The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-01

Washington, Jan. 31.-Every member
of the senate committee on foreign re-
latiOns with the exception of Mr.. Iur-
pie, was present Saturday morning
when the committee convened rev
minutes before II o'clock to consider
the general treaty of arbitration pc
tween the United States and Great BTU
ain, and agree upon report for SUBJ
mission TO the senate ON Monday. AL
1.3O D. m vote was taken on the
treaty, with certain amendments, and a
favorable report was ordered made to
the senate on Monday.
The most important amendment was
that which added at the end of Article
!. the following words: But no ques-
tion which affects the foreign or domes-
tic policy of either of the high contract
ing parties or the relations of either
with any other state or power, by
treaty or otherwise, shall be subject to
arbitration under this treaty except by
a special agreement" This amendment
the committee believes will cover the
Monroe doctrine and the Nicaragua
canal.
The second amendment strikes out all
reference to his Majesty the King of
Sweden and Norway as the umpire In
case the court fails to agree upon an
umpire. The motion to strike out this
clause was carried with but one mega
tive vote, that of Senator Gray, of
Delaware.
THE FINAL VOTE.
The vote on the final motion to report
the treaty to the senate as amended
was SO close that it startled some of
the friends of the convention, who be-
lieved there would be practically no
opposition to the amended treaty. When
the roll was called the votes We're cast
as follows: In favor of reporting the
treaty to the senate-Messrs. Sherman,
Davis, Frye, Lodge, Cullom (Republi-
cans), and Gray (Democrat). Total, g.
Against reporting the treaty to the SEN
ate-Messrs. Morgan, Mills. Daniel
Qemocrats), and Cameron (Republi-
CAM. Total, 4.
1t was decided that the treaty should
be called up in the senate at the earli-
est day possible. The question of it's
consideration in open session was dis
cussed informally. 1t is understood
that while the members of the commit
tee believe that such a motion may pre-
vail. if made, no member of the COM
mittee will initiate it. This motion,
the membership of the committee.
The debate in the committee room de-
Neloped an opposition to the treaty UNI
der any conditions that was entirely
unexpected, and if the minority of the
committee represent a proportionate
membership of the senate, the indica-
tons are that the treaty will have a
lard time securing the requisite tWo-
birds vote.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.
The agricultural appropriation bill
was the principal and almost the sole
subject of consideration in the house
Saturday. AS usual, the distribution of
seeds gave rise to an animated discuss
sion, which lasted two hours. Mr.
Moody (Rep., Mass.) denounced the seed
distribution as the greatest humbug to
be found in Washington, and a shame
ana disgrace as we'll Mr. Bromwell
(Rep, o. offered an amendment au-
thor.ZinS the members to select the
,seecs they desire, the department of
jaSficulture to purchase and distribute
jthe same. Supporting the amendment
I MY. Bromwell gave this experience with
uJle of the seed contractors as congress-
Ynan and as a private purchaser. The
\
seeds purchased by the department and
supplied to him contained just six Vari-
cites two of which We're SunfloWers and
castor beans. He purchased of the
same contractor as an individual 1000
packages One lot of these 400 in
number contained over fifty varieties,
ana another had some correspondence
with the contractor, In which he eX-
pressed the opinion that fraud had
been perpetrated upon the government,
and this opinion had been intensified
by proposition on their part amount
ing practically to an offer to bribe him
TO say nothing about his experience.
MI. Mercer (Rep., Neb) offered an
amendment that, in addition to seeds,
every farmer be furnished half dozen
chickens, hogs, horses, and cattle, all
thoroughbreds' and equally divided as
TO sex. Mr.. BromWelPs amendment as
TO the method of selection and allotment
or seeds was agreed to- A rising vote
on Mr.. Hills motion to strike out the
appropriation for seeds was announced
SO ayes and SO noes. A count by tell
ers was had, resulting: Ayes, 80; noes,
fO Among the affirmative votes was
Speaker Reed, this being the first vote
In this congress.