The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-28

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 27.-The
senate continued the consideration of
the peace treaty in executive session to-
day, the doors being closed for almost
three hours.
Senator Frye, member of the Paris
peace commission and naturally a
strong friend of the treaty, held the
attention Of the senate during the
greater part of this time. .Construc-
lively he occupied the floor during the
entire session, but he was frequently In
terruptcd by other senators. Most Of
these Interruptions came in the way Of
questions. but some of them took the
form Of speeches. This was notably the
case with Senator Berry's Interrupt
ton. He spoke for some time, and In
doing so denounced the treaty in severe
terms. Senators Mason and Caffery
asked many questions.
Senator Frye devoted himself large
ly TO an explanation Of the proceedings
of the commission reading literally
from the record as already printed, but
stopping as he proceeded to explain the
quotations which he made.
He had not proceeded Il great way in
his exposition Of the subject when he
was asked II the President had not
originally instructed the commission to
only Insist upon securing 4 coallnE sta
ton in the Philippine group. To this
Mr.. Frye replied that he did not feel at
liberty to give his Interpretation of the
Presidents instructions. but 1t was not
necessary that he should do so, as the
President had. he said, determined to
comply partially NJ least with the SEN
atc's request for the documents on file
bearing on the negotiations of the
treaty. and Mr.. Frye said he felt just!-
fled in assuring the senate that the pa
pers would be received not later than
Monday.
Mr.. Frye devoted the principal por-
ton of his speech outside Of the reading
OF the report TO an explanation OF why
the Philippine archipelago was included
In the cession to the United States. He
was asked the question why those Is
lands were not placed in the same class
as Cuba. the sovereignty over this is
land being merely rclinquished. while In
the case OF the Philippines, ii had been
made over 10 the United States. and re-
piled that the-lifterenccE was made be-
cause in the case of Cuba the commits
sion was acting under instructions from
Congress. He was reminded that the
Flipinos prOfcssed to be fighting for
freedom just as the Cubans We're. and
that they We're still contending for their
own independence.
ON" senator reminded him OF the rep
reservations Of Aguinaldo'S American
agent, Agoncillo and asked II he meant
to force the Philippine people to actual
hostilities. 10 which Mr.. Frye rctorted
that II was the opposition which was
forcing continuance of the state OF
war. and which would be responsible
for lostilities II they should occur. As
for himself. however. he did not know
the Filipinos in the transaction. The
treaty should have been ratified ten
days ago. and If 1t had been. all danger
OF war with the people OF the Philippine
Islands would have been avcrtcd.
Senator Berry, In his speech, declared
that the acquisition Of the islands was
merely Il speculative scheme. contain
ing more of the element OF land grab
bling that of patriotism or philan-
thropy.