The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-10
SENATORS ARE WRATHY.
They Want to Know Who Dis.
closes Executive Business.

Washington, Feb. 9.-For ut least half
of the four and Il half hours the Senate
was III secret session to-day the press re-
ports of Yesterdays session were che sub
iect OF discussion. Senators We're indig-
nant that after they had voted so over
whelmingly that the doors should be
closed, the facts rs they occurred in the
chamber should Inc permitted to reach the
public. The discussion was precpitated
Immediately after consideration OF a few
nominations
Mr.. Vest asked if the treaty was to he
considered in executive session, and if so
it would he we'll for the Senate to ascer-
tain if the Senate was really in secret
session. He admitted the accuracy CT
the press reports.
The discussion waxed warm and was
participated in by Senators Hill, Pugh,
Honr, GalliEger, Hale, Teller, Stewart
and others.
There WIS an intimatiOn that officers
of the Senate had been guilty of violation
of the rules by giving away legislative
secrets, hut this was combatted, notably
by Mr.. Hill, who said that everybody
knew legislative matters were told by
Senators and no one else. The discus
sion disclosed the fact that Senator's re.
cognized the accuracy of the newspaper
reports, and had made up their minds to
stop the leak. There was some talk of APP
pointing a committee to investigate the
subject.
Some Senators took the ground that
such IL proceeding would have no benefi.
cnl results, and the debate finally Gained
down after some of the older Senators had
scolded some of their junior brethren
for the supposed Offense of talking about
things which were forbidden.
The men who had made the fight YES
telday for an open session found in the
subject under discussion additional ren-
sons why their motion should prevail,
and urged the Senate to reconsider the
subject, but this was not done. Mr.
Teller declared his opposition to the
secret session in which the Senate was
engaged. He said the country was inter
ested in the treaty. The text of the
treaty with the amendments had beer,
made public, and the people We're talking
about it, and they Lad been petitioning
Congress to ratify the treaty. If there
were good reasons why the treaty should
he ratified they were entitled to know
them, and If the Senator's had reasons for
voting against the treaty the public
ought to he permitted To know why SEN
ators took such action. The attempt mt
secrecy was II Inockery, and Mir. Teller
said he did not believe the Senate could
maintain it.
Alter the discussion had ceased several
amendments were offered and without
being read went over to he printer. Son.
ator Morgan hal several and Senator
Stewart, of Nevada, sent IL handful to
the clerks desl;
There will Ia innuncrahle amendments
before the discussion is over. Conservil-
tive members consider that the debate
will be kept up for some time, and no nc
Jion will be had until the ith of March.
From then until the extra session is con,
rcned the Senate will he in se sion con-
sidering the nominations, and if the
treaty has not been disposed of by that
time it will probably he discussed every
day. 1t will not be withdrawn .by Mr..
Mckinley, and Mr. Sherman, ns Secrc-
th:y OF State, will be rs Jealous in sccur
ing It's ratification ms he now is as Scna
tor in charge of the committee.
II was late in the day when the discus
sion was turned to the treaty proper MIR.
Stewart made Il short speech against the
instrument and repeated some of the ar
Guments he advanced yesterday when dis.
cussng the motion for open doors In
briei, Mr.. Stewart believes it will be a
good thing to reject the treaty because
Great Britain wants it, lie is suspicious
of chat country and believes chat their in
tention, are not what they purport to he.
Senator Morgan consumed the remain.
der of the afternoon in Il continuation OF
his speech begun yesterday The indica.
tions are shat he will not conclude for
several days. He read freely this even.
ing from the reports of the State Depart
nent and of the Senate committee on the
Nicaraugan canal and the Clayton. Bulwer
treaty