The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-14
STILL UNABLE TO AGREE
SENATOR'S AGAIN DEBATE THE An
GLo-AMERICAN TREATY.
hut Fail to Adjust Their Differences.
afd Finally Adjourn-Mr. Tur-
pies Amendment.

WASHINGTON. Feb. IS.-The discussion
of the arbitration treaty i'm the Senate to-
day took the form of n debate. IL was pre-
cipitated by the presentation of an amend
ment by Senator Turpie. OF Indiana. 10 the
first article OF the treaty. providing that all
questions TO be submitted TO arbitration
must be considered and proposed by the
treaty-makng power, The President and the
Senate. This was the amendment referred
10. by Senator Sherman yesterday. which,
he said. the committee on foreign relations
would propose. While IL was not presented
as committee amendment. il had the sane
ton of the majority of the members of that
committee.
Senator Turpie stated that he did not
think the amendment was necessary. but il
was presented to meet the apprehensions of
some senators. who feared that the Senate
would be esstopped from all participation in
questions arising under the treaty.
Senator Gray. of Delaware. opposed the
amendment on the ground that il was a
radical departure from the presidents of the
past and that in fact, it would extend the
powers of the Senate far beyond anything
contemplated by the Constitution. Senator
Lodge answered Mr.. Gray and asserted that
the amendment would not enlarge the DOW
ers Of the Senate. but would preserve its
rlgnt as a part or the treaty-making power
OF the government Then there was a gen.
eral discussion of the constitutional ques-
tion involving the subject OF the power OK
the Senate and the prerogative of the ex-
ecutive.
Senator Hoar made an elaborate presenta-
ton of the legal side of the question and
commended that the amendment would not
enlarge the power Of the Senate. as asserted
by Senator Gray. Senators Lindsay, Teller.
Bacon Palmer, Mills and others partici-
One of the most important points was
made by Senator Chandler. who said the
effect of the amendment would be to compel
a new treaty TO be made every time the
subject was 10 be submitted to arbitration.
The point raised and discussed at length
was whether the Turpie amendment. il
adopted, meant that majority of the SEN
ate or two-thirds of the body should pass
This in view of the point made by Senator
Chandler became quite an important factor
In the debate during the day.
Another point was raised that under the
new amendment presented to-day by Mr..
Turpie II was doubtful whether arbitration
documents would go to the Senate alone or
to the Congress a whole and whether IN
the latter even majority vote would be
necessary. The different members of the
question. and Senator Teller made the point
that II the committee members who were
giving the subject especial study could not
unite in an Interpretation ii was no wonder
that other senator's otherwise occupied
had difficulty in understanding the probable
effects of the document. He argued from
this the necessity for postponement of fur
ther consideration until Senators could
have time TO investigate the question more
incident TO the close of 9Re sess io the rush
Senator Mills took strong grounds against
the government of the United States arbi-
trarily taking upon itself European entan-
clements, and contended for an independent
American policy He made the point that
the treaty offered no alternative in case of
the refusal OF members of the Supreme
Court TO serve as arbitrators. Senator
Palmer contended that there could be no
for himself he had seen enough OF war TO
be willing to accept any agreement that
would tend to secure peace between ma
tons.
Nearly all the senators who talked had
something to say about the difficulty of
giving the treaty the consideration its i'm
portance demanded at this session. and
were of the opinion that IL would be better
to have il go over until the next session.
About o'clock Senator Hill took the
floor and said. he thought the Senate
tired. that IL was time to adjourn, as the
senators desired TO give some attention 10
their correspondence. They had been tied
down very close for week and were en-
titled 10 a part of Saturday. He moved TO
adjourn, but upon the appeal of Senator
Ohio senator then discussed the treaty for
a few minutes, answering some of the OBJ
jections made and talking generally of the
general principle of arbitration.
MIR. Hill then raised the point of no quo
rum, and many senators had left the
hall. a quorum failed to appear and the
Senate adjourned.
1t is believed that Senator Sherman may
treaty. but the temper of the senators is
such that they Will not long allow other
business to be put aside. Senator Sher-
n an, IL is understood. would like TO have
that, he would like to have vote on the
question of postpo1ement.