The San Francisco call., 1897-03-25
ARBITRATION IS
NOT A CERTAIN TY
Rejection of the Treaty in
Any Form Is Not
Improbable.
New Senators Show a Disposi.
tion to Look Before They
Leap.
Determined TO Thoroughly Under.
stand the Subject Before Casting
Their Votes.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. March 24-The
Senate spent only half an hour in open
session to-day, the remainder of the time
being given to the consideration of the
a; bitration treaty behind closed doors.
The agricultural bill-one of the tour
money bills that failed at the last ses-
sion-was reported back IN the shape in
which it passed the House last week and
was placed on the calendar. 1t will be
acted on at an early day.
The attack upon the civil service law
and its administration, which distin-
guished yesterdays proceedings was fol-
lowed up to-day by the introduction OF
bills-one by Allen (Pop.l of Nebraska
for the repeal and annulment of the law
and of all executive orders issued under
it, and the other by Pritchard (R.) of
North Carolina, chairman of the Commit
tee on Civil Service and Retrenchment,
modifying its application to the Govern
ment Printing Office.
A bill prohibiting the exhibition in the
District of Colum bia of kinotescope illus
tratIons of prize-fights, and also prohibit
ing the transportation of materials there
ior through the mails or through the
troduced by Hoar (R.) of Massachusetts
and was referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
An agreement was reached in executive
session this afternoon on an hour for vot-
ing on the amendments to the general
treaty of arbitration between the United
States and Great Britain, but consent to
an agreement for the final vote was re-
fused. At 2 o'clock next Wednesday
afternoon vote will be taken on the
amendments and the treaty in its then
shape is 10 be prIn led for the use of the
Senate the next day. At 2 O'Clock on the
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 amend
ments. From that time on the deb ate
will proceed Oh the treaty proper.
Senator Davis made persistent effort
to secure an hour for the final vote, but
was confronted with objections that made
such an agreement impossible. 1t is
thought, however, that with all of the
amendments out Of the way the Senate
vote cannot long be postponed. What the
ultimate outcome will be can 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 ques-
tions asked by these new Senators indi-
cate lively interest in the convention and
a determination TO understand the subject
thoroughly before casting their votes. 1t
would not come as surprise 10 the COM
rnittee fO have the treaty reipctad
Senator Morgan took the floor imme-
diateIy after the doors were closed and
spoke for an hour or more in advocacy of
the Chiffon amendment, reiterating, how
ever, his opposition to the treaty as a
whole.
The Chiffon amendment, as has been
stated in these dispatches, makes very
important change in the tenor OF the first
article OF the treaty. Under that article
both the contracting parties agree to sub
NIT to arbitration under this general
treaty ''all questions in difference be-
tween them which they fail to adjust by
diplomatic negotiation"
Chilton's amendment modifes this read
ing so as to make it read that the United
States agrees to submit all questions
which the Senate (Which is part of our
treaty making power) shall decide to be
subjects fit for arbitration.
The members of the committee and
C9QdlOIS OppOS6O 10 any amendments
other than those made by the committee
contend that this is the only construction
that can be placed upon the text OF the
treaty, and for that reason they hold that
the amendment is unnecessary.
The advocates of the Chiffon amend
ment contend, on the other hand, that if
this is the construction placed upon the
text by the Senate and the committee no
harm can come from the adoption of an
amendment that makes plain what now
appears 10 be somewhat doubtful.
1t was also stated to-day that the COM
ments of the English press, with respect
to the committee amendments which were
agreed to the other day, make it impera-
lively the duty of the Senate to so frame
the treaty that there can be no possible
doubt about the intention of the Senate.
Morgan was one of these. He thought
the Chiffon amendment essential and
vital. If the treaty was to be ratified lie
wanted it safeguarded in every possible
manner, and warned the Senate that,
ain would ind loophole through which
the Government would eVade her duties
under that instrument If her interests
demanded thatshe so escape them.
Morgan was replied to by Lodge, who
declared his belief that the treaty as re-
ported to the Senate was amply protect
i've for the United States Government.
the language of the convention. Lodge
made a short speech in favor of arbitra-
lion as principle and eulogistic of the
pending treaty as proper expression of
the extent to which this Government was
ready to 90 in that direction.
Chairman Davis and Senator Hoar also
spoke briefly in advocacy of the treaty as
amended by the committee and against
the amendment proposed by the Senator
from Texas.
Spooner insisted that the Chiffon amend.
ment was not ill-timed, for the reason
that it made clear what appeared to be
the admitted intention OF the Senate.
Thurston was of the same view.
The debate showed that some of the
best lawyers in the Senate thought that
the Chiffon amendment should prevail.
Davis tomorrow will move another ex-
ecutiye session at as early an hour as pos
sibIe for the purpose of admitting discus
sion on several amendments that have not
yet been formally submitted.
DESPOILED OF IT'S MEANING.
What English officials and Popers Say
of the Treaty.