The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-10
SHARP WORDS OVER
MOROCCAN AFFAIR
Dangerous colloquy Narrowly
Avoided When Senator Spoon
er Challenged Propriety Of
Publicly Discussing Mo-
tive for Presidents
Attitude.
lRy A..oclated Press.l

!
WASHINGTON, January s.-The pro-
priety of discussing in open Senate
resolution introduced by Senator Bacon,
calling upon the President for an ac-
count OF his appointment of Delegates TO
a. proposed conference on Moroccan af-
Algeciras, Spain, was considered for four
| hours to-day. and then by strict party
vote 1t was decided that the resolution
should be executive business. Senator
Bacon. In supporting his resolution, con-
tended for public discussion and Sen
ator spooner declared that the adoption
/ OF the resolution would be an encroaGh-
ment By the Senate upon the constitu-
tlonal rights OF the President and vir-
/ tually would charge him, IN a manner
amounting almost to insult, with igno-
rance OF his duties as chief magistrate.
offeDse was taken by Senator Bacon TO
| the remarks of Senator SpoOner, the
former declaring emphatically that he did
not pS-pose to be charged with insulting
the President Mr., Spooner said that
he did not mean to imply that IT had
been Insult to Introduce the resolu-
ton. but that 1t would be an anront TO
the Presiden; to adopt a measure which
questioned the executive on a matter
In which he wa. we'll within hi. own
rights Insisting that hs could not zee
tho distinction. Senator Bacon said that
II II would arnoun, TO an Insult Tor the
Senate to sdoptSthe resolution, It would
be just as much so for him To offer IL
Il do not understand your logic re-
piled Senator spooner, but IL that is
your conclusion and you insist upon con-
STRUNG your course az an action of the
Senate, of course, / cannot finch form
| the conseauences.''
The Wisconsin senator's reply ended
what had threatened to be dangerous
colloquy
In speaking in favor of the public dis
cussion, Senator Bacon said that the
| matter does not involve treaty. and.
therefore, that 1t was emlnenuy proper
to have a public debate on the mea sure.
He said that the public should know just
| what 1t is proposed by the conference In
Spain, and whether the action OF the
President I'm naming, delegates to par
ticipate would involve the United States
in contract to carry out the decision
OF the conference. He pointed out that
the interests OF France and Germany in
Moroccan affairs are vital, aad action In
favor Of the interests of either Of these
countries would be offensive to the other
and that the United States by particle
patins would incur the enmity OF the
aggrieved country.
Senator'S Lodge and Spooncr took the
position that the action of the President
in appointing delegates would not bind
this government In any manner for the
reason that ANY contractual relations
with foreign government can be made
binding only by treaty. ratified by the
Senate. They argued that the President
in his own way is empowered to negoti-
ate treaties, whether By appointing dele
gates to international conferences. hy
exchanges with foreigy representatives.
or through the employment Of secret
agents. IL need be, and that 1t would be
highly improper for the Senate to In
terfere in any manner. Arguing that the
interests OF the United States In Mo-
rocco are purely commercial, Senator
Spooner said it was the duty OF tho
| President to see that these are not OBJ
structed by European interests.