The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-09

Washington, Feb. S.-Practically the
whole of today's session Of the senate
took place behind closed doors, the
question under consideration being the
Anglo-American arbitration treaty.
During the morning hour, before the
motion to proceed to executive BUSH
ness was made by air. Sherman (Rep.
o. chairman of the committee on for
eign relations, the senate INDUCED IN
an exhibition of its utter disregard for
the reasons assigned by President
Cleveland for Withholding his APPROX
al from a bill passed by both houses.
IT was a bill creating new ]udlclal
district in Texas. The United States
judge, district attorney, marshal and
clerk had reported to the department
of Justice that the proposed legislation
was not only unnecessary, but that 1t
would be a serious interruption to the
business of the court, and on that re-
port the president had acted in vetoing
the bill. He was roundly taken TO
task by Mr.. Mills (Dem. Tex.) for
having consulted these officials in
stead Of consulting the two senators
and Is representatives from the state
of Texas. Remarkably enough, how
ever, MIR. Hoar (ReD- MaSS.,) found
very strong, good and honest reasons"
for the presidents action, but still ia
vored the bill IN the interest of the
people living in the counties embraced
within the new district, and when it
came to the yea and nay vote there
was but one senator, Caffery CDem,
La.,) recorded against the bill, while
there were 81 senators voting to pass
it, Notwithstanding the presidents OBJ
jections. a concurrent resolution for
the withdrawal of a bill from the
president on account of the discovery
of a substantial mistake caused by Mr..
Hill (Dem- n. Y.,) to question the con-
stitutionality of such appropriation
and the matter went over for further
consideration.
At 5:25 the senate adjourned until
tomorrow.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Mr.. Daniel (Dem. Va.), from the
judiciary committee reported back the
house bill to constitute a new division
of the eastern judicial district of Texas,
with court to be held at Beaumont,
with a recommendation that it be
passed. the objections of the president
10 the contrary Notwithstanding.
These objections are to the effect that
according to statements of judges and
lawyers the change is unnecessary and
would interrupt judicial business.
Mr. Mills dem. Tex, argued III sup
port of the bill and criticized the presi-
dent Tor consulting alone the judge, the
district attorney, the marshal and the
clerk of the United States court in
stead of consulting the two senators
and 10 representatives Of the state of
Texas. TIE bill was passed by the
requisite two-thirdS majority: Yeas |
81; nays, (Mr. Caffery, Dem. Lao.
bill to remove doubts as to the
power of the supreme court of the Dis
trict of Columbia to provide for filling
a vacancy in the office of district at
terney was reported from the judiciary
committee and passed.
A concurrent resolution requesting /
the president TO return to the senate I
a bill now in his hands in relation to /
the timber culture land law was in /
troduced by Mr.. Pettigrew (Silver S. I
D., with the explanation that a serious
error had been discovered in the bill /
which would Illustrate its purpose. (
The power of Withdrawing a bill which /
had been sent to the PRESIDENT under /
the constitution was questioned by Mr.. /
Hill Dem. n. ", except it was to /
correct an error in engrossment, and :
after a brief discussion the matter was
passed over for the present without ac-
ton.
In accordance with his notice, Mr..
Sherman moved an executive session a
few minutes after l o'clock, at the con-
clusion of the morning business, and
the doors were closed for the considera-
ton of the arbitration treaty with
Great Britain Mr.. Hill at once made a
motion thar the doors be opened and the
debate proceed in the presence of the
public. He laid some stress upon the
of the debate upon a
matter the text of which was in pos
session Of the public, not only the text
but the amendments proposed by the
committee which were published in full
despite the refusal of the senate remove
the injunction OF secrecy therfrOm.
The motion was antagonized. not only
lpon parliamentary grounds, but for the
reason that it would he against public /
policy for such proceedings 10 be per-
nitted- MIR. Gray OF Delaware was the
irSt speaker to antagoniZe the motion
IF the senator from New York The
lebaJe on this motion will proba bly,
consume considerable time and pre-
vent much attention being given to the
merits of the treaty.
Senator Gray was followed by Sena-
-ors Lodge and Sherman who likewise
opposed the motion of Senator Hill.
Both these members of the foreign re-
atious committee took the broad
grounds that such proceeding was
against the established precedents of
he senate and if il was agreed to
consider openly would only lead to i'll
esults. Treaties were solemn compacts
With powers ana whatever was said ;
II the consideration of their merits or
lemerits ought TO be said behind closed
loorS. If there was to be criticism if
'ught not to be in public places where
he heat of debate might lead to the
Itterance of sentiments that might be
,rejudicia1 to the friendliness now ex-
sting between the two nations.
In the course of his remarks Mr.. I
lodge said that the open doors meant s
ndless debate and what ne wanted was {
ctiOn. He did not wish to see this
reaty debated to death. AS amended {
nd reported to the senate he favored l
and desired that such course might {
e pursued as would lead to its ratifi-
alton by the senate. 7
Mr.. Morgan, another member of the t
ommittee, also antagonized the motion q
f Mr.. Hill. '
Senator Stewart of Nevada made a c
cry vigorous speech in favor of an i
pen session. While he did not saw a
0 in words, the inference was drawn S
rom his remarks that he desired si1ch i
session for the reason that it would S
e conducive to the defeat of the treatv I
Mr. Hill again took the floor and I
lade a brief speech in favor of his T
notion and was replied to by Mr.. Sher-
ian, who made a final appeal to sena-
1rs not to open the doors on such an
Important matter as was now before
ne senate.
The vote was then taken and resulted
an overwhelming majority against
ubiic debate. The vote cast in favor c
{ an open session-were Messrs. Brown +