The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-07
DOMINICAN
 AGREEMENT Senate Considers the Mat
 ter at Length. MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT Question Referred to Foreign Relations Committee. Morgan, of Alabama, FIles His Protest Against What He Considers to
 Be Dangerous Policy in
 the Premises.
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT

Washington, March 6.-The Domini- can question was raised as soon as the doors of the Senate were closed in ex- ecutive session today. One of the mes- sages received from the President re- Iating to that subject and 1t was the first matter taken up. It called atten- tion to the protocol of an agreement with the Goversment of Santo Domingo, by which the United States will under take to conduct the Republics cus- toms affairs in an effort to liquidate its debts and put the island government on a more stable footing with other coun- tries.
 The message is the second that has been received from the President in re- lation to the treaty. The first was made public as was the protocol to which 1t was directed. It advocated the ratification of the agreement and urged as one ground that it was neces- sary for this Government to take this course in order to uphold the dignity of the Monroe doctrine.
 The message received today gave ad- ditional reasons why In the opinion Of the President the treaty should be act ed upon favorably. It stated the bene- fits that might be derived by this coun- try because of the position taken.
 The treaty was read in connection with the message in order to have both referred to the Committee on ror- eign Relations. General discussion of the message followed the reading. The procedure outlined by the protocol, ac- cording to the message Is held by the President to be the only means or pro- tecting the interests of creditors In the United States who have claims against a,af nd A way by which creditors of European governments may be given assurance that their claims will be paid.
 VIII Be Safeguard.
 The President says that instead of stretching the Monroe doctrine this procedure Is the only course which will relieve this countrySfrom t,e necesstty of continually invoking the Moaroe doctrine against invasion of European governments. He argues that 1t is safeguard against foreign entangle- ments.
 It was pointed out in the message that the United States was not inter- ferinR in the international affairs of santo Domingo. but that the proceed ings of this Government were in re- sponse to the earnest request of the Dominican Government.
 Nearly every member of the Foreign Relations Committee discussed the treaty and the Presidents message. It was practically agreed that the For eign Relations Committee should be charged with the duty of perfecting the document or at least Of passing on if before the details of proposed amend ments were discussed In the Senate.
 Senator Morgan talked at some length, taking exceptions to some state- ments in the Presidents message along the line of the argument he has made in a previous protest against the treaty. He said today that with some amend ments he might support the treaty; that on matters of this character he believed in being non partisan. He said he hoped the Republicans would take as broad a view as he had in that re- spect.
 Senator Bacon said that he too would consider the treaty from non-parti- san point of view and that there were some questions raised that should be settled by the Senate. In that connec- ton he offered his resolution of in- auiry concerning the protocol of Jan nary 3l 1908, for the settlement of the claims of the Santo Domingo Im- provement Company, and it was refer red to the Foreign Relations Commit tee. Senator Morgans protest also was offered and likewise went to the Foreign Relations Committee.
 The protest by Senator Morgan in addition to defining the Monroe doc- Urine and declaring that 1t is not ap- plicable to the case under discussion says:
 MOrgan's Protest.
 This is the first attempt of the gov ernment of the United States to clear off the debts of an independent State, in any form. and the message of the President, which accompanies and ex- plains the protocol. leaves this alleged power, right and duty based upon the Monroe doctrine and it's obligations alleged to be assumed by the United States.
 "A prototype of this policy is found in Egypt except that Great Britain is collecting debts due to her own people in that dependency of Turkey, while we are collecting debts for the sub tects of European powers
 Speaking of the probable action of foriegn governments in the event 6 treaty Is ratified. Senator Morgan said:
 They will compel us to espouse the cause of every American republic that may be in distress, and to assume a 9uardianship for it that will cost our people vast burdens in taxation and our government the inconceivable labor and responsibility of adjusting the de- mand of tens of thousands of hungry creditors and heartless spectators who will swarm our lobbies with unclean hands and defile this capitol
 The treaty and message were refer red to the committee and daily sessions will be held until some conclusion Is reached.
 The nominations of the members of the cabine. were referred to the vari- ous committees and reports were made Immediately by polling the committee on the floor. The nominations then were confirmed. Those of ex-Senator Cockrell and Quarles were confirmed without reference to committees, in ac- cordance with the custom of the Senate of showing courtesy to former col leagues who have been honored with federal appointments.
 In its present form the protocol met with practically no support. Chairman Cullom had it read and announced that 1t would be before the committee as soon as 1t could again be referred in accordance with rule of the Senate.
 BacOn's Resolution.
 Senator Bacon in his discussion re- vsrtsd to the original protocol entered