The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-04
PEACE TREATY RESOLUTIONS
CONTROVERSY OYER TOTE TAKES 4
SUDDEN TURN,

tofore Opposed Charges of Bad Faitl
ponents of the Treaty to Resist ANY
Effort for Vote Except on the Origi.
nal Document ON Monday.
washington, Feb. The controversy
In the senate over the vote upon the
various resolutions Interpretive of the
peace treaty took a sudden turn late to-
Day The opposition to a vote came
from the friends of the treaty, who
held to the theory that it could be cati-
ned without compromise. Those who
apparently were then willing that a
vote could be taken held an opposite
view to-day and absolutely refused to
agree to a time for taking a vote. The
contest occurred in the executive ses-
sion, which did not begin until Sis
O'Clock. The gallery doors had no SOON
er been locked than Mr.. Davis, who had
taken his position in Senator Frye's
seat, Immediately in front of the chair
presented the request of the treaty sup
porters for unanimous consent, naming
Tomorrow as the day for vote He
said that the d esirs or his side of the
chamber was that there should be an
opportunity to vote upon all the resolu-
tions of a declatory nature, all of
which had been offered by senators who
to +,.oo txrx
modification.
The opposition were prepared for the
request, but it did not fail to create
some excitement. simultaneously OBJ
lection was made from three or four
senators, but, as if by common consent,
to Senator German was left the task of
making the principal sta atement of the
reasons for the opposition. His main
objection was based upon the brief time
that must intervene between the time of
taking the vote on the resolutions and
the time fixed for voting on the treaty,
8 o'clock next Monday. An essential
part of the demand Of those who de-
sired a modification of the expression in
the treaty was that the house as well
as the senate must act upon the reso-
luton. Manifestly it was too late to
secure a vote by the house even if the
action of the senate should be favor
able. Hence the absurdty of the prop
osition. He, for one, would object, and
he had no doubt that others would feel
as he did. So long as there had been
any possibility of securing a vote in
both houses of congress the members of
the senate who opposed the treaty in it's
present form had made no opposition.
But to consent to a vote upon the ques-
tion at this late hour, after delav of
some days, would create the impression
that the opponents of the treaty had
been posing for effect and had allowed
themselves to be tricked either ignor-
antly or knowingly.
Senators Cockrell and Bacon also
avowed their opposition to agreeing to
fixing a time for vote, placing their
opposition on grounds practically the
same as those of Mr.. German Each
was inclined to charge bad faith Sem
ator Cockrell gave notice that he would
resist any effort for a vote upon the
resolutions UP to o'clock Monday, |
when a vote on the treaty must be ta-
ken. The friends of the treaty declar-
ed that they would act in perfect good ,
faith They cited that all the time of
the senate for the past week had been |
occupied in performing duties under the |
orders or consent of the senate and that |
there had not, within that period, been
a, time when the vote could have been
taken. They charged that the opposi- /
ton were afraid to allow an opportuni-
ty to vote on the resolutions because of
their apprehension that some of the res
olutions would be agreed to and the
chances of the ratification of the treaty
thus improved This meant, as they
regarded it, that they did not want any
+reaty ratified The objectors stood
firm. however, to the last refusing to
yield.
THESE objections were of course ef-
fective and the treaty supporters turn
ed their attention to longer daily ses-
sions of the senate with the hope of
exhausting the bill and thus forcing ac-
tion on the resolutions without unani-
NOUS consent being given. Senator Da-
Wis therefore moved that the senate ]
take a recess until 10 o'clock tomor-
row. He was met by a motion by Mr..
German to adjourn, and on this motion
the yeas and nays were ordered. Mr..
Davis and his co-workers resisted the
q adjournment motion, and it was de-
feated, but by margin of only one ,
vote the ballot resulting "a ayes to rs ;
nays. {
A vote was Immediately ordered on {
The motion for a recess until 10 o'clock J
Tomorrow On this motion a number :
,f the members of the opposition re- 7
trained from voting, and the roll call ;
developed the absence of quorum.
The hands on the senate clock then in
1icated $780, None of the senators had
mad their dinners. Hence Senator Da-
Wis himself moved an adjournment, |
which motion was carried without S
livision. The vote on adjournment was b
1ot considered in any sense test, as S
many of the senators, and especially ]
If the supporters of the treaty, had a
eft the chamber before the ballot was e
aiken. If the objection to taking l
yote on the resolutions is maintained v
w it's opponents they will be able to p
accomplish their purpose of forcing the S
,ote on the original document. They
Indicate no purpose to change their line
# action and say positively that they
will not.