Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-08
MANY CHANGES MADE
Consideration of the Domini-
can Treaty Resumed.
REPORT NEARLY READY
1T MAY GO TO THE SENATE TO-
1T MAY GO TO THE SENATE To-
MORROW.
Senator Bacon in Executive Session OF
the Senate Submits Amendments
to His Resolution of Inquiry.

The Senate committee on foreign rela-
tions had the Dominican treaty under con-
sideration this forenoon, and upon the as
sembling of the Senate at noon took
recess for a session to be held later ip the
afternoon. The committee has practically
completed it's consideration of the treaty
and probably will report to the Senate to-
morrow.
The original treaty will hardly be recog-
nized in the form of the document which
will be reported to the Senate. 1t has been
amended and emascuated and written over
until it bears very little resemblance to the
first document. The Senate committee has
handled the treaty with the object in view
of making it acceptable to the Senate
SO as to warrant the hope Of speedy ratifi-
cation. That means that the features
which were Objectionable to various fac
tions in the Senate have been modified to
meet the criticism.
Session May End in Ten Days.
1t is expected that as so modified the
treaty will be ratified by the Senate with
out unusual delay or debate, and that the
special session of the Senate will come to
an end within a week or ten days. The
amended treaty will then be submitted to
Santo Domingo, and in the opinion of we'll
informed senators, will be ratified by that
government.
A member of the committee stated that
Whole sentences have been reversed and
new articles added and that all the amend
rlentS are subject to material revision. II
was predicted that when the treaty comes
before the Senate the work of the com
mittee practically would have to be done
all over. The alterations are so great that
members of the committee say they can
give clear idea of the present cODll-
ton of the treaty.
The Senate was in open session only five
minutes today. AS soon as the journal was
approved Mr.. Blackburn introduced a reso-
luton asking the Secretary of State to re-
open the claim of A. II. Lazare against
the republic of Chilli 1t was referred to
the committee on foreign relations. The
Senate at 1905 went into executive session.
Amending the Bacon Resolution.
Senator Bacon offered a number of amend
ments to his resolution directing the foreign
relations committee to inquire into the pro-
tocol of an agreement entered into between
the United States and Santo Domingo, by
which the United States took charge of GER
tain customs houses In order to pay the
claim of the Santo Domingo Improvement
Company of New York. These amendments
made the resolution general in character by
striking out the preamble and all reference
to any specific case.
AS remodeled the resolution directs the
committee to examine and report to the
Senate whether it is competent, under the
Constitution of the United States. for any
agreement, convention protocol, not made
by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, but solely through the executive
branch of the government. to be made with
a foreign government to bind such govern
ments and to constitute a constitutional
agreement, under which the United States
shall be authorized and empowered to take
possession of the custom houses of such for
eign government and administer them.
Right to Assume Responsibility.
1t directs an inquiry as to whether under
such an agreement the United States may
assume the responsibility for the collection
of such customs duties and the disburse-
ment of the same, and to become account
able to such foreign government and to it's
creditors and furthermore to hold said
customs houses until the moneys awarded
under said arbitration shall have been fully
collected, and to hold the customs houses
by the authority and forcible power of the
United States through it's officers, employees
or agents, either civil military.
Another article has been added to the
resolutions which directs an examination
and report as to whether it is competent
under any agreement not made by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate
to bind the United States and such foreign
government in the liquidation and settle
ment of any debt of the United States or
one of the citizens. and if such an agree
ment may be constitutional, to report its
character and limitations.
The Resolution Adopted.
After presenting the amendments Sena-
tor Bacon explained that he had endeavored
to make his resolution general so that
the report of the committee would be ap-
plicable to matters of like character that
NAV arise in the future. The resolution
was adopted
After devoting some time to the confirma-
ton of nominations the Senate adjourned,
and the members of the foreign relations