The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-17
WHAT CONGRESS MAY DO
VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE CRUM-
PACKER. WHO Is IN THE CITY.
The Philippine, Hawaiian and Porto
Rican Questions Discussed-Ahe
GubernatoriaI Situation.

Representative E. ID. Crumpacker, or the
Tenth district. was at the benson yes'ef-
day and reviewed. at length. the prospective
action of Congress with regard 10 the
Philippine Hawaiian and Porto Rcan situa-
tons Touching on the Philippine question:
he said 1t was perfectly well known 10 MEM
bers of committees having charge OF these
matters that nothing would be done curing
the coming session toward framing any Dill
having for it's object a civil government OIL
the islands, but that every effort would De
made to place the President in positicn TO
carry out his plans for a general and thor
ough pacification on the lines he has ALREADY
adopted. He SAYS II is admitted that all
plans now contemplate the perpetual SOW
ereignty of the United States over the
islands and that those who hope for a recog-
milton of the Independence of the Islands or
a compromise of any kind will be disap-
pointed. He said that. first of ALL the Presi-
dent VIII be backed up in his effort to re-
store peace, and then a military government
will be maintained for two or more years
until the country is thoroughly paclhed.
During the coming session of Congress, he
says. joint commission will be appointed
from the Senate and House to visit the
with the requirements of the situation there
as found by them. This. he says, will be the
basis of any bill which is likely to be passed
for the government of the Philippines
With regard to the Hawaiian Islands, MT.
Crumpacker says the bill now pending be
fore the House will have to be greatly modl-
fed. That this was not done at the last
session was owing to the fact. he says that
II was generally understood that 1t couid
not pass for lack of time. Mr.. CrumpacKer
has two amendments which he has oeen
assured will be adopted. They provide Tor
the eradication of evils which cannot exist
in American territory.
The chief one Is the clause in the Coristi-
tuition of the new territory, by which all
people who do not own $500 worth or prop
erty or earn an annual salary or that
amount, are prohibited from voting. MI
Crumpacker says he has no doubt or MS
amendment passing both houses, as II pro-
vides for the universal right OF suffrage. lie
admits that heretofore ii has been almost
essential to the welfare of the white resi-
dents Of the islands, but he says by the act
of annexation all residents of the islands
were naturalized, and, as citizens of the
United States they cannot De ois tbnt Hne
this will give many Chinese the right OF
suffrage, IL does not follow that IL Will eS-
tablish a precedent for this country. More
over, he says the native Hawaiiars are dy,
ing off rapidly and reports indicate tnal
already the Hawaiian population mas
these are nearly all infected with fatal dis
eases, as the result of trying to acquire the
white mans civilization
His second amendment, he feels, is or Vas'
Importance, touching as ii does on the IN
dustrial welfare of the country and seeking
to establish a system which has been the
sinew Of the American strength on this con
tinent: 1t will provide that it shall be un
lawful for any corpora top to own any farm
lands or lease them for agricultural pur
poses Mr.. 'Crumpacker says it is fac
that at present per cent. of the popuiatio
/ in Hawaii owns 40 per cent. or the wealth.
| and every acre OF farm land Is under thu
control, either by lease or ownership, Of
| immense corporations There are, he says
/ immense tracts known as crown lands" OF
public lands. and these, which are new the
property of the general government, are
( held under lease for thirty years by large
sugar corporal atoms. Mr.. Crumpacker say:
| under the present system 1t is Impossible fol
| small farmers tc own or lease farm lands
| and the result is that cooie labor is en-
| couraged and the element which has made
American society great is entirely lacking
: BY making II impossible for the corpora
tions to own or lease the public lands. small
| farming will be encouraged and the genera
, welfare of the people will be promoted.
| In discussing guberDatorial candidates Mr.
Crumpacker said il was his belief that were
| the convention to be held Tomorrow
Lieutenant Governor Haggard would b'
chosen. He said, how ever, that he was no
personally interested In any particular