The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-02
TREATY AMENDMENTS.
ALL AMENDMENTS TO THE ARBI.
TRATION TREATY DISPOSED OF.
Claims Against Southern states Ex-
ccptctl-ChnndIer objected to N
Final vote on the Treaty.

Washington. April 1.-The senate today
in executive session concluded its consid-
Grafton of all amendments to the arbitra-
ton treaty. The voting on additional
amendments began at o'clock after three
hours of general debate and In the hour
and a half which followed about dozen
propositions were passed on. Two only
were adopted, except some making verbal
changes. OF these adopted, one, oiiered by
Senator Bacon. eXenpts the claims against
Southern States from the operations OF the
| treaty and the other, introduced by Sen-
ator Morgan, eliminates article Of the
treaty.
| Much OF the debate OF the day turned
uuon these amendments. Their supporters
conteuded that whatever constitutes
| State claims could not be made the sub
| ject of negotiations under treaty.
| The point was also made that the claims
| against the Southern States were contract
| ed during the period of reconstruction and
were not legitimate obligations. 1t was held
| on the other hand that under the amend
| ments already adopted it would be impos-
| siblo 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 limi-
| tations upon the first article. propositions
of this character were made by senators
Butler Chiffon and Bacon and all We're
rejected by the uniform majority OF five.
This was tho result OF preconcerted move
to sustain the committee or foreign rela-
tions which took a position against fur
Their amending this article.
Senator Buffers amendment is fair
specimen of those offered. He moved to
add the words treaty or convention TO
the article, making it provide for the sub
mission to arbitration of all questions In
difference incapable Of settlement by Dip
lomauc negotiation, treaty or convention.
Mr.. Butler explained his purpose 10 be to
avoid construction OF the language of the
treaty as il now stands which would per-
nit the settlement of all international dis
putes by diplomatic negotiations, and say
ing that a wilful chief executive might re-
fuse to bring any international contro-
versy TO the attention OF the senate Tor us
CO. operation unless tho clause should Do
modified in such manner as his amendment
provided. When The point was made that
this was strained construction the Nortn
Carolina senator called attention TO tho
claim set up for MIR. Cleveland In the mat
ter OF Cuban insurgents that the power
of recognition rested exclusively with the
executive. He warned the senate AGAINST
the extension of executive power.
An interesting incident OF the session
was Senator Chambers refusal to agree to
a final vote on the treaty today. He called
attention to the Associated Press dispatches
in regard to the situation In Crete ana
said that he did not feel disposed TO enter
into negotiations with any power whose
guns were trained upon community OF
Christians struggling to throw off the yoke
of Modernism. He also spoke OF England's
conduct towards the Beers of the 1'ransvaal
as deserving OF condemnation and cause
of hesitation In the present negotiations. he
said he would probably, In the end. vote
for the treaty, hut that he was in no mood
for it today. Senator Hale ridicuied this
view as sentimental He said that Eng
lands relations TO other powers were not
involved In the negotiations of the United
States with England and commended that In
| international affairs it was some times nee
essary for nations to adopt policies which
would not suit every mans opinions and
conform to our views of what Is proper
| and right In individual conduct.
| No day was fixed for final vote.