The San Francisco call., 1898-12-06
OPINIONS OF
 CONGRESSMEN
 ON MESSAGE Able and Excellent" Republicans Say.
ENTERTAINING AND ACCURATE
BUT SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS
 FIND FAULT.
Think the President Should Have De- fined Form of Government for Philippines-Silverites
 Not Satisfied.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Many Sen ators excused themselves from expres- sion of opinions at length upon the message on the ground that they had not been able to give careful attention to all the details. Republican Senators were, however, willing to express themselves in a few general words of commendatinon.
 Senator Cullom regarded it as "a painstaking, entertaining and accurate historical review
 Senator Platt of New York commend ed the expression of determination to increase the standing army and to maintain order in Cuba until the Gu bans can take care of themselves.
 Senator Wolcott said it was an ad- mirable document
 Senator Lodge said 1t was "able and excellent"
 Senator Foraker-A good presenta- tion of facts generally, but little in- definite on the question of Cuban inde- pendence.
 Senator Proctor-A good American paper.
 The Democrats were even more averse than the Republicans to dis cuss the paper. Senator Jones of Ar kansas was an exception. He found in the message a number of points which did not accord with his views. One of these is the pronosition to con- tinue the volunteer army in existence until the standing army can be in- creased. Some of us do not favor the increase of the standing army" he said, and the President has no right to assume that majority stand with him on that proposition" The Arkan- sas Senator also questioned the Presi- dents right to hold the volunteers in service beyond the time of signing the peace treaty, saying: There is no war in existence and none is imminent. The law requires one or the other condition, and the threat of the President to hold the volunteers in service until the standing army is increased beyond what the consciences of Senators and members dictate looks to me like a menace and an effort to dictate, which l consider an outrage and unpardon able"
 Senator Jones interpreted the Presi- dents expression upon the finances as pronouncement for the gold standard and for the retirement of the greenbacks, and said that he did not believe that anything like ma jority of the American people would in- dorse him in this respect. The Senator also announced himself as opposed to a subsidy to vessels connecting the United States with Porto Rico. Cuba and the Philippines, as opposed tolegis- lation for the construction of the Mic araguan canal as at present contem- plated, and expresses the opinion that the President was inclined to go far ther in the Government of Cuba than the resolution of intervention called for.
 l,1 tf,, fox r,r taking them to the point of maintain ing a stable government and l do not see how we can go beyond that. To go to the extent of insuring. as the President recommends, complete tran quility might prove pretext for a military government and permanent occupation, never to be ended. 1 do not indOrse any such an understanding. Senator Jones also expressed surprise at the absence of any recommenda- tion concerning the Philippines. "The question of the government of the Philippines is attracting much atten- tion." he said, "and the fact that the President utterly ignores 1t strikes me as very singular.
 Senator Pascoe also commented upon the absence of any reference to points concerning which we most desire in formation" He said, however. that 1t was a valuable historical paper and would be convenient for future refer ence.
 Senator Teller said there would be disappointment over the failure of the President to outline a government for the Philippines, saying: There will be some disappointment in this. for think the understanding has been that the President would indicate what form of government should be provided for these new possessions. But 1t is wise for the President not to indicate his views on that subject, for that is pure Iy and properly a legislative question and one that should be left to Con- gress."
 On the recommendation in regard to the currency Senator Teller said: "The friends of bimetallism, either national or international, will find no encourage ment from anything that the President says in his message. No reference is made to international bimetallism. but the President in the most emphatic way indicates his intention to main tain the gold standard. The so-called Silver Republicans who remain in the Republican party and contend that