The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-14
RAP FOR ROOSEVELT
SANTO DOMINGO TREATY UNDER
 sENATE'S FIRE.
Resolutions Introduced for Inquiry into Assuming Administration of Foreign Custom Houses
 By President.

Washington, Feb. 13.-Senator Bacon introduced today a resolution calling for an investigation by the Senate Com mittee on Foreign Relations of a pro- tocol of an arrangement under which it is alleged that the United States is now administering the custom affairs of Santo Domingo, or at least part of such customs.
 The resolution sets forth the fact that protocol of an agreement was ent- cred into at Santo Domingo City on January S1, 1903, for the arbitration of certain claims against the Dominican Government held by the Santo Domin- go Improvement Company of New York. A copy of the protocol of the agree ment Is incorporated in the resolution and in this the Dominican Government obliges itself to pay the United States $4,500,000 on behalf of the San Do- mingo Improvement Company, and to allow the United States Government to administer the customs affairs at cer- tain ports in order to insure the pay ment. It is under this agreement that the United States is said to be In charge of the customs offices of the Dominican Government and under the protocol entered into January 20 last, which agreement was repudiated by the State Department and another drawn. The latter agreement is expected to arrive in Washington Wednesday.
 The resolution directs the Commit tee to ascertain if such an agreement is added without having been ratified by the Senate and whether 1t Is com potent for the executive to make agree ments of the kind by which the United States is empowered to take possession of the custom houses of a foreign gov ernment.
 The resolution follows:
 ''Whereas, on the 31st day of Janu- ary, 1903 there was signed by w. F. Powell, Charge d'Affaires, on behalf of the United States. and by John san chez, Ministere Degelaccions Exteriors, on behalf of the Republic of Santo Do mingo, a protocol of an agreement be- tween the United States of America and the Dominican Republic in words as follows:
 (Here the resolution recites the pro- tocol) and
 "Whereas, 1t Is publicly alleged and understood to be true that in pursu- ahce of said protocol and of the award hy the arbitrators made in pursuance thereof, one or more customs houses of the Dominican Republic have been taken possession of by officers of the United States and persons subject to their direction and control. by whom and by which moneys and customs du- ties at the ports at which customs houses are situated are now being col- lected for the payments of the amounts specified in said awards. therefore he it,
 Resolved, by the Senate that the Committee on Foreign Relations be and 1t is hereby authorized and direct ed to make investigation and report to the Senate as follows:
 Fitst-Whether the said protocol of an agreement if authorizing the awards as aforesaid is valid and binding agreement or convention between the United States of America and the Do- minican Republic without having been made and without the advice and con sent or the Senate as prescribed in Ar ticle ?, Section of the Constitution of the United States.
 seoond-Whether 1t is competent un-