The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-08-10
TAFT TREATIES
TO Be AMENDED
BY The SENATE
UPPER HOUSE SAYS TOO MUCH
POWER is GIVEN TO THE
JOINT COMMISSION.
WILL PASS when AMENDED
They Have no Chance to Go Through
| in Present Form and President Will
Have to Compromise-Sen Clarke
Suggests Postponement.
WILL PASS when AMENDED
(Bg Associated Press. }

Washington, Aug. 10-Friends of the
British and French arbitration treat
les in the senate have reached the
conclusion that it will be necessary to
amend the conventions in order to
get favorable action upon them. This
conclusion is the result of the con-
sideration of the documents by the
senate committee on foreign rela
tions, which has taken them up in
vigorous fashion.
After two prolonged sittings the
committee adjourned late yesterday
to meet again Saturday. Both meet
ings were devoted to the considera-
ton of the documents on their mer-
it's, the first in company with Secre-
tary Knox and the second by the
members themselves without the Sec
retary's aid.
No effort was made to have the
treaties reported and it became ex-
tremely doubtful to some Of the
friends of the administration whether
such course would be wise at the
present time, owing to objections to
some features of the agreements as
they now appear.
Special objection was made at both
sittings to the provisions submitting
questions of difference to the Joint
high commission of inquiry but fault
also was found with the provisions in
the French treaty, authorizing ratifi'
cation by that government In accord
ance with the procedure required by
the laws of France, and with the con
dition in the British treaty that mat
ters affecting dependencies OF Great
Britain shall be submitted to the gov
ernments of such dependencies.
It was thought the latter clause
might lead to undesirable complica
tions. while it was feared the former
might necessitate a change in the
method of proceeding in this country
DESPITE all these objections 1t be
came evident, however, that the pow
err conferred upon the joint commits
sion is the only real obstacle to early
action. Several senators expressed
opposition to this provision and more
than one suggestion was made ina
the paragraph should be eliminated
or at least materially modified. NJ
motion was made to this effect, bu
if there had been a vote it probabi!
would have carried. The magnitud'
of the extent of this criticism VII
be brought to the presidents atten
tion and some senators will urge tn
cancellation of the provision.
At the afternoon session a sugges
ton of the morning meeting that tn
whole question should be postpone'
, until December took the shape OF
motion to that effect. It was mad
bv Senator Clarke of Arkansas, bu
was withdrawn upon a general e'
preston of opposition In this cor
t nection the friends of the treatie
2 received the greatest encouragement
: that was given them during the da.
= Many members of the commltte
{ expressed themselves as friendly
) the general proposition involved !
+ the treaties and some went so far a
' to say that with few changes
. might be possible to get favorable a
t tion during the present session, e
e pecially If It should be prolonged
e any extent.