Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-19
FIVE HOURS TALK
Put In by the Senators Over a
Single Confirmation.
AM1DoNs FRIENDS ARE WINNERS,

And He Will BE . District judge In North
~Dskota-some Debate ON the Arbitration
Treaty, the Fate OF Which Will Proba-
bly, Bs Decided Today-ways and Means
Tariff Builders Fix the Rates ON Coal,
Coke and Tobacco.
Washington, Feb. 19.-The senate ad-
5ourned at $3.50 last night, after spend
ing six hours in executive session de-
voted to h consideration of the NOM
1nation Of Hon. G.. F.. Amidon, to be
district Judge Of North Dakota, and of
h Anglo-American arbitration treaty.
The greater part of this time was given
up to the judgeship question and the
treaty was not reached until about 5
o'clock. after Amidon's conf1rmation-39
to IA. h opposition to Amidon was
led by H~ansbrough, on the ground as
alleged that the %appointee was not fitted
Tor the position, owing to certain
charges made against him. No other
business Of Importance was done by the
senate. 1t had been the intention of the
friends Of the treaty to make an ex-
ordinary effort to secure. IL possible,
Ms disposition before adjournment yes
sSAuhy pub tncIG pIduS were ITuStTdIeQ
BY senators who were more anxious to
secure action upon nominations.
Votes bearing Upon the Treaty.
There were two y and nay votes
during the day bearing on the treaty.
In the first. which was a contest be-
ween the treaty and the nominations
an to which should have precedence, the
treaty lost. In the second, on a motion
to adjourn, which was antagonized prin-
cipally by the friends of the treaty, the
treaty won. as adjournment at that
time was prevented. Both votes were
close and neither was specially signih-
cant, as In the first vote some friends of
the treaty cast their ballots against It,
n In the second some Of its opponents
were adverse to adjournment. saying
they were as willing for the test yes
terday as at any other time. 1t was not
long after this latter vote that Sherman
himself moved an adjournment.
sherman VIII Make Another Effort.
In entering this motion Sherman said
that he was actuated by a desire to
consult the convenience of the senate,
n recognizing the fact that much of
the day had been given to another sub
ject he conceded that IL was hardly fair
to ask the senate to take up the treaty
mt that hour with q view to continuing
its discussion until 1t should be dis
posed Of. He CAV notice that he would
today at 1880 move an executive ses-
sion for the purpose of considering the
treaty alone, and that he would ask
that the session behind closed doors be
continued until the fate of the treaty
should be known. Upon this announce
ment the ena adjourned without
division.
P~ostponement Il Almost Certain.
There were no speeches on the merits
OF the treaty. but all that were made
were devoted to a motion to postpone
the treaty until the 9Th Of March. Mel
son. Allison and Frye were without ex-
ception friendly to the treaty. but they
urged the pressing character of other
business. Sherman, Lodge. Hoar and
Vest contended that a vote could be had
II the friends of the treaty would only
show their devotion by maintaining a
quorum day and night until a vote
could be reached. 1t Is conceded on all
sides that today's session will be the
final one on the treaty during this con-
Gress. The most probable result is the
adoption Of Nelson's motion to post
pone.