Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-10
WILSON PRESENTS
TREATY TO-DAY
His Address Will Mark Opening
of One of the Bitterest Fights
Ever Waged in Senate Over
a Ratification
NO LENGTHY SPEECH
President Is willing TO he Questioned
before Any Committee-Such Pro-
cedure Is Considered by Some to He
too Wide n Departure from Precedent

Washington. July 9--President Wilson
will present the peace treaty and the
League of Nations covenant to the Sen
ate Tomorrow.
In presenting the document the Preai-
dent will not deliver a lengthy address
in which he is expected to outline the
details of the negotiations recently con-
cluded in Paris and tell why he feels
that the United states should endorse
the League of Nations covenant. His
address promises to mark the opening
OF one of the bitterest fights ever waged
in the Senate over ratification of a
treaty.
1t was announced at the White House
to-day that the President would place
himself unrescrvedly at the disposal Of
the senate in its consideration of the
treaty. He was represented rs being
anxious and eager" 20 appear before any
committee of the Senate or of the House.
or both. in open or executive session 20
answer any questions that members
might desire to ask with regard to the
treaty and the League covenant.
While members of the Senate foreign
relations committee declined to predict
before the committee. there was a gen
era feeling that should ne make known
directly desire to appear, he would
be given the opportunity.
The usual procedure would be for the
committee to ask for the diplomatic
correspondence leading up to the treaty,
and since most of the Versailles nego-
tiations We're conducted orally, some
senators believe the alternate course
will be no question the principal dele
gates.
Opposing this view, however. is the
feeling of some committee members that
1t would be too wide a departure from
precedent to invite a President before
any committee Of Congress 1t has been
pointed out that the chief executive con-
stitutes In himself a coordinate branch
of the government. and such never
has dealt directly with such a subordi-
nate body as a Senate committee.
Should the President go before the
committee. there are indications that the
sessions will be open. Some members are
known 70 he determinedy opposed to any
secrecy in the Senate consideration of the
treaty. and in this stand they expect the
cooperation of the President and his sup
porters on the committee The effect may
mittee consideration of the treaty. as well
as the debate in the Senate chamber 1t is
considered more than likely. however that
at least some OF the committee discus
sons will be in executive session.
\ vigorous questioning undoubtedly
will await the President should be appear
before the committee. Among the mem
bers are some of the most bitter crit
les of the League of Nations and of the
Presidents conduct of the Versailles ne
gotiations, including Chairman Lodge and
Senator's Borah of Idaho, Johnson of Cali
fornia and Fall of New Mexico, all re-
publioans.
, The Presidents first day at the White
| House since he returned from France
was long and busy one. After sleeping
| late he went to his desk soon after nine
O'Clock and except for brief intermis-
| sions. for conferences with Secretary
Tumulty. his meals and a short drive
late in the day with Mrs. Wilson. he re-
nlained uninterruptedly at work Bills
carrying with them appropriations OF
{ more than two billion dollars were be-
fore him, but he app~ rently was unable
TO find time to consider them.
! The President still was working in his
/ study late tonight and was said to be
| literally elbow deep III papers.