The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-10
TWO AMENDMENTS OFFERED.
SENATOR TELLER EXPLAINED THE
SILVER MEN WE'RE NOT ACTING
AS SUCH.
THE LEAK UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Too Much News of the Executive
Proceedings Is Reaching the
Public to- Please.

consideration of the arbitration treaty
by the senate, in executive session to-
day, were the Offering of an amend
ment by Senator Morgan (Ala.), provid-
ing for the abrogation Of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty and the speech by the
same senator in favor Of this PROPOSE
ton. Senator Morgan declared that
the conditions which called forth the
Clayton-BulWer treaty had long passed
away. 1t was no longer binding on
either nation, nor was it Of any use
or value to this nation, though it might
be Of great Importance to Great Britain
in case the Nicaragua canal was con-
structed. With the treaty now under
consideration, he said, no doubt
the question Of the abrogation Of the
CIayton-Bulwer treaty, in effect, would
have to be submitted to arbitration.
While the old treaty was obsolete and
dlsregarded, yet it was still used as a
menace ana bugaboo to the United
SlGtes, whenever the construction Of
the Nicaragua canal was advocated.
Great Britain, declared Senator Nor
gan, had violated the treaty and alb
rcgated it by occupying a portion of
the territory of Honduras. Great Bri-
tain would use the treaty of arbitra-
ton to her advantage, and the Clay
ton-BuIWer agreement would be used
IN the same way, unless it was de-
cl&red to be void. There was no better
occasion for abrogatng the Clayton
Bulwer treaty than by so providing
in this arbitration treaty
o1fered by Senator Bacon, Cf Georgia.
Ii provides for a modification Of arti-
Gle so as to relieve the Southern
states from any obligations that might
arse under the bonds issued in the
reconstruction days. The amendment
was the result of a conference among
the southern senators, who concluded
that the article, as it now stands, might
render it possible to make these bonds
When held by subjects OF Great Bri-
tain, the object of arbitration. Mr.
Bacon sought an opportunity to adj
urtss the senate on the amendment,
out was prevented by the fact that
Senator Morgan held the floor all dav
When Senator Morgan renewed his
remarks ne stated that the treaty. be-
lore the senate should be amended 80
as to except in definite terms tha
Nicaragua canal and everything re-
iatlng to that enterprise. He dweIt at
length upon this phase of the treaty
ana read from number Of reports.
bearing on the subject, showing the
interest Of the United States in that
part or the continent which the sen
attoF declared was more vital than any
treaty that could be made with Great
/ n
ciuoed his speech, but said he would
discuss other phases of the treaty be-
fore vote was reached
MORE AMENDMENTS.
A number of amendments have been
prepared which will be offered in the
course of the debate Among them is
one directing that all subjects Of ar
bitration must first be submitted to the
president and the senate before being
sent to the tribunal provided for. An
other excerpts from matters subject to
the treaty, the Alaskan boundary dis
pute, also any controversy as to the
boundary line in the Straits Of F'uca,
which separate Vancouver island from
Washington state.
The friends of the treaty did not
enter the debate today. During the
day Senator Teller stated that he
wanted it understood that the silver
men were not opposing the treaty as
silver men, and that no opposition was
being made to it because it affected the
silver interests. There were other and
sufficient grounds upon which to base
their objections.
The suggestion raised by Senator
Daniel in the committee on foreign re-
lations as to whether the difference be-
tween the price of silver and gold Gin
case this country goes to a silver basis)
should be made the subject Of arbitra-
ton, did not receive much considera-
ton, nor did it attract any particular
notice. The proceedings connected with
the consideration of the treaty on it's
merits were today far less exciting and
varied than yesterday, and 1t was i'm
possible to hold the senators in their
seats while it proceeded.
The early part of the season, how
ever, was by no means so devoid of
interest The first two hours were Civ
en- to the discussion of the full reports
of Yesterdays secret session, that were
printed in the papers this morning.
Senator Vest sprung this subject as
soon as the combinations were dis
posed of. The time was devoted to q
senatorial discussion Of the methods
Of the modern news seeker, which was
more in the nature of fault-flnding
than of criticism Of their accuracy.
The reports were generally COmpIi-
mented for the accuracy, and the ma
.jcrity of the remarks were devoted
to an effort to explain their appear
ance Senator Vest asserted that no
one but a trained newspaper man
could give the proceedings in such de-
tail as sent out, and contended that
an expert must be employed some
where in the chamber. He complained
quite bitterly Of the appearance of
such reports as derOgatOry to the dig
nifty of the senate. He was followed
by Senators Hale and Hear in the same
strain. Senator Gallinger said that.
if as full reports as today's were to be
given out, it would be better to open
the doors and invite the world to be
present. Senator Teller suggested the
wisdom, in the absence of open SEES
sions, of allowing a few selected re-
pCrters to be present, saying that his
experience with the profession was
such as to convince him that they
could be depended upon to deal fairly
and honorably with the senate.
Senator Hill did not fail to take adj
vantage of the opportunity to point
the moral as being that his motion
for open doors should have been
adopted. He said that it was claimed
that the treaty was an unprecedented
accomplishment in diplomacy Even
if this was true, he said, it was also
true that the senate had taken an
almost unprecedented step in making
the treaty itself public Why not eX-
tend the policy to the extent Of having
open discussion of 1t? He, however,
refrained from renewing his motion to
this effect.
When every one had talked on this
mint who manifested a. disDOSition ta