New-York tribune., 1906-01-24

Ssvors he treaty DID we not send delegates to
the conference Of Berlin. over which Bismarck
presided. 10 protect our interests and the inter
ests OF humanity. and was it not of that CONFER
enos that the treaty. the observance OF which rs
now being investigated by a committee or TINS
Senate. was the outcome?
Mr. spooner quoted from washington's fare
well address when he said that each branch Of
the government must refrain from usurping the
prerogstives Of another.
IL & be true that the Constitution vests IN
the President the power TO conduct the foreign
relations Of the nation he declared, then
George Washington bids the Senate as well as
the House hands off"
M. Spooner said that If the United States had
not accepted the invitation to take part in the
Algeciras conference proba bly, there would have
been none He said that two great powers had
declined to be represented unless all the sigma
tories 10 the existing Moroccan treaty took part.
How does the Senator know that?" asked
Mr. Pacou.
L know it." said Mr.. Spooner.
But should think he would not be averse to
giving his authority" said Mr. Bacon.
4 got II in the same way any Senator might
get information If he went 10 as much trouble
as have. Not from the President, but from
source that would satisfy any Senator replied
Mr.. Spooner
TAKES Up SANTO DOMINGO.
rrb. Senator then turned 20 the alleged usur-
-,s+5ov bz, the President Of the prerogatives OF
The Senate IN connection with the Santo Do
zningo treaty.
IF the President had put in force so-called
treaty. not yet ratified by the senats. he would
have been guilty Of an action absolutely inde-
.ssnsirle 90 he declared. But the President did
not and has not dona so. The President acting
entirely within his constitutional rights and in
the simple performance Of his duties, has taken
the necessary ana proper steps 10 preserve the
status quo in san;o Domingo so that If the
Senate shall ratify the pending treaty II can
be put in force"
The Senator declared that the Dominican
treaty called for ratification. not because Of any
supposed corrolary Of the Monroe Doctrine but
because It presented unique case, the case
of q nation within sixty miles OF American
towns and cities. in Porto Rico. where for one
hundred years the people had been subjected to
rapidly succeeding revolutions and the constant
menace Of foreign usurers: a nation which now
sought the assistance Of the United States its
strong neighbor and natural friend. TO enable
It 20 safeguard its customs receipts from law
less revolutionists and 10 defray fits Just debts,
shorn Of the accumulation Of usurious interest.
aT think know that the American people Will
not stand the sight Of the warships Of foreign
nations perpetuelly squstted in the harbors Of
santo Domingo to collect debts. many OF them
fraudulent within sight OF American cities and
ss near 10 this country Cuba when the
Spanish War broke out" said he.
DEBT LARGELY VICIOUS"
Mr. Spooner said that the face value Of the
debts OF Santo Domingo amounted to Oo0
but that as had been shown by Senator Rayner
q large part Of the claims were vicious Refer
ring TO the Dillingham; Sanchez protocol, he
said that he did resent the proposition TO put
that protocol into effect without the approval
of the Senate and that he would not insult either
the President or the late Secretary Hay by so
rejecting on their knowledge Of the constitu-
ton as 10 intimate that either of them had
intended
THE President has never contemplated put
ting into effect the provisions of a treaty which
lacked ratification by the Senate" he declared.
He then pointed out in great detail the differ
ence between the provisions Of the treaty and
those Of the existing arrangement. Under the
treaty the United States was to take charge
Of the DOMINICAN custom house. pay over 70
Santo Domingo 40 per cent of the gross receipts
deduct the cost Of collection and disburse the
remainder among the approved creditors Of the
republic. Under the present arrangement the
President merely recommended 20 President
Morales American citizens trustworthy and
competent 10 take charge Of the DOMINICAN
customs. They were appointed by Morales, COM
missioned by him, acted under HIS authority
paid over 10 him 45 per cent OF the receipts in
accordance with the DOMINICAN law. and de-
posted, under the authority OF the same law the
remaining - per cent in an American bank, not
rs q trust fund Of which the United States was
trustee, but as credit Of Santo Domingo sub
9ect 10 its order and 70 be converted 10 the
trusteeship of the United States only on the
ina ratification Of the pending treaty. All of
this Mr Spoouer proved by -itIng documents in
.trodUced in the record by Democratic Senators
IN their EFFORTS 10 prove a contrary condition Of
affairs
REBUKEs Mp. TILLMAN.
Finally Mr.. Spooner delivered a reproof 10
Senator Tillman who had frequently inter
Tupted him and who had invariably attempted to
conceal his own discontinue in argument by
the implication and assertion that the Senator
from Wisconsin was an able advocate" "a
clever lawyer" "a quibbler," etc. in charge OF
"a bad case" The Senator from Wisconsin as
serted with much feeling that he was not
member Of the Senate to act as advocate for
any one, even the President Of the United States
but that he was there 10 observe the obligations
tslate for the best interests Of the nation and IL
he had not established that fact I'm his fifteen
years service in the Senate he had made a pitt
ful failure.
support the generous policy Of the administra-
tion In attempting 10 assist a struggling and
weak neighbor 10 maintain itself a republic
TO pay Its Just debts and 10 start anew the
highway toward peace. precisely as this country
had established Cuba in her present ervjs hIa
'6nd independent position.
In the opinion of leading Republican Senators
and CT some Democrats Senator SpOoner's sneecb
has virtually accomplished the ratification Of thA
Dominican treaty Tomorrow Senator T.odge
viii address the Senate on the same subject.