The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-01
DOMINICAN TREATY
 WILL BE REPORTED Uncle Sam Will Pay the IS-
 lands Debts QUESTION LONG M00TED Many Republicans and Democrats Have Been Opposed to Measure,

On Different Grounds.
 Washington February 2S.-The treaty between the United States and the Dom- lnican republic under which the former undertakes to collect and disburse the customs revenues of the latter was re- ported to the Senate in executive session by Senator Lodge by authority of the committee on foreign relations. The com mittee reported it's agreement today, all the republicans voting for the favorable report of the bill, and the democrats against it. A number of important amend ments to the treaty were made by the committee Article was entirely re- written and as reported materially short ened. It read as follows:
 The United States while this treaty is being executed may take such steps as It may deem proper to preserve order and facilitate the accomplishment of the purpose hereof"
 Disputed for More Than Year.
 For more than a year this article has been the subject of disputes in the com mittee. Republicans and democrats were opposed to 1t but on very different grounds. The latter by caucus action hay ing determined to oppose the treaty in it's entirety left the republicans free to agree upon some amendments to the lat ter Wherefore in rewriting the amend- ment the committee eliminated the au- thority given to the Dominican repub- lie to demand and receive assistance from this government The article now provides that the United States may grant upon it's own initiative such relief as it desires Further amendment of this article is con- templated and may be drafted by Sena- tor Spooner. It is said it will follow lines similar to an amendment proposed by Secretary Root and will authorize the United States to land troops for the pro- lection of Americans engaged in the col lection of customs. It Is based on the theory that provision of this character would carry the authority to protect the custom houses themselves, without a specific agreement to that effect.
 There were added to the treaty two new sections which are intended to more definitely protect the United States in all monetary dealings with the creditors of the Dominican republic. The new sec tons are numbered and 10, and are as follows:
 Not Liable for Mistake.
 "The purposes of this treaty being such as are stated in the premises and pream ble thereto. the United States shall not in any event be held liable to the gov ernment or people of Santo Domingo for any mistake or omission of any of the agents or officers of the United States in executing the powers and authority confered by the provisions of this treaty, nor shall any liability of the United States arise if any creditor or claimant of debt or damages against santo Do- mingo which shall be considered or dealt with in pursuance of this treaty by the United States. its agents, or officers, eX- cept such as shall be assumed in any award. All decisions and awards made by the United States, It's agents and officers in pursuance of the provisions of this treaty shall be conclusively binding upon the government and people of Santo Do- mingo.
 "The United States is not bound by this treaty to consider or decide on any claim presented to 1t for adjustment adjudica- ton. or settlement until the government of which the claimant Is a citizen or sub ject has given its consent that the de- csion thereof by the United States, It's agents or officers thereunto duly em- powered, shall be accepted as final and conclusive. And In no event shall the United States be bound to make any pay ment of award or any part thereof to the claimant until the money to pay the same shall have been received from the Dominican government under the provls ions of this treaty, and until the same has been set apart by the duly authorized agent or officer of the United States tu be applied to said award"
 Another amendment gives to the United States instead of to the Dominican repub- lie tine right to determine in what manner the debts of the republic shall be paid.
 A further amendment provides:
 Not Subject to Court Proceedings.
 "The custom receipts or other moneys which shall come into and be in the custody of the agents of the United States acting in Santo Domingo, and the provisions hereof. shall not be sub feet to the Jurisdiction nor processes of the courts of Santo Domingo, nor shall the agents of the United States discharg ing functions under this treaty, be sub- ject to the criminal jurisdiction of pro cesses of the courts of Santo Domingo, except with the consent of the President of the United States"
 There were a number of other changes made in the treaty as compared with the draft made public more than year ago.
 While the treaty was given a place on the Senate executive calendar by the report made today, 1t will not be called up until after the railroad bill has been disposed of and even then it may go over for some time.
 Uncertain of Necessary Vote.
 Republican senators are not inclined to push it to a vote so long as they arc uncertain of the necessary two-thirds vote required to ratify it. The action of the democrats at their recent caucus has made it very doubtful whether the treaty could be ratified at this session In order to keep the convention alive in the event ratification failed, 1t has been suggested there might be made a motion to recon slider the vote. If made this would be for the purpose of permitting the con tinuance of the present modus vivendi under which the customs are being col lected. Several other senators have sug- gested that the same purpose might be accomplished by not bringing the treaty to vote at all, so long as the neces- sary two-thirds are doubtful. In any event favorable action on the tresty is remote.
 Briefly the treaty provides for the ad- iustment of the claims against the Do- mincan republic under the supervision