The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-10
THE MASON RESOLUTION
Interesting Discussion in the Sen
ate Behind Closed Doors.
The Proposal 20 Extend sympathy 10
the Beers the Occasion of Definite
4 Protest Against Secrecy Mr..
Lodge Seeks 10 Throw Oil on the
Troubled waters-No Action Taken

The action of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations in declining to report
back TO the Senate the resolutions offered
by MIR. Mason early in the present ses-
sion, expressing sympathy for the Beers
will, in all probability, be sustained. The
debate in secret session yesterday aft
ernoon gave this assurance. but no
definite action was taken owing to
the arrival of the hour OF O'Clock
before the discussion had closed. Mean
while behind closed doors and in the
freedom OF discussion granted in secret
legislative session, some plain talk had
been INDUCED in, amendments had been
offered, and ruled out Of order and it was
made apparent that nothing was to be
permitted to pass the Senate that might
be accepted by Great Britain as possible
affront or as indicating a sentiment in the
upper branch of Congress antagonistic tc
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 motlnn 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 go
before the county at-all.
"But it will get to the country" said
AIR. Mason. You know" continued the
Senator, that things said in this charm
Der. even with all the doors locked, get
out, and the more we try to keep them
secret the mare are they. published in de-
tail"
Mr. Mason was insistent in asking why
there should be so much secrecy in this
particular instance. Why" he asked,
with a touch of sneer in his voice. did
you not ask Tor a 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 it 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 / am quite sure the people of
those islands cannot gain any particular
aid from our discussion of the South Afri-
can question. 1t isn't possible that this
discussion, II it should become public will
enable the Filipinos to retain any more of
Mrs. Aguinaldo's wardrobe or make it pos
sible for our boys to capture few more
OF her garments?"
After these remarks by Mr.. Mason Mr..
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 a resolution. IT
was a gratuitous expression that was IN
called for at this juncture. 1t would, if
passed, he said, be an official expression
of the Government. and no member of the
Senate ought TO seek TO put the Govern
ment, 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. MIR. 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 not
have the right TO &c. vote on any and
all resolutions that he may see fit to in
troduee here in the Senate, and when he
asks it he is asking more than is accorded
TO any other Senator"
ut may be true as the Senator says"
interjected Mr.. Mason. that | have nc
right TO have vote, but | have the alb
solute right TO try to get q vote. and I
want to tell the Senator here and now that
the Senator from Illinois. will keep on in
his efforts TO secure a vote. The Senator
will he 1a-a a
thing the Senator from Wisconsin may
have to say about it
Then Senator Lodge endeavored to throw
oil on the troubled waters. He made a
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. and that the Senate ought to
have sufficient confidence in its committee
TO leave the resolutions referred 10 1t with
the committee until such time as the com
mittee thought it best to report them. II
Mr.. MasOn's motion prevailed. he said ii
would overturD the presidents of the Sen I
ate and do that thing which the Senate !
had never yet done
Senator Hoar thought that when IL came /,
10 the consideration of great questions OF /
national right or wrong the Senate should I
express its opinion honestly regardless of !
any questions of national friendship that |
might be interjected. "It ought to matter /
nothing to u.s.. said he, whether We may |
offend the Gar. the Queen. or anyone else; /
we ought to be willing to express our
honest opinion and be able to do il with |
out offence. Has it come to this that We
must ask foreign powers if We as a peo- :
pie may express our views On great ques- /
lions that are stirring the entire woyId2"
Senator Depew asked Mr.. Mason why he I
had not extended his sympathy TO the SUI
ferng Finlanders who had teen oppressed
by the Gar of all the Russias. He said
that a delegation representing this pc ple
had called upon him few days ago and
laid their case before him. Il was deplOr-
able. Why has not the sympathy OF the
Senator from Illinois extended to these
poor peoples, asked Mr.. Depew. as he con-
GUIDED his portrayal Of the suffering of the
Firms.
The Senator from Illinois knows all
about that thing" said Mr. Mason. by way
Of reply. and he will deal with 1t in
good time" Il may add" said Mr. Ma
son, warmly, that / have several more
resolutions on tap. all of which viii be
offered in the Senate in due time. There
are abundant grounds for Offering resoIu-
ions. and the Senator from Illinois has
hess of introducing resolutions in the SEN
ate. although he is a bit discouraged over
the Boer question
Mr.. Hoa-, expressing his sympathy for
the Beers, said that he believed IL the
Mason resolution was passed il would
block the way to a more etficacious remedy
Mr.. Hale declared his support of The
resolution, but added that he had long