The news & observer., 1897-01-23
THREE DISTINCT
SENSATIONS
Developed During the Session
of the Senate.
ANGLO-AMERiCAN TREATY
WAS UNEXPECTEDLY BROUGHT
UP AND DISCUSSED.
PRIVATE gill DAY IN THE HOUSE
Several Pension Bills Passed--House
Passes a Bill Over Growers
Veto by Vote of
I44 to 6S.

i44 to 6S.
Washington, Jan. 22.-Ihe session OF
the Senate to-day developed three dis
tinct sensations. Most important OF
these was the presentation of Mr. Sher-
man of a letter from Minister Rodri-
cuaz inc representative of the Greater
Republic of Central America, (includmg
Nicaragua in effect protesting against
the execution of the Nicaraguan canaa
project by the United States under the
concession granted in 1887 to the Nleara-
guam Canal Company As the bill Tor
this purpose was about to be voted ON by
the Senate, the appearance of the letter
created CONSERVATION among IT'S frends
Mr.. Morgan, its chief supporter, at once
declared that the letter was inspired Dy
Great Britain, who sought to drive the
United States from the Isthmus by using
the Central Americas as catspaw. lie
<olprted that Minister Rodriguez had
auaI Inlhere to execute such q plan and
~eH was an open threat against AM
erican control of the canal The debate
was very earnest and the letter made
a profound impression on the Senators.
Senator Villas declared that it struck a
death blow to the canal project proposed
by the pending bill.
Earlier in the day the Senate unexpect-
.edly found itself discussing the new An
gIo-American treaty. While the treaty
itself has been released, all discussion
OF it is restricted to executive sessions.
Notwithstanding this rule the expressions
were free and full from Messrs. Sher-
man, Gray, Cullon1, Lodge, Hoar and
others. The statements of these Sena-
tors were uniformly favorable to the
high principles of the treaty, the only
qualification being that it should receive
mature and dispassionate consideration.
Shortly after the session began Mr..
Turpie caused furry by criticising the
reported agreement between Mr.. Olney
and Mr.. Sherman, by which no action
was to be taken as to Cuba before March
f. Mr. Sherman emphatically denied
that any such agreement had been made
and added that he had not had word
with Mr. Olney in that direction. Mr..
Turpie gave notice of a speech on the
Cameron Cuban resolution ON Manday.
These three incidents relating to the cur
rent foreign questions made the day 3
session one Of the most eventful in years.
Mr.. Hoar preciptated the discussion ON
the arbitration treaty. In presenting
a petition from chamber of commerce
favoring the speedy ratification Of the
treaty, the Massach chusetts Senator added
some observations on the public pressure
ON the Senate. A great many pronm-
nent men and organizations Were tele-
graphing and writing to HIM urging Inn
mediate action on the treaty.
The Senate had not yet acted and In
mis- Judgment it was very poor diplomacy
to have these heated urterances direct
ed to Senators, telling them they should
act at once.
"While no man is more DESTROYS than
myself ito see the era of peace ON earth
and good Will toward men," added Mr..
Hoar, yet i wish to enter my protest
against the meddhng with the serious
duty of Senators, either by sermons or
professors lectures"
BY this time the galleries had filled,
Senators had come in from the cloak
room and there was intense interest in
the discussion. Mr.. Sherman followed
Mr.. Hoar, and there was added interest
in his statement in view of has early en-
try to the head of the State Department
and his present position as chairman of
the committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Sherman said the treaty was one
Involving such grave considerations that
1T should have the most careful, mature
and dispassionate consideration. That
was the present purpose of the committee
on Foreign Relations and the members of
that committee were about to take UP the
treaty and consider it article by article
with the greatest care. 1t would not be
proper said Mr. Sherman, for him to say
what the result would be, even if he
knew.
Mr.. Cullom here arose and said so far
as / am concerned, / believe in the gen.
eral proposition, but l am unwilling to
vote for a treaty that is so extensive in
its scope as that is until | feel certain
myself that | ann doing thing that Is in
the interests of the American people"
Mr.. Stewart, (Populist, New, brought
the debate to a crisis by his speech. A
nunIber of the older Senators had been
moving anxiously in their seats ever
since the debate had opened They ev!-
IDENTITY felt that the matter belonged on
~ to the seclusion OF the executive ses-
sion. Other Senators raerained, how
ever, from entering upon a.y details rs
to the merits of the treaty. Mr. Stewart
declared it to be chimerieal ts talk OF A
treaty for the settlement OF all differ
eEces arising between rwo countries re-
lated t. each other as are Great Britain
and The United States. "We have them"
he said, 1'on all sides, aorih ani south.''
As long as England continued ia in
craast Tier f0rtif ,ltlol3 from New