
quite determined spirit of delay was made
manifest, and when Senator Sherman ex-
pressed the hope that consideration could
be concluded at another sitting Senator
Teller told him frankly that he would be
disappointed in this respect. Senator Sher-
man, chairman of the committee for
e1Sn relations, spoke fo- about an hour,
making strong plea for the ratification
of the treaty, which he urged was the
realiza ZION of a dream which had long
been cherished in the United States. He
quoted historical works and congressional
reports to show that arbitration was q
distinctly American policy, and referred to
the resolutions of 1889 and 1893 as proof
OF tnis statement. He also explained the
amer dments made by the committee on
foreign relations and defended the main
anne ndmcnt as essential to the proper un-
derstaLding and Interpretation of the agree
meDt He urged that this amendment did
not detract from the treaty's scope ex-
cept that through removing the Monroe
doctrine from arbitration it also removed
the question OF the Nicaraguan canal
which was, he said embraced in the Mon
roe doctrire.
He said that the amendment eliminating
the King of Sweden and Norway as um-
pre- had been made after due deliberation
ana tEat tniS step was only taken as a
tons.
In conclusion the senator said that it
would be a great mistake for the Senate
would forfeit much of the high regard felt
toward the United States as a nation of
peace lovers and which might exert a Sc
riouS Ihuerce upon the progress of the
world IN the settlement of disputes with
cut Tesorting to the atrocities of war.
Mr.. Horsan's Opposition
Senator Morgan replied to Mr.. Sherman,
speaking in opposition 10 the treaty. The
Alabama senator's argument was largely
constitutional in tendency He dweIt with
especial emphasis upon its sweeping char
acter. claiming that in deega ting ds the
treaty does to the President the right TO
determine for this country the circum-
stances under which arbitration snail he
resorted to il robbed Congress of a preroga-
tive especially conferred upon it, In reply
TO Il question from Senator Vest put so as
to show that such was the Missouri sena-
tors conviction, Senator Morgan said that
he believed the ratification of the treaty
would amount to an abrogation of the
right of the Senate to cooperate with the
executive in the making of treaties
Senator Morgan said that there probably
were few Americans who would '.e willing
10 announce themselves opposed to the
principle of arbitration, but it did not fol
low that every one must swallow the first
measure presented which professed to Put
into execution this method of s4ttln, dis
Eutes between nations. He said that il be
hooFeu all persons to regard with especial
caution the overtures of Great Britain in
such an interest, and remarked that the
island Kingdom had never been especially
known for her devotion 20 the welfare Of
the United States.
Other Brief Utteranccs.
Senator Morgan was speaking when the
Senate adjourned. His ard Mr.. Shcrman's
were the only set speeches made, but there
were many ether brief utterances Senator
Daniel intimated opposition TO ratifica ton
On account of the danger of entansling
alliances, and Senator Turpie asked a num-
ter of questions pointing in the same di-
recticn.
Senator Nelson made a plea for in. re-
tent!on of the clause continuing King Oscar
OF Norway and Sweden as umpire He con-
tended tEat Oscar was benign ruler and
man whose sympathies were largely with
America. He said the treaty of 1S5., he
tween Sweden, England and France had
long since lost its sign. .ficance as it was
negotiated during the Crimean' war for the
purpose of preventing an alliance between
Sweden and Russia, which would have re-
suited in blocking the Baltic sea agains;
the allied powers.
Infimations were given of several amend
nents other than those proposal by the
&C mmittee on foreign relations among 9th
ers one definitely withdrawing the Alaskan
boundary as subject of arbitration, ard
another modifying the clause in regard to
various states, which some regard as rn-
constitutional in its present shape Mr..
sherman gave notice that he would ask
the Senate to take up The question again
today and to sit 1t OUT