The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-08
TIT WILL BE FOUGHT OUT Dominican Treaty to 60
 10 Senate Floor. EARLYREPORT DESIRABLE Matter May Come From the
 Committee Today. Mir. Morgan sussests His PrepssstIsa That United states sAo.la First
 Investigate the Dests se That Country.
|EARLYREPORT DESIRABLE


 Washington, March IT, Without dc- termining any question of policy in rec gard to the San Domingo treaty the Senate decided today that the treaty should be reported as soon as possible from the committee on foreign relations and the entire question fought out In executive session. This was the sentf- nent of the foreign relations commits tee as well as the Senate, and in two sessions of the committee the proceeds ings were with a view to reporting the treaty tomorrow. if possible.
 The amendments offered in the cQm< mittee were confined to reduction Of an alleged surplusage of words. They were offered verbally and taken down by stenographer. They are to .b0 printed and considered when the com- mittee meets tomorrow. By q tacit understanding the policy involved in the treaty was not taken up by tho committee and 1t was understood that the action in submitting amendments In this manner did not commit any Sen- ator to the support of the treaty. The program was merely to facilitate ac- tion and remove all chance of its being made party question in the commits tee.
 The prompt action of the foreign re- 1ations committee undoubtedly win req suit in much earlier decision in tho Senate. Nearly every Senator who dts- cussed the treaty today expressed a de- sire that the measure be kept from be- coming 6 party question. To prevent this, Senator Bacon offered to withdraw his resolution concerning the protocol of an agreement entered into between the United States in January 1903 in reference to the Santo Domingo Im4 provement Compapy's claim and modify
 Change in Resslutien.
 When he again offers 1t the reso1u~ ton win be general in character and will. ask that the foreign relations corx1.. mfttee inquire and report whether the executive had authority to make an agreement by which the United States takes charge of the customs of another country. It will not mention any par ticular case, but it will ask that the Senate committee enquire if there is another form of convention. treaty. protocol or agreement by which the President might proceed to the collec- tions of claim of citizen of the Unit- ed States against foreign power. He took the position that the executive could look after the interests of cfti- gems of the United States through dip- lomatic channels, but to take charge of custom houses might be considered as an act of war. He declared that the procedure was unconstitutional unless. 1t was submitted first to the Senate
 When the senate went into executive session today Senator Bacon called up a resolution which he offered yesterday asking that the Senate committee ou foreign relations make an investigation of the protocol of an agreement mada January 31, 1903, by which the United States undertook to regulate the collec- tion of customs of the Dominican gov- ernment and pay the claims of the San Domingo Improvement Company. He addressed the Senate in a speech favor- ing the resolution.
 {. The right of the United States to enter into an agreement with another country for the collection of a claim held by United States citizen or cons pany was conceded by Senator Bacon. but he contended that the executive ex- ceeded his authority in entering into an, agreement to take charge of the custom house affairs of such a government without first submitting the question to the Senate and receiving its approval.
 Senator Spooner discussed this sub- Ject also and so far as the authority of the President to make such an agree ment with San Domingo was concerned he agreed with Senator Bacon
 Several other Senators talked on the resolution but number objected to its form. They claimed that it went too far. Senator Bacon met this crit- icism by withdrawing the resolution with view of remodeling 1t and of- ferins 1t again.
 Early Report Desirable.
 The sentiment the Senate aaa-.nz to be that an early report on the treaty should be rSade by the Committees on Foreign Relations. A suggestion to this. effect met with favor and 1t was announced that 1t had been agreed to in the committee that a report should be made within a few days, probably tomorrow. It is not the expectation that the treaty will be reported from the committee in form approved by all the members. but it Is believed that greater headway can be made by hav- ing the discussion on the floor of the Senate.
 While most of the debate today res lated to the Bacon resolution there was an incidental exchange of views among the Senators concerning the treaty and the effect of the intervention of the United States in the affairs of the Dominican Government. including the right of the United States to collect debts due to American citizens. On the latter point there was substantial agreement but there was wide di- vengeance of opinions as to the method.
 Replying to the effort made by the United States in the interest of the San Domingo Improvement Company, Senator Platt, (Conn.). advanced the idea that the United States officials en- gagged in collecting the money for the payment of this debt are the agents of the Dominican Government. Senator Teller combatted this suggestion by pointing out that they were appointed by the United States, which he con- tended robbed them of the most essen- tial features of agency.
 A new proposition was suggested by Senator Morgan. which was that the United States should make an investf- gation of the debts of San Domingo before entering upon any plan for their payment. He said it would be danger ous for this country to engage in tho business of debt-paying unless the ob- -lf9ationa of San Touniuon had hQAn in e