Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-08
THE SENATE
In Executive Session
Considers San Domingo.
Protocol Of Agreement That Was
Passed Jan. 81, 1903.
Senator Bacon Wants All Matters
Submitted to Senate for Approval.

Washington, March When the
Senate went into executive session. to-
day. Senator Bacon spoke in support
OF Il resolution which he offered. YES
terday, asking that the Senate commit
tee on foreign relations make an inves-
tl2ation of the protocol of an agree
ment made Jan. 81, 1903 by which the
United States undertook to regulate
the collection of customs of the Donin-
lean government and pay the claim of
the San Domingo Improvement Co.
The right of the United States to en-
ter INTO an agreement with another
country from collection of a claim held
by Il United States citizen or company
WAS conceded by Senator Bacon. but he
cOEtended that the executive exceeded
his authority in entering into an agree
ment to take charge of the customs
| affairs of such government without
first submitting the question to the
Senate and receiving its approval
Senator SpOOEer agreed with Sena-
| tor Bacon.
Several senators objected to the form
| of the resolution, saying that it went
| too far. Senator Bacon met this criti-
| csm by withdrawing the resolution
with a view of renodelling it and offer
| ing il again.
| The sentiment of the Senate seemed
| to be that an early report on the treaty
| should be made by the committee on
| foreign relatiO:a. A suggestion to this
| effect met With favor and it was an
| nounced that it had been agreed in
| the committee that a report could be
made. probably, tomorrow. 1t is be-
| lieved that greater Roadway can be
| made by having the discussion on the
| floor of the Senate.
| While most of the debate today. re-
lated TO the Bacon resolution, there
| WAS an Incidental exchange of views
| among 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 IL wide di-
vcrScnce of opinion us TO the method.
Senator Pl,tt of Connecticut. advanced
| the idc., that the United States officials
| in collecting the money for the payment
| OF the San domingo Improvement 90. are
| the agents OF the Dominican government.
| Senator Morgan suggested ;htt the
| United States should make an invcStiga-
| ton of the character and extent Of the
| debt Of Sarto Domingo before entering
| upon any plan for their pawn, Mt. II"
| took the position that the treat" should
not hc referred until such an investigation
| had jecn made.
! Without determining any question OF
| policy in regard to til" SAINT" 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
| o;It in executive session. This was the
| sentiment Of the foreign relations com
| ,nttoo rs well as the Scuat" and in two
| sessions of the committee the proceed
| ings were with view to reporting tn"
| treaty tomorrow if possible.
| Tho amendments offered in the commit
| toe were confined to Il reduction of IN III
| legged slirplusagc Of words. They were
| offered verbally and taken down by
stcnographcr. They are t" be printed
and considered when the committee meets
| tomorrow.
| BY a Joint understanding the rolici' in
| vnlvcd in tn" treaty was not taken by tn
committee and il was understood that til"
| submitting of amendments in this in'nn'r
| did not commit any senator to the sup
| port Of the treaty. The program was
| merely to facilitate action and remove all
| chance of this being made Il party dll"s-
| ton III the Senate. The prompt action
| of the foreign relations committee I'M
| ,loubtc,lly will result in a much earlier de-
| cision in the Senate Nearly every sen
| ,tor wh, discussed the treaty. today. OK
| pressed a desire that the me tsurc be kept
from becoming Il party question: !" pr
| vent this. Senator Bacon offered to with
draw his resolution concerning I'll" pro-
tocol of an agreement entered irto ne
tween the United States in january, l!'h5'
| in reference tn the SInto Domin%" I'M
| provement Co. scheme and modify H.
| When lie again offers it. the resolution
! will he general in character and ask mat
the foreign relations committee inl'nr"
| and report whether the executive mas
the authority to make an agreement by
| which the United States takes charge
of the customs of another country. IL
will not mention any particular case p"'
it will ask that the Senate committee IN
nuire ii there is any form of convention
treaty. protocol or agreement by which
the President might proceed to the col
lection of claims of a citizen of the nit
cd States against.
He took the position that the HNecutIv"
could look after the interests OF the CIT
liens of the United States through diplo-
matte channels. but that to take chars"
of customs houses might be charged as
an act of war. He declared that the pro-
ceedure was unconstitutional unl"ss 1t
was submitted first to the Senate
| Court Is Late.