Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-03-01
Important Amendments Made
10 Dominican Treaty.
UNITED STATES TO BE FULLY
PROTECTED AS COLLECTOR
Government Will Undertake 10
Straighteu Out Finances Only
If Given a Free Hand.

Washington. Feb 2S.-The treaty
between the United States and the
Dominican republic. under which the
former undertakes to collect and dis
burse the customs revenues of the lat
ter, was reported to the senate In ex-
ecutive session today by Senator
Lodge
A number Of very important amend
ments to the treaty were made by the
committee. Article was entirely re-
written and as reported is materially
shortened. 1t reads as follows:
THE United States, while this treaty
is being executed, may take such steps
as it may deem proper to preserve or
der and facilitate the accomplishment
of the purposes thereof"
For more than a year this article
has been the subject of disputes in
the committee. Republicans and DEM
ocrats were opposed to 1t, but on very
different grounds, The latter, by eau
Gus action having determined to OPP
pose the treaty in It's entirety, left the
republicans free to agree upon some
amendment satisfactory to the later.
Therefore, In rewriting the amend
ment the committee eliminated the
authority given to the Dominican re-
public to demand and receive assist
ance from this government. The arti-
Gle now provides that the United
States may grant upon it's own initls-
tive, such relief as 1t desires. Further
amendment of this article is contem-
plated and may be drafted by Senator
Spooner 1t is said II will follow lines
similar to an amendment proposed by
Secretary Root and will authorize the
United States TO land troops for the
protection of Americans engaged In
the collection of customs
To Protect United States.
There were added to the treaty two
new sections which are intended TO
more definitely protect the United
States in all monetary dealings with
creditors of the Dominican republic.
The new sections are numbered .
and 10. and are as follows:
"The purposes of this treaty being
such as are stated in the preface ana
preamble thereto. the United States
shall not in any event be held liable to
the government 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 conferred by the provl-
sions of this treaty, nor shall any lia-
bility of the United States arise In fa-
vor Of any creditor or claimant of debt
or damages against Santo Domingo.
which shall be considered or dealt
with. i'm pursuance Of this treaty, by
the United States its agents or officers
except 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 pro-
visions OF this treaty shall be conclus-
lively binding upon the government
and people of Santo Domingo"
"The United States is not bound by
this treaty to consider or decide on
any claim presented to II for adjudi-
cation. adjustment or settlement until
the government OF which the claimant
is a citizen or subject has given It's
consent that the decision thereof by
the United States, its agents or officers
thereunto duly empowered. shall be
accepted as final and conclusive. And
in no event shall the United States be
bound to make any payment of award
or any part thereof to the claimant
until the money to pay the same shall
have been received from the Domini-
can government under provisions OF
this treaty and until the same has
been set apart by the duly authorized
agent or officer Of the United States
to be applied to said award"
Another amendment gives to the
United States instead of the Domini-
can republic the right to determine VI
what manner the debts OF the repub-
lie shall be paid.
A further amendment provides the
following!
"The custom receipts or other mo-
nles which shall come into and be In
the custody Of the agents of the Unit
ed states. acting in San Domingo and
provisions hereof, shall not be subject
to the jurisdiction or processes OF the
courts OF Santo Domingo. nor shall
agents Of the United States dischars
ing functions under this treaty b.
subject to the criminal Jurisdiction OF
processes OF the courts OF Santo Do
mingo except with the consent OF the
president OF the United states"
A number OF other changes wers
made in the treaty. While the treaty
was given place on the senate ex-
ecutlve calendar by the report made
today, II will not be called up until
after the railroad rate bill has beer
disposed OF and even then II may sc
over for some time. The action o.
the democrats at their recent caucus
has made It very doubtful whether
the treaty could be ratified this ses
sion. In order to keep the conven
J ton alive. In the event ratification
} failed, 1t had been suggested tina
} there might be motion TO reconslde
. the vote. II made, this would be 70