The San Francisco call., 1905-03-09

WASHINGTON, March s.-The Santo
Domingo treaty was practically per
fected to-day by the Senate COMMITTEES
on Foreign Relations, so far as the
phraseology is concerned, and without
regard to the principles involved In the
procedure proposed by the Dominican
convention. The committee progressed
so far that it was agreed to take a vote
on the treaty tomorrow to determine
whether the report shall be in favor of
ratification or rejection What that re-
port will be cannot be determined posi-
lively, although it is believed 1t will be
favorable. The Democrats on the COM
mlttee have expressed themselves as
against the treaty fundamentally, al
though they took an active part in the
presentation and adoption of amend
ments 1t is expected most Of the Re-
publican Senators will vote to report
the treaty as amended.
All of the amendments adopted by
the committee are with a general aim
or making the question covered stand
alone and of removing all chance of 1t
Delng used as a precedent for like pro-
cedure in other countries, under guise
or being required by the Monroe doc
tr1ne. For instance, one of the first
amendments strikes out that portion of
the second paragraph of the preamble
which has been construed as a def1ni-
ton and application of the Monroe doc
tr1ne to the Santo Domingo case. Other
important amendments are as follows:
That part of the preamble which de-
clares that the Dominican Government
is in imminent peril and urgent men
ace OF intervention on the part of the
nations whose citizens have claims" is
cfr r1lrr Il Ill Lea -
read that the proceeding is on the
ground Of having debts which burden
the republic"
FIRST ARTICLE AMENDED.
In the first article, which describes
the character of the claims this Gov
ernment purposes to adjust, an amend
ment was adopted to include obliga-
tions ''liquidated and agreed upon" !"
This amendment is for the purpose Of
giving the treaty application to the ad-
Justment of the claims of the San Do
mingo Improvement Company, the
payment of which already has been en-
tered on by the agreement under which
the United States has taken charge of
number of custom houses under the
protocol of July 81, 1903
The article which declares that the
Government of the United States, at
the request of the Dominican Govern
ment, shall grant the latter such other
assistance as the former may deem
proper to restore the credit, preserve
the order. increase the efficiency of the
civil administration and advance the
material progress and welfare of the
Dominican republic, was amended so
as to permit the Government of the
United States to grant this additional
assistance if 1t desires, but 1t is not
bound by treaty obligations so to do.
TREATY TO BE BINDING.
A new article was added, which
provides that whatever is done under
this treaty shall be binding on sue
ceeding Governments in the Domini-
can republic, so as to eliminate the
chance Of a succeeding government at
tempting to repudiate its agreement
with the United States.
The probability of the treaty being
cedent was discussed freely in the
committee to-day and 1t was predicted
that the procedure was forerunner
of what might be expected to take
place in regard to Venezuela. 1t was
declared, too, that this Government
might have to take over the Santo Do
mingo country as territory of the
United States. In this connection an
amendment will be offered in the Sem
ate striking out that part of the pre-
amble whereby the United States
agrees to respect the complete integ-
rity of the Dominican republic.