The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-13
4 TILT IN THE SENATE.
Senators Frye sal llslc 4 Mile lntulll
N Ssne Personalities
THE TREATY Of PEACE UNDER pIscUsslOS
SOME Members want II Debated IN
Open sessicn--fscpnbiican sena-
tors Opposed to RRtiAcation.
Especial Dispatch 10 The Post,

place In the executive session today during
the first regular consideration OF the peace
treaty with tho two senators from Maine ~
the principals in the oratorical outburst.
1t Ia said to have been one OF the warmest
exchanges Of personalities within the rec
objection OF the oldest members OF that
usually courteous and dignined body,
The treaty was before the senate and
discussian was about to proceed, when
Senator Frye delivered severe arrai9n-
ment Of those senator's who In discussing
the Vest resolution in open senate. gave
aid and encouragement to the rebels In
tho Philippines, Then. in his characteris-
tic style. he addressed himself particularly
TO Senators Hcar and Mason and indircct-
~ charged them with un- American in
stincts.
Senator Hale came to the rescue of Sen
ators Hoar and Mason, Gliding his coll
league for his severe language and chal-
lenged him TO show wherein any UNI Amer
lean sentiments had been uttered by sem
ators. IN
Frye Immediately accepted the challenge
and for nearly half an hour tho senators
We're treated to Il combat In words between
Senators Frye and Hale
During the excitement OF personalities
between tho Maine senators, Hoar ably
seconded his. friend Hale.
The supporters and opponents OF the
peace treaty In the senate had their first
contest over that document today In eX-
ecutive. session. While the debate tech
nically wna upon Senator Berry's motion
privilege for the consideration OF the reso-
Hutton or ratification In open session. the
entire question at Issue was gone over at
a considerable extent. The discussion CON
tinued from 4 o'clock until 5 o'clock, vines
the senate adjourned for the day without
reaching a vote upon the Berry motion
| There were no set speeches In the usual
acceptance OF that phrase II was run
Ming debate. in which Senators Berry,
| White Hale, Hoar, Vest and others In OPP
position to the treaty met Senators Davis,
Frye, Teller, Gray and others In advocacy
Of 1t. Probably twenty senators spoke, but
many OF them did little more than ask
questions. Still 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 ami
mated colloquies between senators and for
u time ali exceptional degree OF feeling was
shown.
The proceedings opened with speech by
| Senator Berry in support of his motion for
open sessions and he was replied to briefly
by Senators Davis Frye and Vest coming
In later in support OF Mr.. Berry and Sen
ator Teller Joining with tho forces III OPP
position to the motion, II was argued BY
those favoring the motion that no harm
could come OF taking the public into It's
confidence. while those opposed stated that
vast International questions were involved
which could be considered In n far moro
Judicial aud calm manner behind closed
doors than with the whole world invited to
| listen.
Suppose It was important that the mat
| ter be kept private said Senator Vest. no
enc supposed for moment that this re-
suit could be secured. The senatc's hxccu-
tive sessions, so-called. are Invariably
known to the world, and for tins reason,
II for no other he could see no benefit
in excluding the public.
Senator White thought it safe TO count
the Important points at ]east would go TO
The public.
The senators who had acted as members
of the Paris commission, Messrs, Davis,
Frye and Gray, were all present and an
tagonizc the motion for open doors.
They stated that from their experience
many questions involving grave intcrna-
tional controversies were liable to be
raised and all speaking from this stand
| point urged the preservation Of the sepa-
| torial custom OF closed doors.
| Senator Teller sustained Thorn In this no
sition, urging the Importance Of the q,ies-
ton and stating that while. as p rule. he
favored open sessions of the senate on all
occasions he considered the present com
plication too grave md the present, OF all
times, the most inopportune f9r change
of the senatorial custom of open doors.
| Senator Hoar. on tho other hand, for
the first time In his life. advocated open
sessions, declaring that no fact could be
developed in connection with the treuty
too important for the American public to
know.
1T Ia the peoples affair."" said Senator
White, land the people should be invited
10 listen to the discussion OF the question
n they could not be slycn any more exr
allied privilege in connection with H."
He then proceeded To say that II the
commissioners who were present In ths
senate had any great secrets they should
give them to the senate forthwith In order
that all the members Of that body should
have equal right With these highly ia
vored gentlemen"r
The circumstance led to renewal ~
the discussion Of the wisdom and good
policy of appointing senators as members
OF th' pcace commission and there was
n general passage at arms oyer this qucs-
ton.
Naturally, too the senate drifted into
discussion OF the treaty itself and the
Intention OF this government toward tho
PHILIPPINES. much being said on the lines
OF Senator Foraker's open session speech
OF yesterday.
Senators Gray. FRYE and Teller talked
upon these matters, and while the speeches
were on the same general lines as those
made on the support of expansion IN open
session. they were more crisp as none OF
them had been prepared In ndyance.
Senator Cray announced himaelf as
supporter OF the treaty admitting. how
ever. that at the beginning re had some
inisgivings as 70 the policy involved still
there could he no two opinions us 10 tho
general purpose OF surrenlering the
Islands back 70 Spain. and with this ques-
ton disposed OF III tie negative. II only
remained ir the united States - take
Temporary control of tho islands. For the
future he had no doubt that he United
States would dea; fairly and IN nrcord-
ance with the dictates OF honesty with
the natives OF the islands
Senator Teller's speech was more pro-
rolnccd declaration tor american SOW
ereignty in the Islands and was y fealrhs
plea for the recognition or our rIght as a
Nation 70 make conquest and 10 hold the
country taken. He. TOO. would as'are tie
natives fair treatment. but hs wouid leave
no doubt In their minds or The minds 81
any one else that they Mere suhjerts Of tbs
| United states end that they scre such by
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