The herald., 1897-02-14
THE F|FTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
Perkins Feels for Famine.
Stricken India
A VESSEL TO BE PROVIDED
To Carry the Food Supplies Furnished
by Americans
The House Debate on Appropriations Drifts
Into Politics - Cuba's Cause 10
Strongly Urged
Associated Press Special Wire


| ing of the senate today Perkins of Call
| fornia secured immediate consideration
| of a Joint resolution directing the secre-
| tary of the navy to employ naval YES
sci or chartered ship to carry grain to the
famine-st stricken people of India. The
resolution recites that famine and
plague are causing distress and the loss
of thousands of lives in India. The
famine can be in part stayed by supply
ing surplus products of other localities
to the distressed districts, and many
Western states have contributed grain.
The resolution therefore directs the Sec
retary of the navy to furnish suitable
naval vessel for the authorities of San
Francisco or charter vessel of 1900 to
5000 tons for the shipment of the contri-
buttons. The appropriation necessary
for the expenses is provided. There was
TO discussion and the resolution passed
una animously.
Allen of Nebraska offered a resolu-
ton directing the civil service commits
sion to report on recent discharges at
South Omaha, Neb., in the cattle inspec-
ton service The resolution went over
until Monday.
A joint resolution directing the COM
mittee on public lands to inquire into the
Perrine land grant of Florida was agreed
to.
Morgan was about to call up his reso-
luton introduced yesterday for the alb
rogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty,
but on Sherman's motion the senate went
into executive session, the open session
having lasted but twenty minutes.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-The discus
sion of the arbitration treaty in the sem
ate today took the course of constitu-
tional debate. 1t was precipitated by
the presentation of an amendment by
Senator Turpie of IndicNa, to the first
article of the treaty, providing that all
questions to be submitted to arbitration
must be considered and proposed by the
treaty making power, the president and
the senate. This was the amendment
referred to Senator Sherman yester-
day, which he said the committee on
foreign relations would propose. While
it was not presented as a committee
amendment. it had the sanction of the
majority of the members of that COM
mittee.
Senator Turpie stated that he did not
think the amendment was necessary, but
it was presented to meet the appre-
tensions of some senators who feared
that the senate would be stopped from
all participation in questions arising
under the treaty. Senator Gray of Della
ware opposed the amendment on the
ground that it was a radical departure
from the precedents of the past and that
it in fact extended the powers of the
senate far beyond anything contem-
Mated bV the cons StitlltiOn.
Senator Lodge answered Mr.. Gray and
asserted that the amendment would not
enlarge the powers of the senate, but
would preserve its rights as part of
the treaty-making power of the govern
ment. Then there was general discus
sion of the constitutional question, in
volving the subject of the power of the
senate and the prerogative of the exec
utiVe.
Senator Hoar made an elaborate pre-
santation of the legal side of the ques-
ton and contended that the amendment
would not enlarge the power of the
senate as asserted by Senator Gray.
Senators Lindsay, Teller, Bacon,
Palmer. Mills and other participated
in the debate. One of the most import
ant points was made by Senator Chan
dler, who said that the effect of the
amendment would be TO compel a new
treaty to be every time a subject was to
be submitted to arbitration.
Another point raised and discussed
at some length was whether in case the
Turpie amendment was adopted, if it
would mean that a majority of the senate
or two thirds of the body should pass
upon the subject proposed for arbitra
ton. This, in view of the point made
by Senator Chandler, became quite an
important factor in the debate during the
day.
Another point was made that under the
new amendment presented today by Mr..
Turpie it was doubtful whether arbitra-
ton agreements would go to the senate
or to congress as q whole, and it was
shown that in the latter event a ma
tority vote only would be necessary. The
different members of the committee did
not appear TO agree on this question and
Senator Teller made the point that if the
members of the committee who We're
giving the subject especial study could
not unite in an Interpretation it was no
wonder that other senators whose time
was largely taken " with other sub
jects had difficulty in understanding the
probable effect of the document. He
argued from this the necessity for post
ponement of further consideration until
the senators could have time to inVes-
tigate the rush incident to the close
OF the session. Senator Mills took strong
grounds against the government of the
United States unnecessarily taking upon
itself European entanglements and con-
tended for Independent American pol
icy. He made the point that the treaty
offered no alternative in case of the re-
fusal of members of the supreme court
to serve as arbtrators.
Senator Palmer contended that there
could be no risk in accepting the treaty,
and said that for himself he had seen
enough of war to be willing to accept
any agreement that would tend to Sc
cure peace between nations.
Nearly all the senators who talked had
something to say about the difficulty cf
giving the treaty the consideration it's
demanded at this session,
and were of the opinion that it would be
better to have ii go over until the next
session.
At o'clock Senator T1ill took the floor
and said he thought the senate was tired
and that it was time 10 adjourn. The
sneator desired to give some attention
to their spoudence. They had been
tied down very close for a week and
were entitled to part of Saturday. He
moved to adjourn, but upon the appeal
of Senator Sherman the motion was
voted down. The Ohio senator then an
sWered some of the objections made,
and talked of the ad-antaSs-p of arbitra-
ton.
Senator Hill then raised the point of no
quorum and then, as many senators had
left the hall. quorum failed to appear
End the senate adjourned.
1t is believed that Senator Sherman
may again seek to get consideration of
the treaty, but the temper of the sena-
tor is such that they will not allow other