The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-10

The action Of the Senate Committee OF
Foreign Relations in declining TO repor
back to the Senate the resolutions offere,
by Mir. Mason early in the present SEES
sion expressing sympathy for the Beers
will. in all probability. be sustained. Tn
debate iu secret session yesterday aft
ernoou gave this assurance, but I'd
definite action was taken owing q
the arrival of the hour Of . o'cloci
before the discussion had closed. Mean
while. behind closed doors and in TIL
freedom OF discussion granted in secre
legislative session. some plain talk hat
been INDUCED in, amendments had beer
offered. and ruled out OF order. and it wa
made apparent that nothing was to bt
permitted to pass the Senate that mign
be accepted by Great Britain as a possible
afiront or as indicating a sentiment in thu
upper branch OF Congress antagonistic e
the well defined policy OF the Administra-
ton.
Mr.. Lodge appeared as the first cham
pion Of The committee to which the reso-
luton had been referred. He declared
that the motion to discharge the commit
tee could not be discussed without the
merits OF the case being brought into the
debate. That would open up a subject
that ought not, from his viewpoint, to 90
before the country at-all.
but il viii get TO the country" said
MIR. Mason. You know" continued the
Senator. that things said in this charm
Der. even with all the doors locked, get
ha M Trr IA Eanra Them
secret the mare are they published in de-
tail"
AIr Mason was insistent in asking why
there should be so much secrecy in this
particular instance. Why" he asked
with a touch Of q sneer in his voice. did
you not ask for . secret session when you
discussed the resolutions offered in this
body expressing sympathy for the Cubans
and the Armenians You did not lock the
doors then Perhaps. however il depends
entirely upon who offers the resolutions.
Why should we close these doors any
how? Who is there We have to fear. The
only people We are fighting are the Fill
pinOs, and l am quite sure the people Of
those Islands cannot gain any particular
aid from our discussion Of The South Afri-
can question. II isn't possible that this
discussion. II it should become public will
enable the Filipinos 70 retain any more Of
Mrs. Aguinaldo's wardrobe or make it pos
sible for our boys to capture a few more
OF her garments"
After these remarks by Mr.. Mason Nj.
SpOoner entered upon a long argument
against the open session and the consid-
Grafton OF kindred questions such as that
introduced by Mr.. Mason. in open session.
Mr. Spooner declared himself to be heart
lily in favor Of the Beers. as he was in
sympathy with men struggling for liberty
everywhere but at the same time. he said.
this was not the time nor the place for
the consideration Of such resolution. It
was a gratuitous expression that was IN
called for at this juncture. Il would, if
passed. he said, be an official expression
OF the Government. and 10 member Of the
Senate ought 10 seek TO put the Govern
mcnt, friendly to both parties to the pres
ent controversy. in the attitude OF going
out OF its way to express sympathy for
one party or the other. Mr.. Spooner de-
Tended the committee and said that in
declining TO report this resolution it had
acted within its powers and had consid-
cred the best interests Of This Govern
ment under the circumstances.
The Senator from Illinois, said Mr.
Spooner. with some asperity does nor
have the right 10 get a vote on any and
all resolutions that he may see fit to in
troduce here in the Senate and when De
asks 81 be is asking more than is accorded
to any other Senator.
1T may be true as the Senator SAYS"
INTERCEPTED Mr Mason that I have nc
right to have vote. but have the alb
solute right 10 try to get a vote. and I
want 10 tell the Senator here and now that
the Senator from Illinois viii keep on in
his Efforts to secure vote. The Senator
from Illinois will not be deferred by any
thing the Senator from Wisconsin may
have to say about it,
Then Senator Lodge endeavored TO throw
oil on the troubled waters. He made
strong plea for secrecy. and showed that
never in the history OF the Senate had
the action proposed been taken. He in
sisted that the Committee on Foreign Re
lations knew probably better than other
Senators what was the proper method OF
procedure. aud that the Senate ought &c
have sufficient confidence In its committee
TO leave the resolutions referred 10 10 with
the committee until such tine as the com
mittee thought il best 20 report them 1!
Mr.. MasOn's motion prevailed he said. &c
would overturn the presidents Of the Sen
ate and do that thing which the Senate
had never yet done.
Senator Hosr thought thar when &c came
10 the consideration Of great questions OF
national right or wrong the Senate should
express its opinion honestly regardless of
any questions OF national friendship that
might be interjected. 1T ought to matter
nothing to us. said he whether We may
offend the Gar. the Queen. or anyone else,
we ought 10 be willing 90 express our
honest opinion and be able TO DO it with
out offence. Has il come TO this thar We
must ash foreign powers if We as a peo-
PIE may express our views On great QueS-
lions that are stirring the entire wo-Id2"
Senator Depew asked Mr. Mason why be
had not extended his sympathy 90 the sui
fering Finlanders who had Teen oppressed
by the Gar Of all the Ruesi8s. He said
that a delegation representing this people
had called upon him q few days ago ard
laid their case before him. u was deplor-
able. why has not the sympathy OF the
Senator from Illinois extended to these
poor peoples, asked Mr. DepeW. as he con
cluded his portrayal OF The suffering of the
Films.
The Senator from Illinois knows all
about that thing said Alr. Mason. by Way
OF reply "snd he will deal with 1T in
good time" 4 may add. said Mr. Ma
son. warmly that ] have several more
resolutions on tap. an OF which VIII De
offered in the Senate IN due time There
are abundant grounds for Offering resolu-
dons, and the Senator from Illinois has
not forgotten how 10 80 about the bust
ness Of introducing resolutions in the Sen
ate. although be is a biz discouraged over
the B0Cr question"
Mr.. Hoar expressing his sympathy for
The Beers. said that he believed IL the
Mason resolution was passed it would
block the way to a more ef1cacious remedy.
Mr. Hale declared his support Of the
resolution, but added that he had long