Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-22
SENATE'S SPECIAL
|. SESSION ADJ0URNS
Colombian Treaty Not Ratified
Withdrawn by Stone at
Last Moment.

Washington. March 16.-The special
Senate session which began March adj
journed sine die to-day after democratic
leaders had secured confirmation of most
of the LOO nominations which failed at
the last session. and had despaired Of at
tanning ratification Of the SIS 900 Colom-
bian treaty.
The treaty. despite repeated urgent re-
quests from President Wilson that it be
ratified. was Unexpectedly withdrawn on
motion Of Chairman Stone Of the foreign
relations committee. Its provision for
payment Of indemnity to Colombia for the
partition of Panama. and its expression
Of regret for the ill.feeling arising out
Of that incident had encountered stub
born republican opposition which appar-
emily convinced the democrats there was
no chance of ratification. 1t is expected
substitute pact will be negotiated and
submitted for the Senate's approval dur
ing the extra session of Congress begin
ming April 49,
The session Just closed. was the first of
its kind In many years which was not
called upon to confirm cabinet nominal
ton. The traditional purpose of calling
the Senate together for the brief session,
customary after each presidential in
auguration. has been to act on the NOM
ination of cabinet officials for tho new
administration. President Wilson decided.
however, that all the members OF his
official family could be retained without
the Formally OF denomination.
Among the hundreds OF nominations
confirmed only one met with pronounced
opposition. It was that of DR.. Cary Il
0rayson. the Presidents naval aide and
physician. to be a rear admiral. the re-
publlcans lining up solidly against the
confirmation. All Of the others. mostly
postmasters, judges. and customs Off
cials. failed In the last session only be
, cause they were banked behind tho
troublesome GraysOn nomination, which
the democrats insisted on keeping. at thu
head of the list. After 1t was disposed
!. of favorably yesterday, action on tn,
others followed quickly.
| No action was taken. however. on tn,
Presidents nominees for the new tariff
commission. The six nominations. sent Il
the Senate Wednesday had not been re
ported out of tho committee when the ad
1ournment was taken. There has beer
some indication that one or two will en-
counter republican opposition, but tn,
President 10 expected to go ahead with or
, ganisation OF tho commission through re
cess appointments. and then return tn
: nominations whom the Senate meet
again.
The outstanding achievement of the SEES
sion was the Senate's quick response 4
!. president Wilson'S plea for a change Il
\ rules to limit debate, and prevent in tn
: future such filibusters as that which kill
ed the armed neutrality bill.
? Just before the adjournment to-day tn
1 Senate adopted resolution extending 70
y one year the life of the lobby investigat
ins committee which has been In existenc
for three or four years and never ha
q made a report Chairman Overman O
the committee. said he had no intentio
,. of making an further lobby investigation
. and denied that there has been any tai
in the secret session on tho Colombia
. treaty OF lobby working for it's ratifcs
n ton. lie said tho extension was granite
70 permit report to be written.