The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-01
TREATY WITH
 SAN DOMINGO Favorable Report Made
 to the Senate. AMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE Further Changes Are Now Under
 Consideration. Chances for Its Ratification Arc Re- mote, and Plans of Continuing the Present Relations are Being
 Suggested.

Washington. Feb. 2s.-The treaty be- tween the Cnited States and the Dom- .inican Republic, under which the for mer undertakes to collect and disburse the customs revenues of the latter was reported to the Senate in executive ses- sion today by Senator Lodge. by au- thority of the Committee on Foreign Relations. The committee reported its agreement today all the Republicans voting for the favorable report. and, the Democrats against 1t. A number of very important amendments to the treaty were made by the committed. Article was entirely rewritten, and as reported materially shortened. It read as follows:
 "The United States. while this treaty is being executed. may take such stops der and facilitate the accomplishment of the purposes hereof"
 q For more than, a year this article has been the subject of disputes in the committee. Republicans and Democrats were opposed to it but on very different grounds. The latter by caucus action having determined to oppose the treaty lin its entirety, left the Republicans free to agree upon some amendment sat- isfactory to the latter. Wherefore in rewriting the amendment the commit tee eliminated the authority given to the Dominican government to demand and receive assistance from this gov ernment
 Further Changes Expected.
 The article now provided that the United States may grant upon it's own initiative such relief as it desires. Fur ther amendment of this article is con- tempIated and may be drafted by Sena- tor Spooner It ia said 1t will follow lines similar to an amendment pro- posed by Secretary Rost ,aud will au- .thorize the United States to send troops for the protection of Americans engaged in the collection of customs. 1t is. based on the theory that provision of this character would carry the author |ity to protect the custom houses them Eseives without q specific agreement to that effect. There were added to the treaty two new sections which are fn- tended to moro definitely protect the United States in all monetary dealings with the creditors of the Dominican Re- public The new sections are number ed and 10 and are as follows:
 The purpose. of this treaty being such as are stated in the precis and 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 lnlIe0 0LdtGS IT. executing pOWtTo and authority covered by the provi- sions of this treaty nor shall any lia- hility of the United States arise in favor of any creditor or claimant against Santo Domingo which shall be considered or dealt with in pursuance of this treaty by the United States, its agents or officers, except such as shall he assumed In. any award. All deei- sions and awards made by the United States. it's agents and officers in pur- suance of the provisions of this treaty shall be concluslvely binding upon the government and people of Santo Do- minEo.
 United States Not Bound.
 The United States is not bound by this treaty to consider or decide on any claim presented to 1t for adJudt- cation, adjustment or settlement unLil the government of which the claim ant is a citizen or subject has given its consent that the decision thereof by the United States, its agent or of- hcers thereunto duly empowered shall be accepted as final as 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 Dominican government under the 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 to the Do- minicsn republic the right to deter mine in what manner the debts of the republic shall be paid. further amendment provides:
 The customs receipts or other mon eys which shall come into and be In the custody of the agents of the United States acting in San Domingo under the provisions hereof. shall not be sub ject to tho jurisdiction of processes of the courts of Santo Domingo, nor shall the agents of the United States dis charging functions under this treaty be subject to the crimina Jurisdiction or processes of the courts of Santo Domingo, except with the consent of the President of the United States"
 Number of Changes.
 There were a numbe: of changes made In the treaty as compared with the draft made public more than a year ago.
 While the treaty was given a place on the Senate executive calendar by the up until after the railroad rate bill has been disposed of, and even then it may go over for some time. Republi- can Senators are not inclined to push it to a vote so long as they are uncer- tain of the two-thirds vote required to ratify 1t. The action of the Democrats at their recent caucus has made 1t very doubtful whether the treaty could be ratified this session.
 In order to keep the convention alive in the event ratification failed, 1t has been suggested there might be made motion to reconsider the vote. If made, this would be for the purpose of permit ting the continuance of the present modus vivendi under which the customs are being collected. Several other Senator have suggested that the same purpose might be accomplished by not brina,ing the treaty to vote at all. so long as the necessary two-thirds are doubeful. In any event, favorable ac- tfon on the treaty is remote.
 sumpIus for Fiscal Year.