The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-13

In yesterdays executive session of the
Senate. the first in which the Treaty Of
Peace with Spain has been considered,
considerable bad feeling was manifested
between the advocates and opponents of
expansion, and the debate was enlivened
by dispute between the senators from
Maine, which, before its close, became
somewhat personal.
The immediate question under consid-
Grafton was the resolution of Mr.. Berry,
of Arkansas. providing that the treaty
should be debated in open session. For
nearly four hours the doors were closed,
and during that time the treaty itself was
not discussed. There has been for the
past few days much criticism of Senators
Hoar, Mason, Foraker, and others for
openly discussing points involved in the
treaty while addressing themselves Osten-
Sibly TO The resolution of MIR. Vest, of Mis-
souri,, which is intended TO commit the
Senate to the doctrine that the United
States does not possess the power OF ac
quiring territory except under certain con-
ditions.
A large number of senators, including
some who are opposed to the treaty, claim
that the senators have violated the rules
Of the Senate as well as its time -honurCd
resolution, well as in the discussion of
the Nicaraguan Canal bill. and the leaders
have been insisting from the beginning
that it is the duty of the Senate to close
the doors on all such speech making.
As one of these leaders expressed it last
nigh, it s thought to BE- somewhs Il fare cal
for the Senate TO debate the treaty for two
or three hours in open session day after
day with the Nicaragua bill and the Vest
resolution as texts. and then to close the
doors for two or three hours more while
the same sort of speeches are made.
Senator Fryc's Attack
Little surprise was caused therefore,
when yesterday Senator Frye one of the
Peace Commissioners, made a somewhat
passionate attack upon the offending sena-
tors, and took occasion to particularly re-
buke Senators Hoar and Mason for their
recent speeches.
He said they had trodden dangerously
near the line which marked those things
which were direct violation of the rules.
and asserted that many of the things said
by these senators ought never to have been
uttered in public If a senator so conseT-
vativc Mr.. Hoar would do these things
the Senate might well shrink from the
possibilities that might result from gen.
eral discussion of the whole subject before
crowded galleries.
Neither Senators Hoar nor Mason re-
piled. but their defender was found in the
person of Mr.. Hale. Mr.. Frye's colleague.
Mr.. Hale declared that he was in favor of
maintaining the traditions of the Senate
and considering the treaty in secret, but
at the same time there was much con-
nected with the subject that could be prop
erly set before the country. He did not
believe either of the senators referred to
had violated the rules or their own con-
sciences in making the speeches they had
made, and he believed that each OF the
senator's was as capable Of deciding what
was proper for them to say in public as
was the senator from Maine.
Speaking for himself, Mr.. Hale notified
the Senate that under no circumstances
would he vote for the treaty lie believed
it was wrong in principle and full Of dis
aster to this country. He wanted the coun-
try to know just what had been proposed
by the Administration, and he expressed
the opinion that before the treaty was car-
flied the country would know much more
than it does now.