The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-28
TREATY OF PEACE.
President and Cabinet Fully Discuss
the Prospects Of Ratification.
A SPECIAL BILL IS NECESSARY
Should Opposition Develop II Would Be
Made q Rider on Another Bill.
SENATOR PERKINS OPPOSES EXPANSION
VIII Vote Against the treaty Unless the
legislature lnstructs Otherwise.
SENATOR DAVIS WILL URGE PROMPT ACTION
Effort Will BE Made to Prevent Any
Amendments to the Document
ms II Now Stands.
SENATOR PERKINS OPPOSES EXPANSION
VIII Vote Against the treaty Unless the
Legislature lnsiructs Otherwise.
SENATOR DAVIS WILL URGE PROMPT ACTION
Especial Dispatch to rhe Post,

| Especial Dispatch to The Post1
| Washington, December 81 President
| Mckinley and his cabinet discussed the
| PEACE treaty today. Prospects OF ratifica-
ton rather than the terms of the treaty
formed tbs basis of discussion. Tho text
| CT the treaty was not even read, though
certain provisions we've carefully looked
over, especially these relating TO tie open
| door policy and payment Of SEQ o0o
| II was the unanimous opinion of those
at the cabinet meeting that the treaty
| wotild be ratified during the present ses-
SIGN Of the senate II was agreed TO send
| the treaty. the report of the commissioners
and message from the president TO the
senate on January 4. In HIS message. the
president will point out the necessity for
| the imme,iiate authorization TO pay $50 0o0,-
600 10 Spain as contemplated by tho treaty.
This Will require action 10y both houses VI
congress. 4 special bill Will be intro
daieed for this purposes and II there should
be delay IN action upon it a rider. having
the same object in view Will be attached
TO one Of the annual appropriation bills.
II snail vote against the treaty brought
back from Paris by cur peace commits
st.ners. unless ! am instructed to vote
otherwise by the legislature of my Stste,"
was the declaration made by Senator Per-
kins Of Caitosnia today. II have very
sarong convictions on this subject" con-
tinued Senator Perkins, and am not en-
deiroIing to draw an unnecessarily dark
picture when I predict that general re-
action against expansion is now going Oh
all over the country, and before great
white We will be brought face to face with
the realization of the fact that We have
more mcmentuous problem to solve right
here at hcme. without going TO the far-off
Philippines In search OF material with
which to establish colonial policy
"Will not the treaty be ratifed?'' the
correspondent asked.
Not the same day it Is presented re-
piled Senator Perkins with marked en-
phasis.
Secretary Hay today received visits from
some OF the members and officers Of the
Paris peace commission. Mr.. John Bas-
sett Moore, upon whom, as secretary, de-
vclred some Of the most delicate and
welghty work required by the commission.
is now engaged settling up with the de-
partment the records CT the proceedings
and winding up its existence. He will re-
turn 10 New York and resume his duties as
professor of international law at Columbia
university.
Notwithstanding the more or less accu-
rate reports that have been published as 10
the treaty itself, Secretary Hay remains
stesdfast in his purpose not TO make the
document public until the United States
senate shall have authorized II. II Is true
that no law governs him in such cases, the
executive branch beng quite as free as the
legislative to make public or 10 maintain
as confidential treaties aud protocols. But
this is "A privilege little awaited OF In late
years and ait present there are motives OF
policy that operate o, prevent a. departure
from the usual practice. Therefore the
treaty itself remains snugly lock.i away In
the Presidents own safe.
The presence of Senator Davis. one OF
the members OF the peace commission, at
the capitol, today, was The cause OF more
CIR lass peace treaty speculation among sep
atoi@ II Is the intention of SeEfcr Davis
t. ask the e5null-tee on fotelgn relations
to take up The treaty as soon as rece.vta
from the president. While II Is expected
tlzt the document Will undergo careiua
scrutiny in committee ii is the general
opinion that this work will be dqne with
as much expt 5iston as pcs bic. Ihsre VIII
be an effort on the part of the frienis OF
the treaty to have it reported without any
amendment whatever and they assert that
this ccmmptiee as whole Is favo.aoe W
without alterations.
Ono present plan Of tsose SENATORS cp-
posei to straight ratification Is to urge the
Insertion Of an amendment providing N
spe ciai terms thai tae UNITED Stairs shall
not acquire Sovereignty over the Pniilp-