The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-12
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Consideration of the Arbitration
Treaty in the senate.

Washington, February 1.-THE senate
spent the greater part OF the day in oxecu-
tive session, debating the Anglia American
arbitration treaty. Tho cntire time was
consumed by Senators Turpie and Morgan
the former in advocacy of and the latter
in opposition to the ratification. No action
was taken on any amendment or on any
part of the treaty, and but little apprcciable
progress was made.
The session opened with Senator Turpie'a
speech, which was reply to Senator Nor
CAMS attack upon the treaty. and demand
for its ratification by the senate without
any amendment, He opposed the amend
meuis made by the committee ON foreign
relations as useless and rs having tond-
ency both TO weaken the treaty and 10 rem
der 1t inharmonious in construction. He
laughed at and held up to ridiculo Senator
Mcrgan's fears of the effect Of the accept
anCe of tho treaty. saying that so astute u
man ms was the senator from Alabama
should not fear 10 he led into trap snt by
England. He declared that the United
States as Il Nation was big enough to be
perfectly independent and fearless in such
II matter and said we ought TO set an cx-
annie to other nations in all matters lock-
ing 10 The promotion of the reign of peace.
which was tire paramount purpose Of the
| pending agreement:
He contended that the perfection Of the
treaty would have :he effect Of preventing
such war panics as those which, followe |
the excitement over Venezuela, as the eN-
istence Of a treaty providing for the sub
mission Of al, questions TO arbitration
would be both a guarantee against war
with England and safeguard In case Of
war with other countries. He also urged
that In case II was found that tho enforce
nent OF the terms of the treaty involved
the Monroe doctrine and the Nicaragua
canal. the question could then be taken up
nv congrcss aud acted upon as effectively
ae at nrcsont The arbitration proposition.
| declared Mr.. Turpic, was no new thing u
had been proposed many times, In the
| Fifty first congress q concurrent resolution
was adopted by congress. republican IN
| both branches, in favor of the general prIh-
| ciple of arbitration. This resolution was ns
| follows: 81 49,, =,
| rcorosentatiyes cnncurringl. That the pres-
,,ent be and IL hereby requested 10 invite
from time to time. as 1T occasion MAJ arise
| negotiations with any government WIN
which the United States has or hAy nav
Diplomatic relations. to The end that any
differences or disputes arising ne,"euu 10y
Two governments which can act he aullst>
| "a IN, such means may b. ABUSED by arpi-
| tration. -, ,,o,,o ,,o
cxprcssinn of that congress N favor OF
,rt.l,rntion. nm expression which the peo-
Mo believed in and which had never been
| condemned. ,a,,
Mr., Turpie said that his views had been
ov,,rcssed in n recent article by ex-senator
/ Edmunds and that he could not 90 better
than to quote hin in full. He then pro
| oerded TO read the entire article OF t.h-
munds on tho arbitration treaty. FROM
time to time he would elaborate ana siy !,
Ms own views. amplifyIng those expressed
! A., - no v-senator Senator Tnrpie SAID ne
aScented the views Of Senator Edmunds as
n the fourth article of the treaty en-
i claimed ,hnt n could net involve the Nlcq-
/ .as,,a canal or pnv other question s,ich rs
~ ciaImcd by Senator Sherman and Son
ctor Morgan. ,,,r,.,o,
,,o,,ld not prevent war. but 1t was one Of
the means to tend IN that direction, wa, wa,
scarex when there was no excuse Tor them
ga ahen there was no possibility OF wal
would b averted by the adoption OF gen