The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-29
THE PAYMENT OF
SPANISH CLAIMS.
Senator Frye Says the Commission
Made Only Solution of Problem.
GENEROUS AS WELL AS JUST.
Considering Spain's Poverty No Other
Policy Was Compatible With Our
Reputation as a Generous Ma
LONESOME Preccdents.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2S.-Senator Frye
continued his argument for the ratifca-
ton Of the peace treaty with Spain in
to-days executive session Of the Senate.
tie talked for an hour and half, and
again made the only speech Of the days
session.
The principal questions under consid-
Grafton to-day were relating to the pay
ment Of claims to the Spanish govern
ment. the resolutions agreeing to pay
Spain tor the improvements made in the
Philippines and the resolutions extend
ing 10 Spain the benefit of an open door
policy in her former possessions.
There were various interruptions iy
other senator's who. however, confined
themselves TO questions. In reply TO one
OF these questions relating TO the Prcsi-
dents instructions, Mr.. Frye sai1 that
the commissioners were in constant com
munication with the President and that
the latter had cabled them on more than
one occasion 10 use their best judgment
on reaching conclusions, and recording
results. He said that the question OF
claims OF American citizens against
Spain had occupied much OF the time and
had been the subject Of much anxious
thought on the part Of the commission.
but that there was no other practical
solution OF the problem in view OF the
poverty OF Spain and in fact no other
policy was compatible with the reputa-
ton of the United States as a nation,
which knew how to be generous as well
as just lie said there were about Sl2,-
0O0,0Je of these claims. and possibly the
amount might reach sl5.000Oo0. Spain
had agreed as an offset TO this cOnces-
sion on our part 10 pay the claims OF
Spanish citizens against the United
States government, but Nr. Frye admit
ted that the aggregate OF these counter
claims was not large
THEY HAD PRECEDENTS.
Senator Frye also said that the COM
missloners had felt that they were justhi-
ned In drawing upon the generosity OF
this country In agreeing to pay $40 O0O 900
to Spain for the improvem snts made by
the Spanish government arid In conced.
ing to them for a term OF years the same
privileges as claimed for thu Tilted States
in the matter OF trade in he conquered
territory. Such concessions. he said. were
in the line of precedents set by the most
civilized nations. Great Britains policy
had been in the line Of 4 constant ex-
tension OF the Open-dOor policy, but
whether or not the United States meant
to adopt this policy upon the whole, he
felt sure that history would commend
the course in the present instance. In
agreeing to pay Spain a lump sum we
were also following the best precedents
as well as consulting the most generous
national sentiment. Many quotations
were re@d 10 show that other nations
had pursued this course toward their
vanquished rivals, and especial stress
was laid upon the course OF Germany In
taking Alsace AMI Lorraine from France
and paying for them S3e0.90 when, as
was the case with the United Sta.es and
Spain in the matter OF the Philippines.
tho doctrine that might makes right
could have been consulted TO the exciu
sion OF all ideas OF fairness and honor
and the territory taken simply as the
result OF conquest.
The effort OF the American Commits
sioners to secure control OF the Caroline
Islands was also explained. Mr.. frye
stating that the Spanish Commissioners