The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-13
CONTEST OVER THE TREATY.
SENATOR'S HOLD SPIRITED DEB VIE
IN SECRET SESSION.

ment in Public. While Others IN
1 sist ON Having the Doors Closed.
Majority Seem to Favor Secret
Sessions-Halc and Hoar VIII Vote
Against the Treaty-TeHer Wants
TO Take the Islands.
Washington, Jan. 12.-The supporters
and opponents of the peace treaty in the
Senate had their first contest over that
document to-day in executive session.
While the debate technically was upon
Senator Berry's motion providing for the
consideration of the resolution Of rauh-
cation in open session, the entire question
at issue was gone over to a considerable
extent
The discussion continued from few
minutes after l o'clock until about
O'Clock when the Senate adjourned for the
day without reaching vote upon the Ber-
ry. motion.
There were no set speeches in the usual
acceptance of that phrase made 1t was
a running debate in which Senator's Ber-
ry. White, Hale, Hoar, Vest and others
in opposition 10 the treaty, met Senators
Davis, Frye, Teller Gray and others in
advocacy of it. Probably twenty senators
spoke, but many of them did little more
than ask questions.
stu speeches of some length were made
by Messrs Teller and Frye on the one
hand, and by Messrs. Hale and Hoar on
the other. There were many animated
colloquies between Senator's, and for a
time an exceptional degree of feeling was
shown
Argument ON Berry's Motion.
The proceedings opened with a speech
by Senator Berry in support of his mo-
ton for open session and was replied to
briefly by Senators Davis and Frye, SEN
ator Frye coming in later in support of
Mr.. Berry, and Senator Teller joining with
the forces in opposition to the motion. The
discussion over this point hinged entirely
upon the contention on the one hand that
the public was entitled to know what was
taking place in the disposition of so i'm
portant a question as the ratification of
the peace treaty. and on the other that
he debate was sure to develop facts and
call forth utterances which should not be
| given to other nations
1t was argued by those favoring the mo-
ton that no harm could come by taking
the public into the Senates confidence,
while those opposed stated that the vast
International questions were involved
which could be considered in a manner
far more judicial and calm, behind Closed
doors, than with the whole world invited
to listen.
The senators who had acted as members
of the Paris commission, Messrs Davis,
| Frye and Gray, were all present, and an
| tagonized the motion for open doors. They
stated that from their experience in the
| negotiations of the treaty many questions
| involving grave internationa controversies
| were fable to be raised, and all speaking
i from this standpoint, urged the pressrva-
| ton of the senatorial custom of closed
| doors. Senator Teller sustained them in
this position Senator Hoar, on the other
hand, for the first time in his life, advo-
Gated open sessions, declaring that no fact
could be developed in connection with the
treaty too important for the American
public 10 know.
Wanted Open Doors.
1T is the peoples affair."" said Senator
! White, land the people should be invited
at least 70 listen TO the discussion of the
question, If they could not be given any
more exalted privilege in connection with
! it,"
He then proceeded to say that if the
commissioners who We're present in the
Senate had any great secrets they should
| give them to the Senate forthwith in order
that all the members should have equal
light with "these highly favored gentle
men,
These comments led TO a renewal of the
discussion of the wisdom and good policy
of appointing senators as members of the
fafnY,n mi -fa
eral passage at arms over this question.
Naturally too. the Senate drified into a
| discussion of the treaty in itself, and the
intention of this government toward the
| Flipinos, much being said on the line Of
Senator FOraker's open session speech of
yesterday Senators Gray, Frye and Tel
Ter talked on these matters and while the
| speeches were on the same general lines
as those made in support of expansion in
| open session, they were more crisp, as
none of them had been prepared in adj
| vance.
Senator Gray announced himself as a
| supporter of the treaty, admitting, how
! ever, that at the beginning he had some
misgivlngs as to the policy involved. Still
there could be no two opinions on the gem
| eral question of surrendering the islands
| back TO Spain, and with this question dis
| posed of in the negative, it only remained
| for the United States to take at least tenn
porary control of the islands. For the fu-
ture he had no doubt that the United
States would deal fairly and in accordance
with the dictates Of honesty with the ma
| tives of the islands.
Teller Wants TO Take Them.
Senator Tellers speech was a more pro-
nounced declaration for American sover-
eighty in the islands, and was a Jealous
plea for the recognition of our right as a
nation to make conquest and to hold the
country taken. He, too, would award the
natives fair treatment, but he would leave
no doubt in their minds or the minds of
any one else that they are subjects OF the
| United States, and that they were such
by right OF conquest, by the divine right
of nationality, which is an inherent and
integral part of our existence as a people
An interesting point bearing upon the
treaty, but not connected directly with it,
was brought out in connection with The
confirmation of Gen. Wherry. Senator
Hawley asked for action upon the nomi-
nation saying that il was urgent because