Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-25
ITS DOOM -FORESEEN.
Arbitration Treaty Now Trembling in
the Balance--Morgan Favors the
Chiffon Amendment.

Washington, March 24.--An agreement
was reached in executive session this af-
ternoon on an hour for voting on the
amendments to the general treaty of ar
bitration between the United States and
Great Britain, but consent to an agree
ment for the final vote was refused.
At 2 o'clock next Wednesday the vote
will be taken on the amendments then
pending and the treaty in its then shape
Is to be printed for the use of the senate
the next day. At o'clock of Thursday
following, the vote is to be taken upon
all amendments that may be offered in
the meantime and this will be the last of
the votes on proposed amendments. From
that time the debate will proceed on the
treaty proper.
Senator Davis made persistent eff
fort to secure an agreement for an hour
for the final vote, but was confronted
with objections that made such an agree
ment impossible. 1t Is thought, how
ever, that with all amendments out of the
way the final vote cannot long be post
poned
What the ultimate outcome will be cam
hardly be foreshadowed. The opponents
of the treaty profess to have the requisite
thirty votes necessary to compass the
defeat of the treaty, and say they have
several of the new senators on their list.
The questions asked by these new sena-
tors indicate lively interest in the con-
ventiOn and a determination to UNDER
stand the subject thoroughly before
casting their votes. 1t would not come
as a surprise to the committee to have
the treaty rejected.
Senator Morgan took the floor immedi-
ately after the doors were closed and
spoke for an hour or more in advocacy
of the Chiffon amendment, reiteratinG,
however, his opposition to the treaty as
a whole The Chiffon amendment makes
a very important change in the tenor of
the first article of the treaty. Under
that article both the contracting parties
agree to submit to arbitra ton under this
general treaty, all questions in difference
between them which they may fail to
adjust by diplomatic negotiations.
Mr.. Chllton's amendment modifies this
reading so as to make 1t read that the
United States agrees to submit all ques-
lions which the senate (Which is part of
our treaty making power shall decide to
be subjects fiji for arbitration
The members Of the committee and sem
ators opposed to any amendments other
than those made by the committee, con-
tend that this is the only construction
that can be placed on the text of the
treaty, and for that reason they hold
that the amendment is unnecessary. The
advocates of the Chiffon amendment con-
tend, on the other hand. that if this is
the construction placed upon the text
by he stnnte and the committee no
harm can come from the adoption of an
amendment that makes plain what now
appears to be somewhat doubtful. 1t
was also stated today that the comments
of the English press with respect to the
committee amendments which were
agreed 20 the other day, make it impera-
lively the duty cf the senate to so frame
the treaty that there can be no possible
doubt about. the intention of the senate.
Mr.. Morgan was one OF these. He
thought tbs Chiffon amendment essential
and vital. If the treaty was to be ratified
he wanted it safeguarded in every posi-
bic manner, and warned the senate chat
however it might be; protected Great Brit
ain would find a loophole through which
the government would evaGa The duties
under that instrument, If hsr interests
demanded that she so escape them.
Mr.. Morgan was replied to by Mr..
Lodge, who declared his belief that the
treaty reported to the senate was amply
protective for the United States govern
ment. To further amend 1t would but
c7mplcate the language of the conven-
ton Mr. Lodge made shor, speech in
favor OF arbitration as principle and
eulogistic of the pending treaty as
proper expression of the extent to which
this government was ready to so in that
direction.
Chairman Davis ard AIR Hoar also
spoke briefly in advocacy of the treaty
as amended by the Committee and against
the am ndment pronosed by the senator
from Texas M: Spooner. one OF the
new men. insisted. that the Chiffon
amendmen: was not ill-tmed, Cor the rea
| son that II r-ade clear what appeared to
| be the admitted ir.ertion of the senate
| NJ Thurston was Of the sans view
! The deha ~ Showed thi: some of the best
| Ia wyers in the senate were Of the opin-
| ION that the Chiffon amendment should
| prevail. Mr.. Davis will tomorrow move
! another executive session at as early an
: hc"r ss possible for the purpose of per-
! nlir';ng discussion on several amend
m=nts that hive not yet been formally
3; submitted.
| BAILEY'S THROAT OUT OF ORDER
Washington. March -2i.--Mr Bailey, of
| Texas rnnerity leader in the house stat
| ed tonight tia hc ,'Gnld not close the de-
lie y Co. l. 4