The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-10
BACON AND SOONER
A WARM coLLoaUY OCCURS IN THE
 SENATE.
Finally Decided thnt Resoiution of the Georgian Calling for informa- ton as to Moroccan Con- ference is Executive
 Business.

-e-
 washinxton Jan 9.--The propriety
 of discussing in open Senate resolu-
 ton introduced by Senator Bacon call- ing upon the President for an account of his appointment of delegates to a proposed conference on Moroccan at- fairs tn be held by European Powers at AIgeciFas was considered for four hours
 today and then by strict party vote
 it was decided that the resolution should he executive business.
 Senator Bacon, in supporting his res
 olution, contended for public discus
 sion, and Senator Spooner declared that the adoption of the resolution would be an encroachment by the Senate upon the constitutional rights of the Presi- dent and virtually would charge him in manner amounting almost to insult with ignorance of his duties as Chief Magistrate.
 Offense was taken by Senator Bacon to the remarks of Senator Spooner, the former declaring emphatically that he did not propose to be charged with in suIting the President. Mir. Spooner said that he did not mean to imply that 1t had been an insult to introduce the resolution, but that 1t would be an af- front to the President to adopt a meas ure which questioned the Executive on
 a matter in which he was well within
 his own rights.
 Insisting that he could not see that
 distinction Senator Bacon said if 1t
 would amount to an insult for the Sem
 ate to adopt the resolution it would
 be just as much so for him to offer it.
 Ready to Take Consequences.
 q do not understand your logic" re-
 piled Senator Spooner. Out if that is
 your conclusion and you insist upon
 construing your Introduction as an ac-
 tion of the Senate, of course cannot
 finch from the consequences.
 The Wisconsin Senator's reply ended
 what had threatened to become a dan
 Rerous colloquy and the debate on the
 original question was resumed.
 Some spectators were removed from
 the Senate at 20 on motion of Sena-
 tor Lodge, who objected to Senator Ba-
 con making a speech on the resolution
 in open session.
 Ostensibly it was to settle that point
 that the doors were closed but the mer-
 it's of the resolution were threshed out
 so thoroughly that 1t is unlikely that
 they will again be gone into. Every Republican Senator voted against con-
 sidering the resolution in legislative session and Senator Pettus, one of the ten Democrats present, all of whom voted for consideration in public ses- sion, declared that he was opposed to
 the adoptiCn of the resolution. If calIGQ up dBdlH IL i5 ptpbdpAy tHdb iN will be referred to the Foreign Rela- tjons Committee without debate. In speaking in favor of the public discussion Senator Bacon said that the
 matter does not involve treaty and therefore that was emfnently proper
 to have a public debate on the meas ure.
 Public Should Know. He said that the public should know just what Is proposed by the con ference in Spain and whether the ac- tion of the President in naming dele gates to participate would involve the United States in a contract to carry out the decision of the conference. He pointed out that the interests of France and Germany in Moroccan af- fairs are vital and action in favor Of the interests of either of these coun- tries could be offensive to the other
 and that the United States by partici- pating would incur the enmity of the aggrieved country.
 Senators Spooner and Lodge took the position that the action of the Presi- dent in appointing delegates would not bind this government in any man ner. for the reason that any contract tural relation with a foreign govern
 ment can be made binding only by treaty by the Senate They argued that the President in his own way Is empowered to negotiate treaties whether by appointing delegates to in- ternational conferences. hy exchanges
 with foreign representatives, or through the employment of secret agents If need be. and that 1t would
 be highly improper for the Senate to interfere in any manner.
 Arguing that the interests of the United States in Morocco are purely commercial, Senator Spooner said 1t was the duty of the President to see that these are not obstructed by Euro pean interests. It is to be presumed. he sad. that the President knows
 enough to give the American delegates to the conference the proper instruc-
 tions for the guarding of this com merce without involving this govern
 ment In unpleasant consequences
 The discussion was confined almost
 wholly to the three senators named. although others gave close attention
 The Prussian Minister of Public
 Works has ordered that in the future drivers and firemen on the state rail ways must be total abstainers. lntem- perance has caused many accidents on Prussian railroads of late.