The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-11
SENATOR MASON SPEAKS
WANTS THE QUESTION DIS
CUSSED IN OPEN SESSION.
SECRET SESSIONS ARE OUT OF DATE
The Annexationists Claim Fifty nne Votes
For the Treat Lacking Only
One OF The Number To
RatN Il

Washington, d. c., Jan. 10.--In ac-
cordance with his previous notice, Sen
ator Davis, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations, brought
up the subject of the ratification of the
Hawaiian annexation treaty in the SEN
ate to-day. His motion was made soon
after the disposal of the routine morning
business, and the entire remainder of
the days session, except the time given
to confirmation of nominations, was de-
voted to the consideration of the ques-
tion as to whether the treaty should be
considered in open session or behind
closed doors in executive session. 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 Overwhelmingly against an
open session.
The motion for open sessions made by
Senator Gray, of Delaware, who pre-
sented his reasons in a speech of about
five minutes length, urging that the
question was one of public concern, in-
Volving no entangling complications with
other nations, and one which it is
therefore eminently proper should be
considered before the public gaze. SEN
ator Davis replied to Mr.. Gray, contend
ing for the observance of preeedents in
this matter and objecting quite strenu-
ously, though in calm and moderate Ian
guage, to the proposition that the Sen
ate should take the public into its conf
dence in considering the treaty. He took
issue with Mr.. Gray on the proposition
that there were no general questions in
volved affecting our diplomatic relations
with other countries, and predicted that
the discussion would take a wide range
before it's conclusion.
Speeches in favor OF the Gray resolu-
ton were made by Senators Caffery,
White, Mason and Morrill, and in oppo
sition by Senators Morgan, Hoar,
Spooner and others. Senator Morgan
was the principal opponent of Mr.. Gray
proposition. He talked at length upon
the Importance of observing the Senate
rules in discussing this question, con
tcnding that as the Senate was acting
only in an advisory capacity to the Ex-
ecutive, it would be an act of bal faith
for it to throw open the doors to the
public.
Most of the Senator'S who SPOKE in op-
probability that the action Of tie Euro
pean powers in their evident purpose Of
partitioning the territory Of Cnna would
form the basis Of much of the debate
en- the question of Hawaiian annexation.
All who referred to this phase Of the
question manifested a disposition to re-
gard it as a delicate and complicated
one, and one which it were better should
be ventilated behind closed doors. 1t
was also intimated that the Monroe doc
trine would come in for fair share of
discussion before the close OF the de-
bate, and it was asserted that this was
a question which could be more freely
discussed in executive than in open ses-
sion.
Senator Mason took advantage of the
opportunity to make a speech directed
generally against executive sessions. He
announced 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. He asserted that the rule was
out of date, out of keeping with the pro-
gressive tendency of the times, moss
grown and obsolete, and argued that it
should be abolished. If, as many peo-
pie believed, the Senate was out of SYM
pathy with the public, the requirement
of the discussion of so many important
questions in executive session was more
than any oother reason, responsible for
this condition Of affairs. He hoped that
not only the Hawaiian treaty, but all
other questions in which the public was
interested, would be discussed in the
presence of the American public.
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
advocacy of the treaty at to-morrow'sI
session.
The annexationists now claim 80 votes
for the treaty, lacking only one Of the
number to ratify it. On the other hand. |
the opposition say that the ratifyers will
fall short from three to FIVE votes.
SENATE COMBINATIONS