The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-20
BY Associates Press.

washington, Dec. 19.-The senate,
by unanimous vote tonight ratined
President Taft's notification to RUSSIA
of the termination of the treaty OF 1852
The Lodge resolution, reported oy the
foreign relations committee as sub
s-tItute for the Sulzer resolution that
passed the house, was adopted after a
day of debate over Russian discr1ml-
nation against the Jews of America.
The house tomorrow is expected to
agree to the senate measure.
The resolution was adopted at 7:19
d. m. 1t was introduced for the COM
mittee by Lodge of Massachusetts.
The measure was couched in language
most satisfactory to the Washington
administration, which sought to avoid
giving offense to the st. petersburg
government Final action came a1ter
two substitutes had been voted down.
1t was the climax of a notable pro-
ceeding in the chamber which guards
jealously it's traditional powers TO
make or break treaties. Every sena=
tor who spoke voiced his advocacy or
congressional action to meet Russian
discrimination. They were unanimous
for the termination of the treaty, but
showed a wide divergence of views re-
yarding the manner in which 1t should
be accomplished.
With the senate's action the Russian
situation assumed quieter phase, SO
far as the executive branch of the gov
ernment is concerned and the officials
are looking forward to the receipt from
the American amba ssador at St. Pc
tersburg of the acceptance by RUSSIA
of the notice given by President Taft
of the desire of this government TO ter
inmate the treaty of 1882.
SENATE CHAMBER CROWDED..
The senate chamber both on the
fisor and in the galleries was crowded
when that body convened at noon to
act on the Russian treaty
Senator Lodge moved for immediate
consideration of his resolution intro
st.aee6 yesterday ratifyfng President
fetaft,s notification to Russia that this
government desires the treaty to end
January 1, 1918. Mr.. Lodge then
yielded to Senator Rayner of Mary
land.
There was a sharp exchange between
Senators Rayner and Root. Mr.. Root
protested against possible interpre-
tatfon of Mr.. Rayner's remarks to
mean that in issuing passports, the
United States asked questions as to
the applicants religion.
Senator Rayner inaugurated the de-
bate with a speech he had prepared
yesterday and which sharply criticized
Russia He was interrupted many
times Senator Lodge followed in sup
port of the resolution of ratification
winch he IGpOTteu yesterday 1IO1u lit.
foreign relations committee.
Mr. .Rayner said he knew of no in
stance in which an American Jew,
whether Russian born or not, had been
given official permission to visit Rus
sia. 81 do not say, however" he said,
that enough influence might not be
brought to- bear to obtain admission to
the Russian realm" He said it was
not a Russian consuls business what
a mans religion was and added amid
laughter that he knew of no reason
why anyone should want to visit Rus
sia. anyhow"
Senator Lodge urged avoidance of
any words that would infiame, and
eontended for action that would
make the United States position i'm
pregnable and end forever the discrim-
inations against any of our citizens"
Senator Smith of Maryland then
spoke, urging immediate action.
Senator William Alden Smith of
Michigan, commenting on the Russian
situation today, said the abrogation OF
the treaty would not sever commercial
relations between the United States
and Russia because the favored nation
clause of the treaty had been super
Ceded by the operation of the maxi
mum and minimum clause of the
Payne tariff law and by President
Taft's proclamation granting minimum
rates to Russia on July Is, 1910. This
he pointed out, introduced a feature OF
the situation hitherto untouched and
one which should command the sen
ate's close attention.