The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-12
Action is Taken in Spite of President ROOstVeIt's Letter
 to Senator Cu|Iom
REQUIRES TWO SESSIONS
 ID REACH AN AGREEMENT
Situation Has Been Strained for sev- eraI Weeks-Southern Senators at First Offered Strenuous
 Objections.

Washington, February 1.-The Senate in executive session today ratified the arbitration treaties between the United States and the European governments. It required two sessions to reach an agreement.
 At the first session, consideration was given to a communication from the PreS ident to Senator Cullom in the form of a protest against any amendment being adopted; at the secod session the treaties were amended and ratified with only nine votes against the amendment made by the Senate committee on foreign rela- tions.
 The situation in the Senate over the arbitration treaties has been strained for several weeks. The first protests against the treaties were made by senators from Southern states who sought amend ment which would preclude the possibil- ity of the arbitration of claims against their states by reason of repudiated bonds. Later 1t was suggested that an amendment should be adopted which changed but one word that of agree ment'' to treaty in Article ?, making the article read as follows:
 Tn each individual case the high con- tracing parties, before appealing to tho permanent court of arbitration, shall con- clude special treaty defining clearly the matter in dispute, the scope of the powers of the arbitrators and the periods to be fixed for the formation of the arbitra- tion tribune, and the several stages of the procedure"
 Answered Southern Protest.
 The amendments answered the purpose Of the protests made by the southern senators, and in addition to that estab- iished the principle that any matter in the nature of treaty with a foreign President with the consent of the Sen ate"
 In this form the committee reported the treaties to the Senate.
 The treaties were considered, but no action taken beyond arriving at an agree ment that they would be again taken up today. The first session of the Senate today was confined almost entirely to defense by half dozen senators of the Senate's right to amend treaties. The President WAS criticised sharply because of his letter declaring 1t to be a step backward to ratify the treaties in the form proposed by the Senate committee pn foreign relations.
 No defence of the Presidents position was taken until the second executive ses- sion, when Senators Deliver, Fairbanks, Platt, Conn, and Hopkins argued against the need of haste. They took the posi- ton that there are no questions included In the treaty which could not proper ly be submitted by executive agreement to arbitration. Senator Deliver said that there were some matters of business that were pressing In the Senate, but that the treaties did not enter into the list, and that if they were attended in the form proposed the country would have no further interest in them.
 It was argued by these sena tors that an amendment ought to be directed if amendment were necessary at all, to better definition of the class of questions to be left to arbitration. rather than by m amendment which put the government of the United States in the attitude of agreeing with foreign nations in advance that in certain cases 1t would make treaties of arbitration.
 Obligation Exists Already.
 It was said the obligation to do that was already upon us by reason of The Hague convention, and the oft-repeated
 
 to arbitrate The ratification of these treaties, it was argued. offered to this government the best chance it was likely 10 have in this generation to do its share toward the abolition of the barbarisms of war After the speeches by Senators Platt of Connecticut. Deliver and Fair banks, motion to adjourn was made on he grounds that there was no need for nasty action on the traties. Those who favored the amendment. opposed this mo- lion, and on a roll calf it was defeated A motion was then made to adopt the committees amendment. The vote was taken on the treaty between the United States and France, and as other treaties are on identical lines, a roll call was again demanded and the amendment was tdopted by a vote of fifty to nine
 When this amendment was adopted. it sas agree to so far as the other treaties were concerned, and the treaties were ratified by a vive voce vote. The Sem lte then at 6:27 p. m., adjourned
 Praise the President.
 Senator Spooner insisted that the Senate Ihould uphold its dignity as a co-ord- iate branch of the government, and that could not accept the view of any other ,ranch of the government in the matter If exercising it's constitutional functions IS a part of the treaty making power. senator IOuSe Sdlu IL was lOT tHe SeH- lte to determine it's rights according to he constitution, and to insist upon all If It's prerogatives He spoke of his per ional relations to the President, and said hat it was hard for him to take a posi- ion so directly contrary to the view If the President He declared that he was lure the President was not wilfuly try ng to usurp the powers of the Senate. TOT to gather to himself any powers ,ther than that which constitutionally be- onged to the executive, and that the diff erences were confined to phraseology in he treaties. The most honorable motives were ascribed to the President by Sena- ,or Lodge, and senators who followed ex- pressed the highest regard for the Presi- lent.
 Senator Foraker was emphatic in his assertion that the Senate was in duty pound to maintain it's position in this natter if only to prevent the establish nent of a dangerous precedent Several lenators took exception the statement made oy Senators P'uiphuf Connecticut
 Payne,