The record-union., 1899-01-26

Treaty.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The Senate
held two executive sessions to-day, and
at each the peace treaty was the sub
| ject under discussion. At the first an
agreement was reached to vote on the
treaty next Monday week, and at the
second Senator Davis presented the
American Commissioners reasons for
| the acceptance of the treaty in the
| form in which it was finally concluded.
The agreement for vote was reached
| in executive session held soon after
converting at noon, this agreement be-
| ing in the following language:
That the Senate agrees to vote On
the treaty with Spain and all amend
ments on Monday, the 9th of February,
at 3 O'Clock p. M, and that until that
time the Senate shall go into executive
session on each day at 2 p. m.
This was unanimous agreement. the
terms of which were formulate by
Senator Davis in reply to yesterdays
proposition by the opposition, and as
a result of to-day's meeting Of the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
The agreement in the committee to
accept the proposition was unanimous.
and it is understood that Senator Davis
informed his fellow committeeman that
| it was the wish of the President that
the proposition for a vote should be
accepted, and the result made known
as soon as possible.
Those who are familiar with the
views Of the President say that he has
q pa RI no
that nothing is to be lost and every
thing to be gained by taking The vote
The final action, he is confident, will
be favorable.
The Senate consumed about forty-five
minutes in executive session in arriving
at decision to vote on the peace
treaty. As soon as the doors Were
closed and the public excluded Senator
Davis, Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, took the floor and
announced that he was authorized by
the committee to accept the proposition
made in executive session by German
yesterday, to vote on the treaty within
ten days. He therefore asked for unan-
imolrs consent that the vote should be
taken at 3 clock ON Monday, February
9th, saying that exactly ten legislative
days would intervene between this time
and then. He intimated that if there
We're any objections to this date he
would like to hear them. but none were
heard, and the hour and the day were
unanimously agreed to.
| The remainder of the session was
| spent in exchange of questions and an
swers which are usually heard in eff
| forts to fix time for vote, and in
| making sure that all understood the
fact. There was also an agreement that
the Senate should go into executive
session each day between this time and
February 9th, for the discussion of the
| treaty. Authority was also given for
making the announcement of the agree
ment public. The opposing Senator'S
made no objection to the date.
| In accordance with the terms of the
agreement, the Senate resumed its
work in executive session at 2 O'Clock.
and the entire time of this session was
consumed by Senator Davis in making
a presentation of the history of the
Paris conference. This presentation
consisted largely in the quotation of
the various propositions made on each
side of the controversy at Paris, and
while the speech was thus rendered
somewhat formal, it received the closes!
and most careful attention.
A map of the Philippines on largt
scale adorned the rear wall OF tbs
Senate chamber, and while it was often
consulted by Senators Davis made but
one reference to it as such.
Speaking outside of the published
record, Senator Davis took occasion to
eulogize the Spanish Commissioners in
high terms as men of exceptional
shrewdness and ability, saying the
Americans had found them armed at
all points, jealous of Spain's hcEof
and interests, and prepared at all times
to defend her cause as long as there
was anything to defend.
He said the Americans of the commits
sion had been in constant communica-
ton with the President while negoti-
ating the convention; that he was
made acquainted with all the commits
sions movements; and while he adj
mitted that there had been apparently
some division of opinion among pub
licists in the United States as to the
policy OF including the Philippines in
the agreement, there had been prac-
tically no other honorable way out Of
Tie ulilCudty.
IF we should fail to make good our
own opportunity thus providentially
presented, we need" Davis said, Eek
pect no favors from Europe in regain
ing foothold in the Eastern market.
We need count upon no display of
friendship from Europe in this or any
other matter" The European Powers
We're profoundly jealous of the United
States, and the Senator declared ii WAS
fact that we had not had one friend
on the Continent in our recent struggle
with Spain, or in our efforts to secure
peace favorable to this country. lie
intimated that but for Great Rritain's
attitude there would have been inter- |
'vention by the Continental Powers.
He dwelt at some length upon the fa-
vor shown the Spanish side of the ques-
ton while the conference was in prog
ress, and said there was especial eff
fort to have the Spanish bonds secured |