New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-10
MOROCCO UP IN SENATE.
Mr. BACONS PLAN FAILS.
No Open Debate ON Call for Infor-
matiOr. from President.
IRON The Tribune Bureau. ]

vrashington. Jar. 9.-Senator Bacon. to his
manifest disappointment precipitated
,,,o executive session Of the Senate to-day and
a,sTv lost his motion to discuss in open session
,,s resolution calling on the President for in
so-mation regarding the purposes OF this coun-
80 tn sending representatives to the Moroccan
conference
As soon as the minor morning business" was
5isnosed of Mr.. Bacon called up this resolution,
mich he introduced yesterday. and imnedi-
,..,v wa-ned by Senator Lodge, who in the alb
r.nce of Senator Culom is acting chairman of
abe Committee On Foreign Relations that unless
g voe Drepared TO ask for immediate reference
:. the resolution TO the committee named the
c.,o+or from Massachusetts, would insist on its
to,nr discussed behind closed doors. Mr.. Bacon
,-oceeded 10 discuss the propriety Of Mr..
lodges position, when the vice-President cut
sbort the debate by declaring that the doors
AouId be closed The debate on the propriety
=, discussing the resolution in open session
rb,ch was desired by the Democrats because
.,s1 believed It would afford welcome ground
+or criticism of the administrations foreign pol
a., vas continued in executive session for nearly.
Eve hours The question was finally disposed OF
nv the defeat Of a motion embodying the Demo-
cratic desires by q vote Of practically to !
senators Lodge. Bacon. Spooner and Morgan
enooner declared that the adoption Of the resolu-
t,o- vvouId be an encroachment by the Senate
mon the constitutional rights Of the President,
,,5 virtually would charge him. in manner
.,no,nting almost 10 insult, with ignorance OF
his duties as chief magistrate.
offence was taken by Senator Bacon to the re-
mark. He declared emphatically that he did not
nurnose to be charged with insulting the PTesl-
dent Nj. Spooner said that he did not mean to
,,,nIv that II had been insult to introduce the
resolution but that It would be affront TO the
President 10 adopt q measure which questioned
She executive on a subject in which he was well
within his own rights. Insisting that he could
no- see the distinction, Senator Bacon said that
~ # would amount to insult for the SENATE
10 adopt the resolution it would be just as much
50 for him to offer II
.T do not understand your logic" replied SEN
stor Spooner. ''but If that is your conclusion,
and you insist upon constituting your course as
an action of the Senate, of course cannot TnhCh
from the consequences.
7, sneekiDg IL favor of the public discussion,
Senator Bacon said that the measure did not in
yofve & treaty and. therefore, that It was en-
inently proper to have public debate on IL He
said that the public should know just what was
proposed by the conference in Spain ana
whether the action of the President in naming
delegates would involve the United States in
contract 10 carry out the decision Of the con-
fsrence He pointed out that the interests OF
France and Germany in Moroccan affairs were
vital and action IN favor Of the interests OF
sither of these countries would be offensive 10
the other and that the United States by taking
mart would incur the enmity Of the aggrieved
country.
Senator's Spooner and Lodge took the position
that the action Of the President in appointing
delsFstes would not bind this government in
any manner as any contractual relations with
foreign governments could be made binding only
by 3 treaty ratified by the Senate They argued
that The President was empowered TO negotiate
treaties In his own way, whether by appointing
delegates to International conferences, by ex-
changes with foreign representatives or through
the employment Of secret agents, If need be-
and that II would be highly improper for the
Senate to interfere IN any manner.
Arguing that the interests Of the United
States in Morocco were purely. commercial. Sen
Dor SpOOner said it was the duty Of the Presi-
ut to see that these were not INSTRUCTED by
nropean interests. It was to be presumed. he
said. that the President knew enough to give
the American delegates TO the conference the
proper instructions for the guarding Of this
commerce without involving this government
In unpleasant complications.