New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-25
PRICE THREE CENTS,
TREATY'S FATE IN DOUBT.
IT'S OPPONENTS SAY THEY HAVE THE
VOTES TO DEFEAT IT.
KNowN-A TIME FIXED FOR VOTING

on AMENDMENTS
| Washington, March 24-An agreement was
| reached in executive session OF the Senate this
afternoon hour for voting the amend
ments Of the general treaty OF arbitration be-
tween the United States and Great Britain but
consent to agreement for the final vote was
refused At o'clock next Wednesday the vote
will be taken on the amendments then pending.
and the treaty az amended is to be printed for
the use Of the Senate the next day. At o'clock
the day the vote Is to be taken on all amend
nents that may be offered in the time,
and this will be the last Of the votes on proposed
amendments. From that time the debate will
proceed on the treaty proper.
Senator Davis made persistent effort 10 Sc
cure an agreement hour for the final vote.
but was confronted with objections which made
such an agreement impossible II is thought.
however, that with all amendments out Of the
way the final vote cannot long be postponed.
What the ultimate outcome will be can hardly
be foreshadowed The opponents Of the treaty
profess 10 have the requisite thirty votes necee-
sary to compass its defeat. and say they have
several Of the Senators on their list The
qu .stons asked by these Senators Indicate
a lively interest in the convention and deter
mination 10 understand the subject thoroughly
before casting their votes. II would not be
surprise to the committee to have the treaty re-
jected.
DEBATE on THE Chiffon AMENDMENT.
Senator Morgan took the floor Immediately
after the doors were closed and spoke for an
hour or more in advocacy Of the Chiffon amend
ment. reiterating, however. his opposition to the
treaty as a whole. The Chiffon amendment as
has been said In these dispatches, makes an In
portant change In the tenor Of the first article
Of the treaty Under that article both the con-
tracing parties agree to submit 70 arbitration
under this general treaty "all questions In diner
ence between them which they may fail to ad-
just by diplomatic negotiation" Mr. Chiltons
amendment modhes this so as to make IT read
that the United States agrees to submit all ques-
tons which the Senate (Which is par, Of the
treaty making power shall decide TO De SUD
ject' 1T for arbitration.
The members Of the committee and Senators
opposed to any amendments other than those
made by the committee contend that this ID the
only construction that can be placed on the text
of the treaty and for that reason they hold that
the amendment is unnecessary. The advocates
Of the Chiffon amendment contend on the otner
hand that II this is the construction placed upon
the text by the Senate and the committee, no
harm can come from the adoption OF an amend
ment which makes plain what now appears to
be somewhat doubtful.
1t was also said to-day that the comments OF
the English press on the committee amendments
which were agreed TO the other day make It i'm.
peratively the duty of the Senate 10 frame the
treaty so that there can be possible doubt
about the intention OF the Senate.
Mr. Morgan thought the Chiffon amendment
essential and vital If the treaty was to be
ratified he wanted it safeguarded in every posi-
bic manner and warned the Senate that. how
ever it might be protected. Great Britain would
find a oophoe through which she would evade
her duties under the treaty If her interests de-
manded that she escape them
MR. LODGE SPEAKS FOR THE TREATY.
Mr. Morgan was answered by Mr. Lodge. who
declared his belief that the treaty reported TO
the Senate amply protected the United States.
To amend it further would only complicate the
language of the convention. Mr.. Lodge made a
short speech in favor of arbitration as prin-
ciple and eulogistic OF the pending treaty as
proper expression OF the extent 10 which this
Government ready TO go.
Chairman Davis and Mr.. Hoar also spoke
briefly i'm advocacy Of the treaty amended by
the committee and against the amendment pro-
posed by Senator Chiffon. Mr.. Spooner. one OK
the new men, insisted that the Chiffon amend
ment was not ill-timed. for the reason that ~
made clear what appeared to be the admitted
intention of the Senate. Mr. Thurston was or
the same view.
The debate showed that some OF the best law
vers in the Senate Of the opinion that the
Chiffon amendment should prevail
Nv Da vis TO- morrow will move another execu-
tive session at as early an hour possible for
Tho nurnoee of permitting discussion on several
amendments which have not yet been formally
submitted.