New-York tribune., 1905-02-12
THE TREATIES RATIFIED.
AMENDMENT ADOPTED.
Word Agreement" Changed to
Treatg-Letter from President.
lFRoM % TRInrxE srREAr.l


Washington. Feb. 1.-THE Senate has ratified
the seven arbitration treaties which have been
for some time pending after adopting the
amendment reported by the Committee on For
eign Relations The vote On the amendment
was 90 10 Q. The amendment consists of the
change indicated in these dispatches to The
Tribune of February 6-ths substitution Of the
word treaty for agreement in the second
section of the conventions making this section
read as follows:
In each individual case the high contracting
parties. before appealing to the Permanent
Court of Arbitration. shall conclude a special
TREATY defining clearly the matter in dispute.
the scope OF the powers of the arbItratOrs and
the periods to be fixed for the formation OF the
arbitrGl tribunal and the several stages Of the
procedure.
Two executive sessions were held to-day. being
devoted to consideration OF the principle in
volved in these treaties. The earlier session was
occupied chiefly with a discussion OF the Presi-
dents letter to Senator CuIlom and the later
session TO consideration OF the amendment itself
ESTEEM FOR PRESIDENT EXPRESSED.
A notable feature OF the three sessions at
which the treaties have been discussed is that
instead as has been erroneousIy reported. OF
eliciting criticism OF the President. the debate
was characterized by expressions Of the highest
esteem for Mr.. Roosevelt. and Senator's. notably
Messrs. Lodge. Spooner and Foraker. while in
sisting that the proposed amendment essen
tial, not only gave utterance their high regard
and admiration for the President. but declared
that rarely II ever. had they been confronted
by more painful duty. They said it grieved
them to be compelled TO dissent from the opin-
ion of the President. but protested their utter
inability TO see their way clear to carrying his
recommendation into effect.
Senator Lodge spoke with much feeling when
he declared that his great affection for the
President rendered his course in this instance
extremely painful and that only sense OF duty
compelled him to vote for the amendment which
the President disapproved. He declared that
the present occasion was one where no Senator
could permit himself to be influenced by ques-
tions of expediency or personal preference or re-
gard. and at the same time be true to his oath
TO uphold the Constitution; that were the Sem
ate TO ratify the pending treaties without
amendment it would be giving official sanction
to principle in violation of the Constitution
Senator Spooner followed Senator Lodge de-
claring his regard and admiration for President
Roosevelt in eloquent terms. but asserting his
conviction that to ratify the treaties without
amendment would be doing violence to the Con-
stitution- Senator Foraker spoke in the same
vein. as did Senator Hale. Mr.. Teller reiterated
his assertion that ratification could not be ac-
compiished without the adoption o. the amend
ment.
Senator Platt. Of Connecticut urged delay
saying he had not made up his mind. as there
seemed. IN the light of the Presidents letter.
TO be new principle involved. Senator Fair
banks expressed his opposition TO the amend
ment on the ground that the President would
urquestionably submit any agreement with a
foreign nation made under the provisions OF
the pending treaties 70 the Senate for ratihca-
tion
Mr.. Lodge replied that the President had him
clear that such not the construction he
placed on the Constitution. and that were the
Senate to reject the amendment, it would COM
init that body TO the Presidents Interpretation
of the constitutional provision. Replying TO
Senator'S Platt and Fairbanks, Mr. Lodge pro-
duced the record of the vote on the Olney-
Pauncefote treaty, when. by vote Of "a TO 13
analogous in principle to the one under dis
cussion. That amendment had been offered by
Senator Hoar, and defined the powers of the
Executive precisely does the amendment
adopted to-day Mr.. Lodge then read the names
of the Senators who voted for the Hoar amend
ment, among them being both Senator PIatt
and Senator Fairbanks
AMENDMENT ADOPTED so To O
The vote on the amendment which was Of
fered to the treaty with France. was as fol-