The times., 1899-01-25

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Rntificntion-sir. Hoar Fn>ors Open
Sessions for Foreign Effect.
The Treaty of Peace between the United
States and Spain will be considered by
the Senate in secret session. This con-
clusion was reached yesterday afternoon
by the Senate, after debate covering
three hours, behind closed doors The
resolution providing for an open session,
offered by Mr.. Berry of Arkansas, was
contended for vigorously by that Senator.
but he finally saw the futility of trying to
set aside the traditions of the Senate and
withdrew the resolution.
At the conclusion of the afternoons ses-
sion Senators German and vest Jointly
demanded of Chairman Davis that he per-
nit a vote to be taken, expressing their
belief that if the vote were taken then
and there the temper of the Senate would
be manifested in no uncertain tones. Mr..
Davis declined the invitation, saying that
he had not yet submitted the question to
his committee. and that until he had
done so he could not entertain the request
of the Senators.
He said that the question would be
brought before the committee at its meet
ing today and that when the Treaty came
next before the Senate he would probably
be in a position TO consider the request of
Messrs. German and Vest.
When the DOORS were closed yesterday
afternoon Mr.. Berry renewed his argument
in favor of open sessions. He insisted
that the conditions were such that the
American people were entitled TO the full
est and freest kind of a discussion and
that no harm could come from the con-
IA. 81 sf.ah hrna 1iphr
of day.
He urged an open session in order that
Senators who opposed the Treaty could
reply in the open to such arguments as
were advanced yesterday afternoon by
Senator Lodge in his speech on expansion.
Mr.. Bcrry's Lecture.
1t was suggested to Mr.. Berry that the
argument of Mr.. Lodge could be met by
debating the Vest resolution or any of
the other numerous resolutions that have
been offered on the subject. Admitting
that this was true, MIR. Berry said that
such speeches could not properly be made
without the violation of the obligations of
Senators and that all Senators who had
discussed the Treaty on these various reso-
lutions had. in effect, at least, violated
the spirit of the rules which required sec
recy with respect to Treaty questions.
Taking up another phase of the case. Mr..
Berry lectured the Senate for permitting
executive session secrets to become public
property He cited the elaborate reports
of the discussion about the cases of Ad-
mirals Sampson and Schley which ap-
peared in yesterdays morning papers as
an illustration of the loose way in which
the Senate guarded those matters which
were supposed 10 be secret.
He declared that there must be disnon-
orable men in the Senate else it would be
impossible for the representatives of the
press TO secure the accurate information
as was printed respecting the proceedings
of the previous day. That such informa-
tion could leak out, he thought was a suf-
ficient argument for public discussions OF
the Treaty. inasmuch as it appeared to be
impossible to prevent a publication of what
occurred behind closed doors.
Resolution Withdrawn.
After the discussion had progressed some
time it was apparent that Mr.. Berrys res
olution TO open the doors would not prevail
and he therefore withdrew it. There were
several Senators who believed that the
country would be benefited by free dis
cussion. but they were unwilling 10 go on
record as fayoring a departure from the
long established custom of the Senate.
They did not care to violate the traditions
of the Senate and this sentiment more
than anything else. led to the failure of Mr..
Berry's proposition.
The principal speeches against an open
session were made by Senators Frye and
Teller. Senator Frye took Senator Hoar
of Massachusetts to task for his conduct
in joining the ranks of those who were
seeking TO prevent the ratification of the
Treaty. He declared that the men who
were objecting 10 the ratification of the
Treaty of Peace were building up condi-
tion in the Philippines which would return
TO plague them in the future.
The present conditions at Manila were
critical and the opponents of the Treaty
were doing all in their power to afford aid
and comfort TO the insurgents, who. en-
couraged by the failure of the United
States to take action on the Treaty.
were proceeding on the idea that this
Government did not intend to exercise the
rights granted TO them by the Treaty OF
Paris.
Scoids Mr.. Hoar.
Mr.. Frye said that Mr. Hoar and the
men who were of his opinion were re-
sponsible for the difficulties that would be
forced upon this country in the future, and
he was unable to reason out why these
gentlemen had reached their conclusions
There was. he declared, need OF speedy
action in order that there should be no
friction between the United States and the
insurgents. Nothing could be done with
the Filipinos until the United States and
Spain had ratified the Treaty, and this
Government had clear title to the terri
tory which Spain had ceded.
He said that there were abundant rea-
sons why the Treaty should be considered
in secret session. II was manifestly i'm
possible for the Senate to discuss in open
session the attitude of the Cuban insur-
gents toward this Government; the preju-
dice that existed in Cuba: the defiant po-
sition of the insurrectionists in the Phil
ippines and the difficulties that presented
themselves TO the representatives of this
Government in those islands.
The one great reason that suggested the
impossibility of open sessions he said, was
the discussion OF the attitude of the Ger
man government and the acts OF tine Ger
man admiral at Manila during the time
when Admiral Dewey was surrounded by
so many exasperating situations. forced
upon him by the meddling policy OF the
representatives OF the German government
Scheme TO Confuse the Country.
Mr.. Frye asserted that these things
ought to appeal 10 the reason Of a man
like Senator Hoar, and he expressed his
very great surprise that the Senator from
Massachusetts would lend himself to any
scheme that had for its object the con-
fusion of the country and the Administra-
iion in a time like the present. The situa-
tion In and around Manila Mr. Frye said,
was such that II would be absolutely imDos-
s!ble for the Senate TO discuss the Treaty
in all its bearing in such a way that the
debate could be sent TO the country and
Europe.
Mr. Eoar resented the statements of Mr.
Frye. He did not, he said, believe that
there should be any question. in the con-