The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-11
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
PUBLIC TO BE BARRED FROM DE.
BATE ON THE HAWAIIAN TREATY.
Several Speeches Made, by Senator'S in
Question in Open Session.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-In accordance
with his previous notice, Senator Davis,
chairman OF the Senate committee on for
eign relations. brought UP the subject of
the ratification of the Hawaiian annexation
treaty in the Senate to-day, His motion
was made soon after the disposal of the
routine morning business and the entire re-
mainder of the days session, except the
time given to the confirmation of nominal
lions was devoted to the consideration Of
the question 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 yeas and
nays not being demanded. The decision was
overwhelmingly against an open session
The motion for open sessions was 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, involving no en-
tanglng complications with other nations
and one which it was therefore eminently
proper should be considered before the pub
lie gaze. Senator Davis replied to Mr.. Gray,
contending for the observance of presidents
in this matter and Objecting quite strenu-
ouSly though in calm and moderate Ian
guage, to the proposition that the Senate
should take the public into it's confidence
in considering the treaty He took issue
with Mr.. Gray on the proposition that there
were no general questions involved affect
ing our diplomatic relations with other
countries and predicted that the discussion
cluSon
Speeches. in favor of the Gray motion
were made by Senators Caffery, White
Mason and Morrill,, and in opposition by
Senators Morgan, Hoar, Spooner and
others. Senator Morgan was the principal
opponent of the Gray proposition: He talked
he iFr1rtfo tor nf mo
the Senate rules in discussing this question:
contending the Senate was acting only
would be an act of bad faith for it to throw
open the doors to the public He said that
no one would think of asking the President
and the Cabinet to take up a treaty in the
presence of the general public and he con-
tended that for this reason the obligation
of secrecy was greater upon the Senate
than it would be upon the executive branch
of the government.
Most of the senators who spoke in opposi-
ton to open sessions referred to the proba-
bility that the action of the European pow
erS in their evident purpose of partitioning
the territory of China would form the basis
of D'uch of the debate on the question of
Hawaiian annexation All who referred to
this phase of the question manifested dis
position to regard it as a delicate and COM
pllcated one and one which 1t were best
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 debate
AMI il was asserted that this was a ques-
ton which could be more freely discussed
in executive than in open session.
Senator White was among those who re-
piled to these statements He spoke spirit
edly and in sarcastic vein Of the folly of at
tempting to keep executive secrets within
the control of the Senate. He made reply
to the suggestion that the control of the
publicity in regard to treaties should be left
to the executive, saying that the treaty it
self had been made public, had also the
Presidents message upon the subject. SEN
ator Morrill, contended that the question of
annexation was one of much public inter
est and said that on this account the public
should be fully informed of the reasons for
and against annexation. he spoke very
briefly.
Senator Mason took advantage of the OPP
portunity to make a speech directed gen
orally 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 ex-
ercise his influence to break down the sem
atorial rule for secret sessions. lie asserted
that the rule was out Of date, ont of keeping
with the progressive tendencies OF the
times, moss-grown and obsolte. and argued
that il should be abolished. If. many
people believed, the Senate was out of SYM
patty with the public. the requirement of
the discussion of so many important ques-
tons in executive session was more than
any other reason responsible for this con-
diton 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 rapid, as possible. He probably
will make a speech in general advocacy Of
the treaty at to-morroW'S session. The an
nexationists. now claim ffty-ninee votes for
the treaty, lacking only one OF the number
to ratify it. On the other hard. the oppo-
stion say the ratifiers Will fall short from
three 10 five votes.