The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-03-20
ORDERED FAvoRAeLYREPoRTED
Arbitration Treaty to Be Reported to
Senate ThurSday. ~

Arbitration Treaty to Be Reported 70
Senate Thursday. %s
Washington, March 1s.-The senats
committee on foreign relations spent
two hours Wednesday morning In the
consideration Of the general treaty Of
arbitration with Great Britain and then
ordered favorable report to be made
to the senate to-day with amendments
in line with those indicated In previous
dispatches. The amendments are adj
ministrative only in character. The
scope of the treaty has not been
touched. Much of the public criticism
against the action of the committee DUR
ing the last session was due to the al
legged fact that tho committee had emas-
culated the convention and made 1t
practically mere shell. The amend.
ment to the first article that no ques.
ton relative to the foreign or domestic
policy OF either party should be INCLUDE
ed, which was previously given much
prominence, has disappeared entirely.
The same result is reached, however, in
q very different manner.
The designation of King Oscar Of
Sweden and Norway az the umpire has
been stricken out, as has been all ref
erenoe to the justices of the supreme
court of the United States as members
Of the tribunal established under the
treaty In place of this designation it
is stipulated that "jurists Of repute"
shall be named by the president to act
as such arbitrars. The chief amend.
ment of the convention, however, IL
found In the clause which reserves to
the United States the sanction Of the
whole treaty-making power in deciding
what questions shall be submitted to ar
bitration. This provision will make it
necessary for. the president to submit
to the senate for its approval all ques'
tons intended to be submitted 70 the
arbitral court.
The committee have acted in the be.
lief that it has only reserved to this
government the identical power re'
served by Great Britain, which unde1
the treaty decides through its premier
what questions shall be arbitrated.
Under the British form Of government
one man alone, the premier, acting for
the crown, determines all matters 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 gov.
eminent, and reasoning thus the senate
committee sees no reason why there
should be any change in the practices
based upon these stipulations Of the
written constitution-that have gov.
erned such questions with us since the
foundation of our government. In
other words, both powers are made
equal and the subsequent proceedings
under the treaty, after it shall be rati.
fled, will proceed according to the laws
Of the respective governments of the
contracting parties.
It il needless to point out that under
the treaty as thus amended no argu-
ment can consistently be advanced that
the senate is relinquishing any Of the
prerogatives given it by the constitu.
ton. It will be ratifying this treaty to
indorse and subscribe to the doctrines
OF universal arbitration to which the
United States stands pledged, and then
leave all questions as to details con.
nected with the submission of specific
subjects to the constituted authorities
of both countries. - , IL
Acting Chairman Davis will urge as
speedy action in the senate az possible.
It is quite likely that much Of the time
during the next two weeks will be spent
in executive session. Pending the ar.
rival of the tariff bill in the senate the
treaty will be discussed, together with
the consideration OF presidential nomi.
nations, and it is the confident expecta-
ton of the committee that it will be
able to have this convention out of the
way by the LIST of April. !