The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-11
IN THE SENATE.
Debate on Hawaiian Treaty Will Not
Be for the Public.

Debate on Hawaiian Treaty Will Not
Be for the Public
Washington, Jan. 1O.-In accordance
with his previous notice, Senator Da-
Wis, chairman of the senate committee
on foreign relations, brought up the
subject of the ratification of the Ha-
waiian annexation treaty in the senate
today. His motion was made soon af-
ter the disposal of the routine morning
business, and the entire remainder of
the days session, except the time given
to the confirmation of nominees, was
devoted to the consideration of the
>Guestion as to whether the treaty
should be considered in open session or
behind closed doors in executive ses-
sion. After a debate of almost two
hours upon this point an informal vote
was taken the ayes and noes not being
demanded. The decision was over
whelmingly against an open session.
The motion for open sessions was made
by Senator Gray of Delaware, who
presented his resolution in a speech of
about five minutes length, saying that
the question was one of public con-
Germ, involving NO entangling compli-
cations with other nations, and one
which it was, therefore, eminently
proper should be considered before the
public gaze.
Senator Davis replied to Mr.. Gray,
contending for the observance of prece-
dent in this matter, and objecting quite
strenuously, though in calm and mod
crate language to the proposition that
the senate should take the public into
its confidence in considering the treaty
Speeches in favor of the Gray reso-
luton were made by Senators Gallery,
White, Mason and Morrill,, and in oppo-
sition, by Senators Morgan, Hoar
Spooner and others. Senator Morgan
was the principal opponent of the Gray
proposition. He talked at length upon
the Importance of obeying the senate
rules in discussing this question, con-
tending that, as the senate was acting
only in advisory capacity to the exc
cutive, it would be an act of bad faith
for it to throw open the doors to the
public.
Most of the senators who spoke in op-
position to open session referred to the
probability that the action of the Eu-
ropean powers in their evident purpose
of partitioning the territory of China
would form the basis of much Of the
debate on the question of Hawaiian an
nexation. All who referred to this phase
of the question manifested a disposition
to regard it as a delicate and compli-
Gated one and one which it were better
should be ventilated behind closed
doors. 1t was also intimated that the
Monroe doctrine would come in for a
fair share OF discussion before the
close of the debate, and it was as
serted that this was question which
could be more freely discussed in exc
cutive than in open session.
Senator White was among those who
replied to these statements. He spoke
spiritedly and in sarcastic vein of the
folly of attempting to keep executive
secrets within the control of the SEN
ate He made reply to the suggestion
that the control of publicity in regard
to the treaties should be left to the ex-
ecutive, saying that the treaty itself
had been made public, as also the
presidents message on the subject
Senator Morrill, contended that the
question of annexation was one of
much public interest and said that on
this account the public should be fully
informed of the reasons for and against
annexation.
Senator Mason took advantage of the
opportunity to make q speech directed
against executive sessions. He an
nounced his intention to support the
motion for an open session, and said
that he would take advantage of all
such openings to exercise his influence
to break down the senatorial rule for
secret sessions.
Senator Davis announced his purpose
to call up the treaty again tomorrow
and press it as rapidly as possible. He
probably will make a speech in general