The times., 1897-03-18
THE ARBITRATION TREATY.
1t VIII Be Reported to the Sem
ate Today.

| ate Today.
| The Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations spent two hours yesterday in the
/ consideration of the general treaty OF
arbitration with Great Britain and then
ordered-a favorable report to be made to
the Senate today with amendments in
line with those hitherto indicated.
The amendments are administrative only
in character. The scope of the treaty has
not been touched. Much OF the public crit
icism against the action of the committee
during the last session was due to the al
legged fact that the committee had emascu-
lated the convention and made it prac-
tically mere she'll The amendment to
the first article, that no question relative
to the foreign or domestic policy OF either
party should be included, which was pre-
viously given such prominence. has disap-
pearede entirely. The same RESULTS reached,
however, in very different manner
The designation of King Oscar, OF Swe
den and Norway, as the umpire, has been
stricken out, as has been all reference
to the justices Of the Supreme Court of
the United States as members OF the tri-
place OF this designation it is stipulat ted
that ''Jurists OF repute' shall be named by
the President to act as such arbitratois. The
Chief amendment to the convention, how
ever, is found in the clause which reserves
to the United States the sanction OF the
wheletreaty making power in deciding what
questions shall be submitted to arbitration.
This provision will make 1t necessary for
the President to submit to the Senate for
It's approval OF disapproval all questions
intended to be submitted to the aJbitral
court.
The committee has acted in the belief
that IT has only reserved to This Govern
ment theidentical power reserved by Great
Britain, which under the treaty decides
through its premier what questions will be
arbitrated. Under the British form of
government one man alone, the premier,
acting for the crown, determines ali mat
ters of this sort and is the sole treaty
making power Of that nation. There is
under this general treaty, no deviation
from the universal rule of the British
government, and, reasoning thus. the Sen
ate committee sees no reason why there
should be any change in the practices -
based upon the stipulations of the written
constitution that have governed such
questions with US since the foundation of
our Government.
In other words, both powers are made
equal, and the subsequent proceedings un-
der the treaty. after it shall have been rati-
fled, will proceed according to the laws Of
the respective governments Of the con-
tracing parties.
1t as needless to point out that under the
treaty, as thus amended, no argument eau
consistently be advanced that the Senate
is relinqui shing, any Of the prerogatives
given IL by the Constitution. II will by
ratifying this treaty, indorse, and sub
scribe TO the doctrine of universal arbitra-
ton, to which the United States stands
pledged, and then leave all questions as
TO details connected with the submisso on OF
specific subjects to the constituted au-
thorities of both countries
Acting Chairman Davis will urge as
speedy action in the Senate as possible.
II is quite likely that mitch or the time
during the next two weeks will be spent
in executive session Pending the arrival
OF the tariff bill Ln the Senate the treaty
will be discussed, together with the con-
sideration Of Presidential nominations, and
it is the confident expectation OF the com
mittee that it will be able to have this
convention out of the way by the 1st OF
April.