Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-02-12


Lays 1t to Senator's.
There was an intimation that officers
of the senate had been guilty Of the vio-
lation of the rules by giving away ex-
ecutive secrets, but this was combated
notably by Senator Hill, who said that
everybody knew executive matters were
told by senator's, and no one else. The
discussion disclosed the fact that, SEN
0tors recognized the accuracy Of the
newspaper reports, and had made up
their mind to stop the leak If possible.
There was some talk of appointing
committee to investigate the subject,
after the fashion of the committee APP
pointed several years ago, which re-
suited in the dismissal of an executive
clerk charged with having told news
paper men executive secrets, but against
whom no evidence had been secured.
Some senator's took the ground that
euch proceeding would have no bene-
fetal result, and the debate finally
Gained down after some of the older
senator's had scolded their junior bretil-
rem for the supposed offense af talking
about things which were forbidden.
Argues for Open Sessions.
The men who had made the fight
Monday for an open session found in
the subject under discussion additions
al reasons why their motion should pre-
vail, and urged the senate to reconsider
the subject, but this was not done. Sen
ator Teller declared his opposition to
no ,SoL
senate was engaging. The country, he
said, was interested in the arbitration
treaty. The text of that treaty with
the amendments had been made public,
and the people were talking about it.
They had been petitioning congress to
ratify the treaty. If there We're good
reasons why the treaty should be rati-
fed they were entitled to know them,
and il senators had reasons for voting
against the treaty the public ought to
be permitted to know why senators
took such action.
After this discussion had ceased sew
eral amendments were offered, and
without being read went over to be
printed. Senator Morgan had several
and Senator Stewart sent handful to
the clerks desk. There will be in
Vulnerable amendments before the dis
cussion is over. Conservative senators
said that it was apparent this debate
was to be kept up for some time, and the
chances were that no action could be
had until after the 4th of March. From
the 4th of March until the extra session
Is convened the senate will be in session
considering nominations, and if the
treaty has not been disposed of by that
time 1t will probably be discussed every
day. 1t will not be withdrawn by Mr..
Mckinley, and Mr.. Sherman, as sec
rotary of state, will be as Jealous in
securing it's ratification as he now is
as senator in charge of the convention.
The Debate.
It was late in the afternoon when the
discussion was turned to the treaty
proper. Senator Stewart made short
speech against the instrument and re-
peated some of the arguments he adj
vanced Monday when discussing the
motion to open the doors. In brief
Senator Stewart believes it will be a
good thing to reject the treaty because
Great Britain wants it. He is sus-
picious of that country and believes
that her intentions are not what they
purport to be.
Senator Morgan consumed the re-
mainder of the afternoon in continu-
alton of his speech begun Monday. The
indications are that he will not conclude
for several days. He read freely from
the reports of the state department. and
\ ct the senate committee on the Mica
raguan canal and the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty and quoted copiously from the
state department correspondence with
our ministers abroad on the same sub
sect. Senator Morgan said it would be
necessary for this government, before
binding itself in a general treaty of ar
b1tration, to settle the question Of the
vitality OF the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
end ascertain in what light Great Brit
AIN views that ancient and much dis
huhsed convention, which Senator Nor
gan contends should never have been
Negotiated, but once negotiated ought
Rqver to have been ratified by the SEN
He then offered an amendment pro-
gading for the abrogation of the Clay
kon-Bulwer treaty, and advocated it at
4ome length. Senator Morgan has al
ways been opposed to that treaty, and
be said the conditions that appeared to
make it necessary when agreed to, no
longer existed. The treaty was obsolete
and, 80 far as we were concerned, un-
necessary, although Great Britain
would seize every opportunity to make
Il answer her purposes. He called at
tention to the fact that whenever con-
gress had discussed the proposed con-
struction Of the Nicaragua canal, this
treaty was used as club to stop the
United States. There could be no doubt,
Senator Morgan said, that Great Britain
would make this general treaty of arbi-
tration serve her ends as she had the
Elayton-Bulwer treaty.
Senator Morgan also commended that
4hs Nioaraguan canal should ba except
II from the treaty BY name. md gsYk
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