The Sentinel=record., 1912-01-16
SENATE ID
 OPEN DOORS DOORS
TO DISCUSS ARBITRATION TREAT IFS IN OPEN FOLLOWING GUS
 TOM OF PRESIDENT.
AIIeue That If Taft and His Cabinet Can Discuss Them With the Peo- pie the Senate Can Debate
 the Question Openly.

Washington, Jan. 15.--Because Pres ident Taft set the example on his re- cent trip and frequently since, of dis. .ussing openly end unreservedly the pending arbitration treaties with Great Britain and France, the senate today voted to admit the public to its debates and preserve them in the con gressional record. The vote was de. cislye, only eight senators of the 66 being in favor of closed doors.
 The controversy as to whether the discussion should be in open or closed session was almost entirely executive. It was brought to a head when Sena- tor Rayner announced it was his pur- pose to make a speech in relation to the treaties. Senator Lodge protested. He said the delicacy of the entire sub feet of foreign relation demanded that discussions be executive. Senator
 
 Senator Bacon, who was presiding. sustained motion by Senator Lodge. seconded by Senator McCumber that the senate go into executive session
 After the doors were closed the de bate became general, Mir. Lodge reit- 'crating, with venemenee, that if the discussion were public. things might ie said of character likely to em- barrass fine relations of the govern ment with the European powers, par ties to the treaties.
 Senator Smith of Michigan took the lead in demanding that the debate be open to the public. Tie wanted to know why it was that if the foreign relations of the United States were Of such delicate moment officials of ne state department should show less restraint than senators and why Pres ident Taft felt free to go from one end of the country to the other dis lussing as he saw fit. the treaties and the attitude of the senate concerning them.
 It was argued by Senator Smith that the senate might have very good req sons for Insisting that the form of the reaties should be changed and that the public should be given the req. sons.
 Senator Smith recited the language of the treaty with Great Britain to the effect that if two countries could not agree as to whether a dispute was arbltrable that question should be de ded by commission composed of hree citizens from each country Cor 4therwlse." He said that under this language President Taft and King George could get together and submit any controversy of whatever charac. ter to the King of Belgium and to ar Mtrate and number of the senate canld not stand up against it.
 Senator Lodge called attention to his resolution enumerating some oi The questions that were not to be re sarded as within the scope of the treaty.
 Senator Smith said the limitation made the treaties a hypocrisy and necessarily limited the force of the treaties to questions of smaller con eern over which no country would go 10 war.
 Alter the debate had raged for some ume, chiefly between Senators LodsC 'ad McCumber on one side and Sena "rs smith, Cummins and Payrer or ne other, a resolution providing fcl open sessions was offered by Senator falhnger and was adopted 5S tc & when the doors were reopened Sena 'or Lodge wanted to proceed witl ne treaties, but the senate would no Wasent. The Massachusetts senator announced that he would press lhen 'saln tomorrow and Senator Raynel ''a'ed that he would he ready < speak.