The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-10

proceedings, but admitted the accuracy
of the press reports. The discussion
waXed warm and was participated in
by Senators Hill, Pugh, Hoar, CALM
ger, Hale, Teller, Stewart and others.
There was an intimation that officers
of the senate had been guilty of viola
ton of the rules by giving away ex-
ecutive secrets, but this was COM
batted, notably by Mr.. Hill, who said
that everybody knew executive mat
tiers We're told by senators and no one
else The discussion disclosed the fact
that senators recognized the accuracy
of the newspaper reports and had
made up their minds to stop the leak if
possible. There was some talk of APP
pointing a committee of investigation
on the subject, after the fashion of the
committee appointed several years ago,
which resulted in the dismissal of an
executive clerk, charged with having
told newspaper men executive secrets,
but against whom no evidence had
been secured.
Some senators took the ground that
such proceeding would have no bene-
fetal result, and the debate finally
senators had scolded their junior
brethren for the supposed offense of
talking about things which were for
hidden
The men who had made the fight yes
terday for an open session found in the
subject under discussion additional rea-
sons why their motion should prevail
and urged the senate to reconsider the
subject but this was not done.
Mr.. Teller declared his opinion of
the secret performance in which the
senate was engaging. The country, he
said, was interested in the arbitration
treaty. The text of that treaty with
the amendments had been made public
and the people were talking about it.
They had been petitioning congress to
ratify the treaty. If there were great
reasons why the treaty should be rati-
fed they were entitled to know them,
and if senators had reasons for voting
against the treaty the public ought to
be permitted to know why senators
took such action. The attempt as Sc
crecy was mockery, and Mr.. Teller
said he did not believe the senate could
maintain it.
Afetr this discussion had ceased sew
eral amendments were offered and,
without being read, went over 70 be
printed. Senator Morgan had several
and Senator Stewart of Nevada sent a
handful to the clerks desk. There will
be innumerable amendments before
the discussion is over. Conservative
senators today said that it was ap-
parent this debate was to be kept up
for some time and the chances were
that no action could be had until after
the 18th of March. From the 4th of
March until the extra session is con-
vened the senate will be in session con-
sidering nominations, and if the treaty
has not been disposed of by that time
it will probably be discussed every
day. It will not be withdrawn by Mr..
Mckinley, and Mr.. Sherman, as secre-
tary of state, will be as jealous in
securing its ratification as he now is
ton.
1t was late in the afternoon when the
discussion was turned to the treaty
proper. Mr.. Stewart made a short
speech against the instrument and re-
peated some of the arguments he ad-
vanced Yesterday when discussing the
motion to open the doors. In brief
good thing to reject the treaty be-
cause Great Britain wants it. He is
suspicious of that country and believes
that her intentions are not what they
purport to be.
Senator Morgan consumed the re-
mainder of the afternoon in a continu-
alton of his speech begun yesterday.
The indications are that he viii not
conclude for several days. He read
freely this afternoon from the reports
of the state department and of the
senate committee on the Nicaraguan
canal and the Clayton ulwer treaty,
and quoted copiously from the state
department correspondence with our
ministers abroad on the same subject.
Mr.. Morgan said it would be necessary
for this government before binding
itself in a general treaty of arbitration
to settle the question of the vitality of
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and aScer-
tain in what light Great Britain views
that ancient and discussed con-
Vention which Mr.. Morgan contends
cught never to have been negotiated,
but once negotiated. ought never to
have been ratified by the senate
He then offered an amendment pro-
viding for the abrogation of the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty and advocated it at
some length. Mr.. Morgan has always
been opposed to that treaty, and today
he said the conditions that appeared
to make it necessary when agreed to /
no longer existed. The treaty was Oh
solete, so far as we were concerned,
and unnecessary, although Great Brit
ain would seize every opportunity to
make it answer her purpose
He called attention to the fact that
whenever congress had discussed the
proposed construction of the Nicara-
guam canal this treaty had been used
as club to stop the United States
There could be no doubt, Mr.. Morgan
said, that Great Britain would make
this general treaty of arbitration serve
her ends as she had the Clayton-Bul- |
wer treaty. In the further course of
his speech Mr.. Morgan called attention
to the aggressiveness of Great Britain
in the Mosquito country, etc, to show
that she had time and again violated |
the provisions of that compact and by
her violations practically nullified the /
treaty. The United States had never !
taken official action and no time was !
so opportune as the present. The occa-
sion had now presented itself when the /
United States could properly declare its /
position and announce to Great Brit .
ain that the Clayton ulwer treaty
was no longer considered by us to be /
n existence.
Mr.. Morgan also contended that the
canal should be excepted
from the treaty by name, and gave
notice that he should offer an amend :
ment to that effect.
Mr.. Morgan also elaborated his prop I
osition, generally stated Yesterday, !
that the pending treaty was improper |
because it virtually took from the SEN
ate its prerogative under the constitu-
ton as branch of the treaty-making |
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