Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-14
A VISIT SUGGESTED.
Proposed That Senators Go
to Santo Domingo.
REGARDED WITH FAVOR
DOUBT ABOUT RATIFICATION OF
THE TREATY.
Senator Teller Again Defeated in His
Efforts to Have the Convention
Considered in Open Session.

Unless better progress is made in the
next few days on the Santo Domingo treaty
it is likely that a suggestion which has
been advanced will receive serious consd-
Grafton. namely, that if the treaty cannot
be ratified the Senate should adjourn short
ly and that committee of the Senate
should go to Santo Domingo and look
thoroughly into the situation there, to re-
port at the extra session of Congress. This
proposition has been advanced and finds
favor with some senators, although it is yet
in tentative shape.
The men who are advocating the trip
of senators to Santo Domingo to examine
the situation say that there is full war
rant for it III the situation One of the
chief objections that IS urged against TINS
treaty is the uncertainty as to the nature
of the debt of Santo Domingo, the settle
ment of which is proposed to be under
taken through the mediation of the United
States.
Senator Morgan has dweIt at great length
upon this phase of the situation and he in
sists that before tie United States enters
into the grave responsibilities proposed Dy
the terms of the treaty more definite
knowledge should be obtained as to the
Many Republicans Lukewarm.
Some republicans are said to be inclined
favorably to this view Of the case. There
is no concealing the fact that many repub-
licans are exceedingly lukewarm toward
the treaty. If brought face to face with
vote these senators undoubtedly would vote
with the administration and with their
party, but they are not at all enthusiastic.
1t has been difficult in the last few days to
maintain i quorum in the Senate. and there
are indications that number of senator's
are growing FESTIVE, and II the debate Is
continued may leave town upon business or
pleasure. Not all of the objections to the
treaty entertained by republicans have been
voiced in the daily proceedings. But these
men talk outside of the Senate, and it is
known that there are several senators who
would be very glad if some method could
be found to dispose of the questions with
out bringing apparent humiliation upon the
administration and at the same time with
out ratifying the treaty.
How the Senate Stands.
1t appears today that it will require the
votes of three democrats for the treaty
and the presence of absentee Senator
Knox to get the necessary two-thrds.
The democratic votes may be obtained,
and, of course, Senator Knox, being a
stanch friend of the administration,
would come back if he had to be carried
in on stretcher. The three men of whom
the republicans have hopes are Senator
McEnery of Louisiana, Senator Stone of
Missouri and Senator Clarke of Arkan-
sas But it was intimated today that with
respect to one of these, at least, the re-
publicans were counting their chickens
before they were Matched.
When the Senate went into executive
session at IL o'clock today. the hour of
meeting having been advanced to expe
dite debate, the administration leaders
were not much encouraged over the out
look. They had canVassed the situation
carefully and did not see their way clear
to ratification. AT the same time 1t IS re-
called that in many desperate situations
the Senate has suddenly resolved d1ffl-
culties apparently insurmountable, and
the leaders did not give up hope.
Open Sessions Again Denied.
Senator Teller today renewed his effort to
have the treaty considered in open session.
for the discussion of law points which he
said were involved in the treaty. He said
that it was desirable on matters of this
character to get the views of the country
and make the people understand just what
was proposed to be done under the treaty.
The Senate committee on foreign rela-
lions was complimented by Senator Teller
for the efforts it had made to satisfactorily
amend the treaty, and he declared that the
convention, with perhaps one or two add
tional amendments, had been put in the
best possible condition. But" he added,
'it is impossible to amend the treaty SO
that it will satisfy me. / am opposed to
it for fundamental and basic reasons" He
declared that the policy to be embarked
upon under the treaty was contrary to our
form of government and a dangerous
precedent to establish.
Objection was made. however, by Senator
Foraker and the doors remained closed.
Analysing the Debt.
Senator Morgan then took the floor and
the Indebtedness CT Santo Domingo to show
that it was largely made up of fraudulent
claims. He talked also of the revenues of
the government and used as a basis the
data which he recently presented to the
Senate and which was printed as a Senate
document
In the debate which followed several dem
ocratic Senators declared that it would be
advisable to have the doors opened, and
finally d roll call was determined upon to
settle this question permanently
1t resulted in a decision to continue the
consideration of the treaty in executive
session. The vote was "a to ID.
AS an evidence of the free and easy way
in which business is transacted in execu-
rived senator suggested that he was hun
cry and he did not care to miss any of
the debate upon the interesting question
before the Senate, he suggested a recess
for lunch. This proposition, although
somewhat novel, met with instant favor
and there was an immediate rush for the
lunch room. After the frugal midday re-
freshment the statesmen returned to the
Senate chamber at o'clock and resumed
discussion Of the treaty.