The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-10
SENATE CAN'T KEEP A SECRET.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION PROCEED
INGS LEAK OUT.

the Press Despite Their Injunction
TO the Contrary-SenRtOr mn RE-
news His Motion That the Treaty
BE Considered in Open Session, but
is Defeated.
Washington, Feb. 9.-For at least half
of the four and a half hours the Senate
was in secret session to-day, the press
reports of yesterdays session were the sub
ject of discussion.
Senators were indignant that after they
had voted so Overwhelmingly that the
doors should be closed, the facts as they
occurred in the chamber should be permit
ted TO reach the public
The discussion was precipated immedi-
ately after the consideration of a few NOM
iGatons ty Mr.. Vest asking if the treaty
was to be considered IN executive session
and adding that if it was it would be well
for the Senate 10 ascertain If il really was
in secret session. Mr.. Vest continued to
comment rather sareastically upon the
light that had been thrown upon the pro-
ceedings, but admitted the accuracy of the
press reports. The discussion waXed warm
and was participated in by Senators Hill,
Pugh, Hoar, Gallinger, Hale, Teller, Stew
art and others
There was an intimation that officers of
the Senate had been guilty of violation
of the rules by giving away executive Sc
crets, but this was combatted, notably by
Mr.. Hill. who said that everybody knew
executive matters were told by senators,
and no one else.
The discussion disclosed the fact that the
senator's recognized the accuracy of the
newspaper reports, and had made up their
minds to stop the leak if possible. There
was some talk of appointing a commit
tee to investigate the subject after tho
fashion of the committee appointed sew
eral years ago, which resulted in the dis
misSdl of an executive clerk. charged with
having told newspaper men eX-
ecutive secrets, but against whom
no evidence had been secur-
that such proceeding would have 10
beneficial result. and the debate finally
calmed down after some of the older sen
ators had scolded their junior brethren for
the supposed offense of talking about
things which were forbidden.
The men who had made the fight yester-
DAY Tor an open session found in the sun
Ject under discussion additional reasons
why their motion should prevail ana
urged the the Senate to reconsider the
subject but this was not done.
Mr.. Teller declared his opposition to the
secret performance in-Which the Senate
was engaging. The country, he said, was
interested in the arbitration treaty. The
text Of that treaty with the amendments
had been made public and the people were
talking about it, They had been petitioning
congress to ratify the treaty. If there were
good reasons why the treaty should be
ratified, they were entitled to know them,
and if the senators had reasons for voting
against the treaty the public ought to be
permitted to know why the senators took
such action. The attempt at secrecy was
mockery, and, Mr.. Teller said, he did
not believe the Senate could maintain it.
After the discussion had ceased several
amendments were offered and without be-
ing read, went over to be printed. Sena-
tor Morgan had several and Senator Stew
art of Nevada sent a handful of them to
the clerks desk. There will be innumera-
Bile amendments before the discussion is
over.
Conservative senators to-day said that
1t was apparent this debate was to be
kept up for some time, and the chances
were that no action could be had until
after the 4th of March. From the 4th Of
March until the extra session Is conVen-
ed, the Senate will be i'm session consider
ing the nominations, and IL the treaty has
not been disposed of by that time, II Will
proba bly, be discussed every day 1t will
not be withdrawn by Mr.. Mckinley and
Mr.. Sherman, as Secretary OF state VIII
he as jealous i'm securing its ratification
as he now is as senator in charge or
the convention.
1t was late in the afternoon when the
discussion was turned to the treaty prop
er Mr.. Stewart made short speech
against the instrument, and repeated some
OF the arguments advanced yesterday
doors In brief, Mr.. Stewart believes It
will be a good thing to reject the treaty
because Great Britain wants IT, He is
suspicious OF that country, and believes
that her intentions are not what they
purport to be.
Senator Morgan consumed the remain
der of the afternoon in a continuation Of
his speech begun yesterday. The indica-
tions are that he will not conclude for
several days. He read freely this after
noon from the reports OF the state de-
partment and of the Senate committee on
the Nicaraguan canal and the Clayton
Bulwer treaty and quoted coptously from
the state department correspondence with
our ministers abroad on the same subject.
Mr. Morgan said ii would be necessary
for this government, before binding it.
self in a general treaty of arbitration 20
settle the question OF the vitality of the
Clayton -Bulwer treaty and ascertain in
what light Great Britain views that an
Cient ara much discussed convention, which
Mr. Morgan contends ought never TO have
been negotiated, but once negotiated, ought
never to have been ratified by the Senate.
He then offered an amendment providing
for the abrogation OF the Clayton Bulwer
treaty and advocated it at some length Mr.
Morgan has always been opposed TO the
treaty, and to-day he said the conditions
that appeared 20 make IL necessary when
agreed TO, no longer existed. The treaty
was obsolete and so far as we were con-
cerned unnecessary, although Great Brit
ain would seize every opportunity 70 make
it answer her purpose. He called atten-
tiOn to the fact that whenever congress
ndd ulScuSaeu tne proposed CONSTRUCTION OF
the Nicaraguan canal, this treaty had been
used as a club to stop the United States.
There could be no doubt, Mr.. Morgan said.
that Great Britain would make this gem
eral treaty of arbitration serve her ends as
she hp1 the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. In
the further course of his speech, Mr.. Nor
gan called attention to the aggressions of
Great Britain In the Mosquito country. at
Belize, etc, TO show that she had time and
again violated the provisions Of that COM
pact, and by her violations practically
nulliied the treaty. The United States
had never taken official action and no time
was so opportune as the present. The oc-
caaiOn had now presented itself when the
United States could properly declare It's
position and annouce to Great Britain that
The Clay Bulwer treaty was no longer
considered by US 20 be In existence.
Mr.. Morgan also contended that the Nj
caraguan canal should be excepted from
the treaty by name, and gave notice that
he should offer an amendment TO that ef-
feet.
Mr.. Morgan also elaborated his PROPOSE
tion generally stated yesterday, that the
pending treaty was improper because II
virtually took from the Senate It's preroga-
tive under the constitution as a branch OF
the treaty making power OF the govern
ment and lodged that power In the hands
OF the President alone. The Alabama
senator has many other objections 20 Of