New-York tribune., 1899-01-05
PEACE TREATY IN SENATE.
TRANSMITTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
RATIFICATION WITHOUT AMENDMENT A FORE
GONE CONCLUsIoN-rHE TEXT MAY BE
MADE PUBLIC TOMORROW.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuSE.l

ny TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNEI
Washington. Jan. 4.-The treaty OF peace be-
tween Spain and the United states. signed
nearly month ago in Paris. was ransmitted
to-day to the Senate for It's approval. the Presl-
dent accompanying the convention and the pro-
tocols with purely formal message OF notinca-
tion. Though it had been the purpose OF the
deberative branch TO transact no business this
afternoon. but to adjourn mark OF respect
10 the venerable father Of the body. Mr. Nor
r whose death occurred in the holiday recess.
time taken to receive the Presidents COM
munication. to refer 1t to the Committee on For
eign Relations. and to order It printed for the
confidential Of Senators. Mr.. Davis. the
chairman OF the committee. made the motions
necessary to accomplish these results and the
Senate then resumed its open session and paid
the proper respect to Mr. Morrls memory.
Mr.. Davis also offered a motion 10 remove the
injunction Of secrecy from the text OF the treaty
and the protocols. but this he withdrew, explain
ing that he would offer 1t again after the papers
had been examined by the Committee on For
eign Relations The committee will meet on
Friday. and will probably decide to authorize
the publication OF the convention and the men,
oranda Of the Peace Commissions sessions
brought home from Paris. 1t is not altogether
likely that the committee can reach at It's first
meeting agreement to report the treaty 10
the Senate, but there is every prospect that the
convention can be presented for ratification be-
fore the end Of next week.
WEAKNESS OF THE OPPOSITION.
It's approval in the exact shape in which It
stands is, Of course. foregone conclusion The
political folly of attempting to amend IT, and
thus reopen between Spain and the United
States problems which this country alone is
competent to solve has become more and more
apparent 10 the few overhasty members Of the
Senate who a month ago. were talking Of mutt
lating even rejecting the treaty AS ma
Jority vote is required to amend, any change In
the text OF the agreement signed by the Com
mssioners is plainly impossible. Nor Is there
the faintest likelihood that the opponents OF the
treaty can muster the thirty votes necessary to
defeat ratification. At present only three Re-
publican Senators-Messrs. Toar. of Massachu-
setts; Hale OF Maine. and Perkins. of Califor
nia-are counted opponents Of the treaty, and
Mr.. Perkins has so far weakened in his attitude
of hostility TO ask the California Legislature
to instruct him whether to support the Paris
convention not.
on the Democratic side few extremists are
still disposed to make a fight against ratifca-
ton But the sensible advice Of Mr.. Bryan TO
I
effect on American policies afterward has opened
the eyes Of most Of the Democratic Senator'S TO
the useessness and imprudence Of an attempt
to break the treaty and force new negotiations
with Spain. Possibly in the end. ten to fifteen
votes may be cast against ratification; but
! there is no spirit left In the opposition
/ which seemed to show such formidable strength
a month ago. and all signs point TO prompt
approval Of the treaty. possibly by the middle
OF the present month
SENATOR GRAY'S ADVICE.
Senator Gray. a member OF the Peace Com
| mission. has been discussing the subject OF
ratification with Democratic Senators who were
averse to acquisition Of the Philippines. and
opposed some other features Of the treaty. He
told them that amendments to the treaty would
seriously complicate matters and there was
nothing now to do but accept the treaty as 1t
stood Senator Gray doubt. will make a
! speech from the point Of view OF man who was
at first opposed to acquiring territory far from
the United States. but showing that the war
| left the country in a condition where the re-
! sponsiblities were not to be avoided. 1t is un-
! derstood that Senators Hoar and Caffery will
make extended speeches in opposition to the
treaty.