New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
MUST RATIFY TREATY.
SANTO DOMINGO,S DEBT.
Senate Leaders Agree to Force Ac-
tion-The Outlook.
TFron me Tribune Bureau !


Washington. Jan 1.-THE Senate leaders,
after carefully considering the arguments pre-
sented by the Secretary of State in favor OF
ratifying the treaty with Santo Domingo. have
practically determined either ratify the con-
vention at this session or TO suggest TO the
President the advisabiIity of calling the Senate
in special session for that purpose immediately
after March 4. The impression Is strong that
when the Democrats realize that the majority
is determined In this matter they will permit
the motion TO ratify to reach a vote at the
present session. but IL they do not. II is argued.
1t would be wiser to have the Senate meet IN
March to ratify the treaty than to have the
possibility of special session being called hang
over Senators through the summer recess.
1t is believed there would be sufficient votes to
ratify the treaty were it possible to
bring it TO vote The Senate contains fifty
seven Republicans and thirty-three Democrats.
leaving the Republicans three short of a sufi-
Client number TO ratfy. 1t is known. however.
that Senator Patterson would vote with the Re-
pubcans. and it Is thought entirely probaois
that both Senators from Louisiana would do
likewise. Senator Morgan is regarded as likely
to vote for the treaty. and there is soms
likelihood that Senator Clarke. OF Arkansas,
would do the same.
IT, however, the Democrats. remain obdurats
and prevent vote by persisting in long debate.
be convinced OF the desirabnity of voting for the
treaty at this session, 1t will be only necessary
for the Senate to meet in special session after
March 4. for then the Republicans will comprise
two-thrds Of the Senate and ratify treaty
regardless Of the Democrats. After March 4
| the Senate will have sixty Republicans, against
| thirty Democrats, Colorado. Idaho and Ore
| gon will send Republicans to take the seats
occupied by Senators Patterson. Dubois and
| Gearin.
A LEADING OBJECTION REMOVED.
The objection to ratification most strongly
urged by Senator Bacon-the possibility of hos
tility growing out of adjudication by the United
| States OF the foreign debt of Santo Domingo
! has been obviated by the performance Of that
| somewhat delicate task by the republic itself.
| so that the opposition is without the force it
formerly possessed. There is. however. still de-
/ cided opposition among some members OF ths
minority. They say that, Judging by the past.
It would require probably fifty years for the
republic to pay of IN full the bond issue OF
| S20OOoO Oo0 which 1t is proposed to negotiate,
| this compilation being based on the time II has
taken to accumulate sinking fund of 5000
CO., and that this would mean that for half
century the United States would be COM
| PEELED to maintain financial protectorate over
the republic of Santo Domingo.
would require no longer for santo Domingo to
nav off her debt under the financial protection
of the United States than under that OF Italy
or some other foreign nation The prospect OF
italian or other European flags flying from the
mastheads OF a fleet maintained in Dominican
waters for the protection OF the custom houses
betxeen Porto Rico and the United States. for
a period OF fifty years IS regarded as by no
means a pleasing spectacle to contemplate
| II 10
for sppealing to Italy, some other creditor
nation 10 establish such financial protectorate
In case the United States declines. or nuch
longer delays to do so. and such a protectorate
would IN no sense be a violation of the Monroe
Doctrine and could not. therefore, be resisted oy
the United States
THE ADVANTAGE OF SLOW PAYMENT
If is further argued that fifty years is not
long In the life OI a nation but that there Ia
no good ground for believing that It would take
so long a time for santo Domingo TO pay on her
debt 1t is submitted that with such LIQUIDATION
Of her debt and such a financial protectorate
o.+abusbad there must ensue stability which
| p,ouId result in steadily increasing revenues IL
is further urged that even should the period re-
| ,utrsd N nav off the debt extend to fifty years
the time would be well spent. for IN that
time the republic would be learning the ad-
yantages of peace and prosperity, or nonesC
| and sdod government as well realizing the
,nevitability OF payment OF debts Incurred
Such a period would afford time for new gen.
Grafton to grow up a generation born and
brought up under conditions far different from
those which have hitherto prevailed-a genera
ton horn and bred the advantages OF honesty,
| and stability in government Meanwhile. for
sipn capital chiefly from the United States,
would flow into the republic. which IS notably
| fertile and productive, and the new generation
| would be trained IN business methods; solid.
| substantial citizens would arise TO take the
reins from the men who have lived by revolu-
| ton. and when the debt paid of and tho
| Irnited States ready TO abandon the protecto-
| rate Santo Domingo would have become self
| supporting, self-respecting peacerul and pros
| porous neighbor. from which this country would
/ have nothing more to fear IN the way of foreign
/ entanglements or internectne strife These and
other perhaps more forceful. arguments viii be
presented in the Senate In advocating the rarfri-
| cation of the treaty, and 1t Is believed they
| will prevail before the Senators disperse for the
| summer
| w e Pullian, of Kentucky. has been NOM
mated 10 succeed George Cotton in charge OF
the Dominican customs collections and Presi-
dent Caceres has accepted the nomination Mr.
| PulIiam was one of the special agents OF the
Treasury Department who went to the Philip
pines several years ago. where he Is now deputy
collector He is on his way TO the United States,
and will be sent to his post as soon as he
has reported in Washington and received his IN
structions.
LOST ALL NIGHT IN MOUNTAINS.