New-York tribune., 1905-03-08
WILL AMEND TREATY.
INDICATIONS IN SENATE.
No Change WI affect Main Par
pose of Dominican Protocol.
Eraom THE TRIBUNE BUREAu.I

Washington March 7.-Discussion OF the Santo
Domingo protocol by Senators to-day. both
formal and informal, in the Senate and in
committee. demonstrated that the treaty will be
materially amended before ratification is accom-
plished. but indicated that with the amendments
suggested it will eventually be approved
Discussion in the Senate took the form of a
debate on the proposed Bacon resolution of in
uuiry although the Santo Domingo policy was
freely discussed. 1t asserted by Senator
Morgan that the United States should first as
certain beyond peradventure the validity Of the
claims against Santo Domingo before providing
for methods Of payment, thus avoiding any pos
sibility of a repetition of the trouble experienced
in the La Abra case.
Mr.. Morgan reminded his colleagues that in
the case mentioned the United States submitted
the La Abra claim TO arbitration. collected
from Mexico the first instalment of the award
and on the point of making it over to the
claimant when Mexico urged reopening of the
case. The government was compelled to fight
the demand of the claimant for payment of the
first instalment in the courts and only the de-
cision of the Supreme Court of the United
States saved the government from making over
the amount. On the reopening of the case the
claim found 10 be without foundation and
the funds were returned to Mexico. From this
Mr.. Morgan argued that were the United States
10 adjudicate claims against Santo Domingo,
find them equitable and pay them from Do
Ininican revenues. and subsequently have them
proven fraudulent. this country would be liable
10 Santo Domingo for the sums so paid out. His
argument appeared TO carry considerable weight
with Senator's
Before the executive session adjourned, SEN
ator Bacon withdrew his resolution of inquiry
for the purpose of so redrafting it as TO elmi-
nate certain features to which the Republicans
were inexorably opposed.
The Committee Foreign Relations held
two sessions to-day and made so much progress
that II is hoped the treaty can be reported after
to-norrow's session. No effort was made how
ever, TO reach an agreement in committee on
any OF the amendments proposed and no votes
were taken, 1t being apparent that many Sena-
tors not members of the committee desire to
discuss the protocol 1t was determined to re-
port it to the Senate, along with the proposed
amendments, with the purpose of allowing the
convention to be finally revised by the whole
Senate. The clerk of the committee took down
the proposed amendments and these will be
printed tonight. Tomorrow an effort will be
made TO fit them into the convention, and when
that is accomplished the entire question will be
laid before the Senate
While no vote taken. It developed that
the committee unanimously in favor of
eliminating the second paragraph of the pre-
ambe, which defines the Monroe Doctrine and
declares that the United States would view any
attempt on the part of a foreign government
TO "oppress or control the destiny Of the Do
minical Republic a manifestation of an un-
friendly disposition toward the United States"
etc
Other proposed amendments would have the
effect Of somewhat curtailing the protocol of
more clearly defining its scope and eliminating
all possible vaGueness. but will not interfere
with the chief purpose Of the agreement 1t
was also suggested that some change would
have TO be made in that portion Of the protocol
which declares that the employees who, on be-
half of the United States, shall manage the
customs receipts shall be subject to the crirni-
nal and civil jurisdiction of the Dominican Re-
public 1t argued that this would make
possible the attachment of the funds in the
hands of such employees by decree of the pc
culiar judiciary of Santo Domingo, would rem
der such employees liable TO punishment at the
hands of the Dominican courts if they failed
Zens of the republic and subject to still
other objection.
The situation this evening indicates that the
treaty viii be first amended so as % to elm
mate all suggestion Of the policy followed in
this instance being pursuant TO a ceroary Of
the Monroe Doctrine, 60 to define clearly the
method whereby claims against Santo Domingo
shall be adjudicated, % to remove such en-
ployes as shall be appointed to carry into effect
the provisions Of the protocol from the possible
vagaries of Dominican Jurisprudence, and a.
70 make ii obvious that this case cannot be re-
garded as precedent for similar action in the
case Of other American countries unless all the
circumstances attending any future case shall
be identical with those here presented.