Evening star., 1902-04-23
MAKING OF TREATIES
Topic Discussed Before Social
Sei6 m SITS.
FRICTION bRLoRED
THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.
Mr.. George c. Holt Reads Paper on
Merits and Defects of Bank
rupt Act.

A number of interesting papers were read
before this forenoon:s session of the Amer
| ican Social Science Association, in the au-
ditorium of the Columbian University Dr.
Francis Wayland, chairman of the depart
| ment OF Jurisprudence of the association, is
| Ill in South Carolina. On motion of Mr..
oscar Straus, president of the association,
| resolution expressing regret at his ILL
ness and extending the hope that he may
| soon recover was adopted unanimously
| and a telegram to that effect was sent to
| him.
Treaty Making Under the United States
Constitution" was the subject of a paper
of merit read by Prof. Theodore s. Wool
| sey, LII. D., of Yale University
"By force of events" Prof Woolsey said
our country has been drawn out of its po-
sition of comfortable political isolation and
bids fair to play a larger part than here
tofore IN the worlds politics This means
that the subjects of our diplomatic nego-
tiation will be more complicated.
TO play such part successfully it is es-
sential that the treaty-making power shall
| be endowed with all possible fiexibility
freedom from friction, dignity and certain
ty. But, as has been pointed out, there
are in our present usage certain difficulties
which stand in the way
Alleges Friction.
and Senate in the negotiation of treaties
There is friction between both of these
and the House in the execution of treaties.
There is friction with foreign governments
through inability to carry through the rati-
fications of treaties after agreement.
And. lastly, there is the ancient but ex-
asperat1ng usage of the Senate not as to
the fact, but as to the manner of amending
treaties. This last mentioned blot upon
the dignity of the Senate can be and should
be wiped out by referring the desired
amendments to the executive to be the
subject of further negotiation.
THE difficulty between the President and
the Senate might be removed if the former
would revert to the early usage-take the
Senate earlier and more fully into conf
dence and secure its cooperation before ne
gotiating.
And, finally, the House should yield
more fully to the principle that treaty MAX
ing belongs to others; that national honor
demands faithful execution of a treaty, and
that all moneys carried by one should be
voted unreservedly.
1T may be conceded, however, that in
treaties involving tariff legislation the
the entire tariff policy might be upset by
the treaty. Upon compacts of this char
acter, therefore, the House should have its
right of veto. or, if feasible, be consulted
in advance.
Given greater ease and certainty in
treaty making, and with the sound SIM
plicity and directness of purpose which
have long marked it,. American diplomacy
may do manful service in Keeping the peace
of the world and advancing it's civilization.
The Bankrupt Act.
Mr.. George C. Holt of the New York bar
gave an address on the Merits and De-
fects Of the United States Bankrupt Act"
He said he could see no reason why an in
solvent business corporation should be ex-
cluded from the voluntary bankruptcy law
He praised a number of the provisions of
the bankruptcy law, saying among other
things that the law is more inexpensive
than the previous system, and that fre-
quent reports required of trustees and the
notices of sales were eminently fair
Mr.. Holt did not see why any element in
the business community should be exclud-
ed from the provisions of the law, how
ever. He declared that the involuntary pro-
ceedings were too complicated.
The last address before the adjournment
for luncheon was made by Mr. E. b. Whit
ney of the New York bar. A discussion of
the subjects followed.
Topics at Last Nights Session.
The subject for discussion at last even
ing's session was Critical Opinions Upon
Employers Liability Legislation in the
United States" The paper of the evening
was delivered by Mr.. James R. Burnett,
attorney for the North American Trust
Company of New York city Mr. Carroll
were among the other speakers.