New-York tribune., 1912-03-07
VOTE ON TREATIES TODAY
Their Ratification Without
Amendment Expected.
SENATE FIXES THE TIME
Action To Be Taken at 4:3O This
Afternoon-Root to An
swer Objections.
Irrom The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington. March b.-lhe oeHdte' id'
ing again to-day TO exhaust the supply OF
oratcry on the arbitration treaties win
Great Britain and France, was obllGed 10
extend tho legislative day Of March INTO
tomorrow by taking further recess III
stead of adjourning. BY unanimous coh-
sent. however IT was decided to orihs III"
protracted debate TO An end ana 10 No'c
on the treaties at 40 o'clock tomorrow
afternoon.
The agreement 10 fix the hour for voilng
was reached after much tumultuous dls-
cussion, and only after II had become clear
TO Senators that they faced an aH-niSut
session as the alternative. When the zen
ate met to-day. after the nights recess u
was expected that a vote would be taken
before evening Senator Bacon had an
nounced that he desired 10 make only
| few remarks and one or two other Seha-
! tors wished 10 speak briefly
Senator Bacon's remarks extended over
| two hours and half. Senator Smith OF
MICHIGAN, who also intended 10 make only
A few remark seemed to be following ms
| example when Senator GalllnSer inter
rupted, yielding TO Senator Lodge, VINO
asked that an hour he fixed for vote.
eft is perfectly clear" said Mr.. Lodge
| that the legislative day of March VIII
be extended interminably II we 10 not fX
A time. Many Senators VINO have out-oi-
town engagements are remaining here ohiy
10 vote on the treaties, and It would put
them 10 great inconvenience 10 have the
debate extended beyond Tomorrow
Several Senators interposed objections
and the Senate sat down wearily 10 resume
ta rapnlpitrau members
were hastily appealed TO by their col
leagues. and again the request was made
by Senator Lodge. This time Senator
Smith, OF Georgia, who did not purpose TO
lose an opportunity to deliver the speech
he has prepared, objected. and again inc
dissatisfied Senators prepared for an all
night session. This comedy was repeated
several times. Despair had settled over the
chamber, and Senator Root was Just De-
| ginning to deliver L speech when word was
brought 10 Senator Lodge that Senator
Smith had been pacified The request was
put for the last time. and Senator Hitch
cock arose to inquire whether he would he
allowed twenty minutes TO speak on the
treaties. Senator'S eroaned and Senator
Lodge. in HIS most persuasive voice. said:
II appeaI 10 the Senator not TO object"
Senator Hitchcock wavered for mo-
ment, but remained silent. and a sigh or
relief went up when Vicepresident Shcr-
man. after putting the request and asking
~ there was objection. announced: THE
| chair hears none"
Senator Root will open the discussion
| tomorrow. answering the objections OF
| most OF the Senators who have assailed
tho treaties by putting their own inter
| pretatlon upon them and then attacking
them In the light of such Interpretation.
The first vote VIII be on the Foreign
Relations Committee amendment n
strike out the third clause Of Article III,
| on which the opposition has been centred,
| on the ground that Il delegates the treaty
making power 10 the proposed Joint high
| commission Of inquiry and that the COM
missions acts would be binding on the
Senate.
Article ~ the Critical Point.
! This - the critical point for the treaties.
| but their supporters expressed confidence
tonight that they would pass IL safely.
| W hle originally the amendment had the In
dorscment Of the committee. that has given
Wav to Endorsement Of the Lodge resOlu-
| don ~ ratification, which is designed TO re-
serve 20 the Senate power 20 finally act on
any agreement submitted
Senator Bacon attacked tho constitution
atty OF the treaties. He said that. except
as matter Of sentiment they We're with
out practical value. because tho United
States had treaties with all leading nations
which provide for tho arbitration Of every
question which there was The least prob
| ability this country or any other country
ever would agree 10 submit 20 arbitration.
| As they stood he Faid. the treaties. II rlti.
| fed. would give japan and China right 10
demand similar treaties and raise embar-
! RAISING issues for arbitration. Any nation
would b. authorized To challenge the right
OF the United states 10 insist on the Mon
roe Doctrine, he asserted.
Senator Smith, OF Michigan, said that tic
treaties meant trouble. vcxatlon and an
noyance; that they were the most reckless
abandonment OF the Senate's power over
proposed. lie said the waterway conven-
ton. the fisheries rights and tho diversion
~ water from Lake Michigan through the
Chicago Drainage canal would be left open
under the treaties as they stand
Il make the statement ho declared.
that n we rstify the treaties in tho form
III NHl'H lllfN 'Dlil' H'l' '''l' - ipl q
single Senator who can tell what he has
agreed TO arbitrate."
lie asserted that future controversies be-
tween the United States and Great Britain
would be over Canadian questions. He np-
pretended misunderstanding and possible
war instead of peace under the treaties II
unamended, and said no should have no
self-respect II he yielded to the 'maudlin
sentiment" that would fetter the President
and manaclc tho Senate by comforting the
treaty-making powers on foreign tri-
bunaI. lie regarded the proposition which
the President submitted TO the Senate as
the height of impertinence."