Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-09
AGAIN DOWNED Senate Passes Texas Judicial
 District Bill BY A DECISIVE MAJORITY Arbitration Treaty Discussed Behind Closed
 Doors In Spite of EFFORTS TO HAVE THEM PUBLIC Hill as Usual Favored the Open Session But
 
EFFORTS TO HAVE THEM PUBLIC
Hill as Usual Favored the Open Session But Had Followers-D District of Columbia In the House-Mr. Watson's
 Hard Luck-News Notes.

took place behind closed doors; the ques- tion under consideration being the Anglo American arbitra tion treaty.
 During the morning hours, before the motion to proceed to executive business was made by MT. Sherman, chairman of the committee on foreign relations, the senate indulged in an exhibition of its utter disregard of the reasons assigned by President Cleveland for withholding his approval from bill passed by both houses.
 It was bill creating a new judicial district in Texas. The United States judge, district attorney, marshal and clerk had reported to the department of justice that the proposed Legislation was not only unnecessary. but that it would be serious Interruption to the business of the court, and on that report the pres ident had acted in Vetoing the bill. He was aroundly taken to task by MT. Mills (dem. Tex), for having consulted those officials Instead of consulting the two senators and thirteen representatives from the state of Texas. Remarkably --enough, however, MT. Hoar (rep. Mass), found very strong, good and honest reasons" for the presidents action, but still favored the bill in the interest of the people living in the counties embraced
  to the yea and nay vote there was but one senator (Caffery dem. La.), recorded against the bill, while there were seventy five senators voting to pass it notwith- standing the presidents action.
 A concurrent re eJlution for the with drawal of bill from the president on account of the discovery of substan- tial mistake in it led MT. Hill (dem. N. Y). to question the constitutionality Of such proposition; and the matter went over for further consideration. In accordance with his notice, MT. Sherman moved an executive session a few minutes after l o'clock at the conclusion of the morning business, and the doors were closed for the consideration of the arbitration treaty with Great Britain.
 E MT. Hill at once made a motion that the doors be opened and the debate proceed in the presence of the public. He laid some stress upon the ridiculouspess of debate upon a matter, the text of which was in possession of the public; not only the text, but the amendments proposed by the committee. which were published in full despite the refusal of the senate, to remove the injunction of secrecy there from.
 The motion was antagonized not only upon parliamentary grounds, but for the reason that it would be against public policy for such proceedings to be permit ted. MT. Gray, of Delaware, was the first sneaker to antagonize the motion Of the senator from New York.
 Senator Gray was followed by Senators Lodge and Sherman, who likewise op- posed the motion of Senator H1ll. Both these members of the foreign relations committee took the broad grounds that such a proceeding was against the estab- Ished precedents of the senate, ana II 1t was agreed to could only lead 10 III results. Treaties were solemn compacts with other powers, and whatever was .eiI fn1 of demerits ought to be said behind closed doors. If there was to be criticism 1t ought not to be in public places, where the heat of debate might lead to the ut terance of sentiments that might be preJ- judicial to the frinedliness now existing between the two nations.
 In the course of his remarks, MT. Lodge said that so far as his personal interests were concerned, he would favor an open session, for the reason 1t would enable him to show his constituents and the country just what he desired with regard to this treaty; but when he considered the subject from the standpoint of what was best for the country, he saw very clear ly that closed session was not only de- sirable, but imperative. He did not wish to see this treaty debated to death. As amended and reported to the senate he favored it. and desired that such course might be pursued as would lead to it's ratification by the senate.
 MT. Morgan, another member of the committee, also antagonized the motion of MT Hill. He began his speech with the statement that he supposed an inn mediate vote would be taken, but fif- teen minutes after this statement was made there was no indication of an ap- preaching conclusion of the speech of the senator from Alabama.
 MT. Morgan took grounds similar to those upon which the preceding speakers had stood.
 ; Senator Stewart of Nevada, made vigorous speech in favor of an open ses- sion While he did not say so in words, the inference was drawn rom ms re- the reason that it would be conducive to the defeat of the treaty.
 MT. Hill again took the floor and made a brief speech in favor of his motion, and was replied to by MT. sherman, who made a final appeal to the senators not to onen the doors on such an important matter as was now before the senate.
 The vote was then taken and resulted in an overwhelming majority against public debate. The votes cast In favor or an open session were:
 Messrs Brown, of Utah; Hill, of New York: Lindsay, of Kentucky; Peffer, of Kansas: Roach, of North Dakota; Stew art. of Nevada; Tillman, of South Caro- lima, and Teller of Colorado.
 The consideration of the treaty on it's merits was then DSS anu ldSlCh uitti 5:25 D. m, when the senate adjourned until tomorrow.
 IN THE HOUSE..
 Today's session of the house or rep- .resentatives was taken up almost who'll ly in the consideration of bills relating to the District of Columbia. None of them were of more than local interest or importance.
 The copy of the returns of the votes of the several states for presidential cleo tors, which the law directs, shall be sent -nao;<ar Ia if hafara f1e hOllse