The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-18
THINK WELL OF THE TREATY.
SENATE COMMITTEE ORDERS 1T
REPORTED FAVORABLY.

The Amendments of nm Administrn-
tive Character stand But the Scope
of the Treaty Not AItered-F<inG
Oscar Not 10 BE Umpire-supreme
Court Judges Not to BE Arbitra-
tors-Trenty Making Power OF
Each Nation 10 Decide What Cues
TONS Are TO BE Arbitrated.
Washington. March 1.-THE Senate
committee on foreign relations spent two
hours this morning in the consideration of
the general treaty of arbitration with
Great Britain, and then ordered a favora-
BILE report to be made to the Senate to-
morrow with amendments in line with
those indicated in these dispatches here
tofore.
The amendments are administrative only
in character. The scope of the treaty has
not been touched. Much of the public crit
icism against the action of the commit
tee during the last session was due TO the
alleged fact that the committee had emas-
culated the convention and made it prac-
tically a mere shell.
The amendment to the first article, that
no question relative to the foreign or do
mestic policy of either party should be
Included which was previously given such
prominence, has disappeared entirely. The
same result is reached, however In very
different manner.
The designation of King oscar of Swe-
den and Norway as the umpire has been
stricken out, as has been all reference 10
the justices of the supreme court of the
United States as members of the tribunal
established under the treaty. In place of
this designation At is stipulated that "jur-
lists of repute' shall be named by the
President TO act as such arbiters.
The chief amendment to the convention,
however. is found in the clause which re-
serves to the United States the sanction
of the whole treaty making power in de-
Gliding what questions shall be submitted
TO arbitration. This provision will make
1t necessary for the President to submit
for its approval all questions intended to
be submitted to the arbitral court. The
committee have acted in the belief that
It has only reserved 70 this government
the identical power reserved by Great
Britain, which under the treaty, decides
through its premier what questions shall
be arbitrated- Under the British form of
government, one man alone, the premier,
acting for the crown. determines all mat
tiers of this sort and is the sole treaty
making power OF that nation. There Is,
under this general treaty, no deviation
from the universal rule of the British gov
eminent, and reasoning thus the Senate
committee sees no reason why there
should be any change in the practices,
based upon the stipulations of the writ
ten constitution-that have governed such
questions with US since the foundation
of our government. In other words both
powers are made equal and the subsequent
proceedings under the treaty, after 1t shall
have been ratified, will proceed ac-
cording to the respective governments
of the contracting parties. 1t is needless
10 point out that under the treaty, as thus
amended, no argument can consistently
he advanced that the Senate is relinquish-
ing any of the prerogatives given 1t by
the constitution. 1t will, by ratifying this
treaty endorse and subscribe to the doc
trine of universal arbitration to which the
United States stands pledged, and then
leave all questions, as to de ais connected
with the submission of specific subjects,
TO the constitutional authorities of both
countries.
Acting Chairman Davis will urge as
speedy action in the Senate as possible
II is quite likely that most of the time
during the next two weeks will be spent
in executive session. Pending the arrival
OF the tariff bill in the Senate, the treaty
will be discussed, together with the con-
sideration of Presidential nominations
and IL is the confidently expectation of the
committee that it will be able to have
this convention out of the way by April /. |