The record-union., 1898-12-25

about the size of large encyclopedia.
Then, Joining Senator Gray. they pro-
ceeded together TO the private vesti-
bule, Mr. Moore carrying the treaty
under his arm 49,
All the members of the commission
being now assembled, the President led
the way to the blue room.
Taking the treaty, Judge Day ad-
dressed the President inTthe manner
already alluded to. His remarks were
quite informal and impromptu, brief,
dignifed and to the point, in assuring
the President of the satisfaction the
commission felt that it's labors were
ended in such a way as to give prom
ise of the welfare of the country.
After the Presidents response some
time was spent in informal discussion
of the trip, and then all of the Com
missioners except Judge Day departed.
The latter remained with the President
for dinner, intending to leave with
Mrs. Day at 7:3O o'clock for Canton,
where they are anxious to see their
family after the long absence.
Mr. Reid returned to New York to-
night, Senator Gray went to his home
in Delaware, and Senators Davis and
Frye remain at their homes in Wash
ington.
1t was stated that the treaty would
not be made public at present, the
usual courtesy to the Senate requiring
that it should be submitted, to that
body before being made public. In the
meantime it will remain in the custody
of the State Department for safe keep
ing, although copies of it will be in the
hands of the President for such eonsid-
Grafton as may be needed.
1t is the impression that with the
submission of the treaty to the Presi-
dent the official existence of the Peace
Commission terminated. Should there
be occasion, which is scarcely conceiv-
able, for further negotiations on any of
the subjects touched by the treaty, it
is said that this will be either done by
direct negotiation with the Madrid
Government, or through an entirely
new commission. 1t is rather re-
markable fact that the Commissioners
were enabled to complete their work
in Paris in almost exactly the time pre-
dicted by Judge Day before he left the
United States.
1t is expected that the treaty will be
submitted to the United States Senate
sembling of Congress.
COMMISSIONERS HAVE LITTLE TO
SAY.
NEW YORK, Dec. 24.-Judge Will
lam r. Day, Senator Davis, Senator
Gray, Senator Frye and Whitelaw Reid,
the United States Commissioners to ar
range a treaty Of peace with Spain,
reached home to-day on board the
steamer st. Louis. Holding that the
rules governing their diplomatic mis-
sion are still in force, none of the gen.
tlemen named would speak regarding
the work at Paris. They took the first
train TO Washington, carrying the
treaty Of peace with them. ]. Bassett
Moore, Secretary and counsel of the
Commission, and Arthur W.. Ferguson,
the interpreter and translator, were
with the Commissioners.
Mr.. Reid said he and his fellow Com
missioners We're very glad to get back,
but they could not discuss the treaty.
I'VE are going to Washington this
afternoon by the first train we can get"
he said, "and shall report Immediately
to the President. 1t was understood
among us that we should say nothing
about our official business when we ar
rived When the treaty was signed it
became an official document, and 1t
must be left for the public of the Unit
ed States and the President to decide
what shall be done with it."
Mr.. Reid would not discuss the pub
Iished translation of what purported to
be the text of the treaty, nor would he
say anything about Montero Rios re-
cent criticism Of the commission. "As
a newspaper man, 1 should like to
speak," he said, "but as public offi-
cial cannot"
Senator Gray, the only Democrat on
the commission, when told of w. j..
Bryan's recently declared attitude on
the question of expansion, said: 1 am
not on to Colonel Bryan's curves yet. =
The Senator said that he had an opin-
ion concerening expansion. II have no
doubt" said he, "that there is a sober,
thoughtful opinion in this country
against expansion-there must be. The
treaty gives us control of the situation.
We can do as we please. We can keep
the Philippines or not, as may be de-
termined in the future
Senator Frye said that at the opening
session in Paris, the Spaniards first
wanted to give us the island of Luzon;
that we refused. Then came a
squabble about the Cuban debt. We
were not inclined to pay that, and after
hard fight of days and days, our op-
ponents finally yielded to our claims
and signed the treaty, which have no
doubt will be ratified by Congress.