New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-06
BLOW FOR CUBAN TREATY
MAY PREVENT ACTION.
Its Enemies ReuecI Scheme to Check
mate House.
Iron NE TRIBUNE BUREAU. ]


washington. Nov. "A discovery seriously
affecting the prospects Of the Cuban treaty has
sust been made By its opponents. one that threat
ems 10 prove n grave menace TO the Repuohoah
rrocramre for its final ratification Through
an oversight the amendments adopted at the
srecisl session Of she Senate last spring and the
fact that the treaty had been ratified by the
senate have never been formally made public
h.. ne senate Accordingly. the House. being in
possession Of technically imperfect treaty. can
r,ot take action Tor Introduce an enabling act.
un-n after the Senate has voted, in executive
session u make public its action in the respects
rauned-
The opponents o. the treaty have not been
slow 10 see their advantage. end are preparing
r. place every possible obstacle in the way OF
the necessary vote with view 10 forcing the
House &c remain impotent ia the interval The
senators from Louisiana. who convinced
that the interests Of their constituents viii be
sscrfhces By the. final ratification Of the Cuban
treaty. are known 70 have prepared extensive
eneecbes 10 be delivered before any vote be
taken. while Senator Morgan, Of Alabama, al
though not antagonistic TO the Cuban conven-
sion. has announced that he viii DO all in his
rovrer 70 prevent action on the agreement pend
ing some move ~ TIE Senate compelling the
President 10 act under ne alternative Of the
spooner amendment and open negotiations with
Nicaragua anC costa Inca lof 1iit Col-0'i N-
- the isthrnian canal
~ 5;a7,-,a presented BY this situation is
fully appreciated 10y the Republican leaders, who
s~e sorely perplexed over il The prospect
cf The Senate sitting for hours listening TO
ne Senator from Alabama exPounding the
rosnel % the Nicaragua Canal route, TO be
relie7-ed at intervals by the Senators from
Louisiana preaching the doctrine Of cane sugar
while The House sits patiently waiting for some
.sr,~- - -z~ xfr
ou5 the purpose for which the President has
called il in extraordinary session, is regarded as
srDaIIinc and Yet the performance OF these Sen
---~s at The last session Of the Senate furnishes
ole evidence Of their earnestness and Of the
voluminous arguments which they are capable
Of presenting in support Of a measure in when
they sincerely believe
The Senate Committee on Finance VIII hold
session tomorrow morning, ostensibly to dis
cuss financial measures. but it is safe preolc-
ton that the peculiar status Of the Cuban treaty
and the obstacles which threaten TO block the
Passage Of the act putting its provisions into
effect viii come in for more consideration than
any purely financial legislation.
Another, but minor, feature, which TO some
extent cornplcates the situation. is a difference
Of opinion as TO the method TO be adopted. after
the treaty as amended is made public.
Members Of the House standing by their con-
stitutionel contention mat all legislation a.
fecting the revenues must originate in the lower
chamber contend that the proposed enabling
GET must take the form Of bill 20 be intro
oUced, presumably by the chairman Of the
VVays and Means Comlaittee. and reported back
BY that body. Leading Senator's, on the other
hand, contend that the proposed act should take
the form % a resolution OF approval such as
was outlined by Senator Lodge in The Tribune
OF Apr:l .. This controversy is based on the old
academic question regarding the right Of the
Senate 70 negotiate treaty affecting the reVe-
rues. which is no nearer settlement to-day than
it was in washington's time Senators who
have given the subject thought believe that the
abortion q a resolution by the upper chamber
would be attended with less difficulty than the
passage Of a bill subject TO unlimited amend
rnent. The House can. OF course, avoid all diff
Guilty BY reporting a rule limiting debate and
forbidding amendment and the lower chamber
has little sympathy with the difficulties likely
10 he encountered at the other end Of the Capt.
To- believing. as Il does. that the Senate should
amend its rules to more nearly conform to those
Of the House.
This sentiment. always strong in the House,
Is not likely to be disspated under the rule
OF Speaker Cannon. whose emphatic characteri-
cation Of the Senates lack Of rules caused the
FIRST cay Of The last extr ordinary session Of the
upper chamber 10 be devoted 10 a defence OF !ts
rules and condemnation Of Mr.. CaEnon's de-
uuaciation.
TIE question OF bill against resolution. how
ever. pales into insignifcance n comparison
with the problem presented by the failure Of the
Senate to make public its amendments to the
Cuban treaty during the last special session