New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-23
SENATE'S RIGHTS ASSERTED.
THE ARBITRATION TREATY UP
PRESSURE FOR IMMEDIATE RATIFICA-
TON RESEN FED.


sUBJEcT MADE ry SENATORS HoAR.
LODGE cuLIOM AID oTHERs--A LIVE
LY AND INTERESTING DEBATE IN
EXPECTEpLY pREcIPITATED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRfBuNEI
Washington. Jan. 22-Something OF the feeline
Of irritation and resentment developed In the
Senate by the unusual pressure OF religious.
commercial and phanthropic sentiment for an
immediate ratification OF the treaty Of general
arbitration with Great Britain came unexpected
ly to the surface this afternoon in suggestive
and spirited debate which arose more by acci-
dent than design. over the presentation OF certain
routine petitions favorlng opposing the pend
Ing convention Jealous OF Its prerogative az CO.
ordinate part Of the treaty-maklng power. and
the more sensitively tenacious Of its executive
functions because Of recent issues raised by Sec
rotary Olney's famous Holiday manifesto. the
Senate has listened with Impotence to the de-
mand from the varied sources Of public opinions
above enumerated that II should approve the
Olney-Pauncefote agreement without either
qualification delay.
Holding the belief that one branch OF the
treaty making power should be subjected to no
more popular pressure than the other and see
ing In Secretary Olneys premature publication
or the text OF the treaty only flank movement
to force action by an appeal to public sentiment.
the conservative element in the Senate has felt
Itself put In wholly false and embarrassing
position In its treatment Of the grave issues in
volved In the ratification OF the general arbitra-
ton agreement Justly considering themselves
charged with an equal responsibility with the
Executive in the exercise of the treaty making
power the leaders in the Senate have thought
themselves entitled to at least a reasonable time
in which to review and weigh negotiations for
arbitration which have confessedly been for over
year in the hands of the President and tho
Secretary Of State.
THE CONSERVATIVES OFFENDED.
Technically the treaty is still in an unfinished
state. and its present text is only in possession
Of the public by virtue Of an arbitrary action Of
the Secretary Of State That. under the cir
cumstances. the Senates exercise OF its proper
functions Of criticism and revision should be
condemned in advance as unwse and mpolitic
by organized public sentiment strikes the
conservative sense Of the deliberatve branch
Of Congress an affront both to It's Judgment
and its dignity: and this sense Of annoyance and
injury found its emphatic expression to-day In
the protests Of representative Senator'S like
Messrs Hoar. Cullon Lodge Sewell and Haw-
ley against undue demand for haste in the
n
so far-reaching in Importance.
Senator HOar especially direct ana
pointed in his comments what he considered
the improperly and mpolicy Of much Of the
present agitation in favor of immediate and
unconditional ratification Of the present draft
Of the treaty. Every Senator who spoke. ex-
cept Mr. Gray. of Delaware. took similar
grounds and the strength OF the feeling in the
chamber against a hurried or perfunctory con-
sideraton Of the treaty was plainly disclosed.
1t was brought out curing the discussion that
the Committee IN Foreign Relations would
probably hold another meeting next Monday To
consider the text OF the treaty. and that all
reasonable efforts would be made TO expedite
its progress through the Senate consistent with
that thorough examination Of its enects on
American public policy which so large ma
toritv in the body thinks both necessary and
desirable.
Afr Morgan announced again to-day that he
would resist the ratification Of the treaty so
long as the Nicaragua Canal bill remains undis-
nosed Of and. as the opposition TO that meas
IRE seems determined to stave off a vote for
week or two longer. it u.s. perhaps, useless to
oxnoct any genuine progress to be made with
tho treaty until some lime near the middle OF
February.
THE DEBATE IN DETAIL.
Mfr Hoar Rep. Mass) presented several memo
Tile urying Immediate ratification OF the arbitra-
zion treaty Mr. Cuom Rep.. lid having already
nresented many personal letters some for ana some
aqans, its ratification. remarking as he dd so tnat
no had some doubts whether II should not DC dohe
IN executive session. Then ne SAID
-. good many OF the wisest and best men In all
rar,s Of the Commonwealth OF Massachusetts,
clergvmen members OF business organizations ana
h,gbv esteemed private citiZens-are writing letters
~ their Senators and are making other puphc Ut
terances urging the very prompt, rapid ratihca'on
OF the proposed treaty with Great britain sup
,so tbere Is no member OF this body certainly no
senator from Massachusetts, who does not nan
with great satisfaction as one OF the great puoho
oy,,ts Of the century the negotiation OF such a
treaty But with all respect. II seems 10 me mat
these gentlemen forget that this Is treaty sun III
nrogress Of negotiation: that the Senate OF tho
United States is part Of the treaty making power
IN this country: that its action Is part Oh 'he
automatic action OF the United States. and that II
i, or,, ,~oor dinlomacy when are still engaged
T., sucb a negotiation with England. and when the
action OF this country is still inchoate. to have
learned eloquent. heated, impatient utterahces
coming from the pulpit and the press ana iro"
college halls urging particular action on tne op'o-
matte representatives Of the United states HOW IL
&, ,oss,bIe II IL should turn that there Is soma
urdiscloscd some unntended advantage to Great
Britain or disadvantage to us In the propose"
treaty which both sides would be disposed 10 corr
49,, hsy,re the matter became vital end passed out
of our power to obtain due consideration OF our
rights or desires from Great Britain. II there Is
great storm and tempest Of public sentiment exist
ing in favor Of the instant ratification OF tho
treaty?
"If Mr. Olney on getting that constitutional adj
ice which IL Is our duty to give to the Pres
,,,ept should say to the Marquis Of Salisbury. I
would like to have this treaty modified In this or
that particular the Marquis OF Salisbury would he
armed with the reply. Your people are ciainorinx
for 1t 1t is: you do not represent your country
and your country's interest
..I hold that this meddlng with important dplo-
macy by angry and mpassoned utterances Of this
kind is infinitely mschievous and foolish While.
50 far az am at present advised. there Is not likely
TO be a Senator not In sympathy with the great
public object OF promoting peace on ear'h ana sooa'
,,u IN men wish TO enter my protest against this