The National tribune., 1900-03-15
IN CONGRESS-.
Synopsis Of the More Important
Proceedings of Both Houses.

final vote on the financial bill was taken
The conference report was agreed TO by a
vote of Id to 26, ma jority of 1S. This
disposes of financial legislation in the
vote upon the report was as follows:
feas-Aldrich, Allison, Baker, Bard
Beveridge, Burrows, Carter. Clark (Wyo.),
Cullom, Davis, Depew, Elkins, Fairbanks,
Foraker, Foster, Frye, Gallinger, Gear,
Hale, Hanna, Hansbrough, Hawley. Hoar,
Cumber. Mcmillan, Mason, Nelson. Pen
rose. Perkins, Platt Comm. Platt On. ",
Proctor, Quarles, Ross, Scott. Shoup,
Simon, Thurston, Wellington, and Wet
more-44 -s--
Nays-AlIen. Bacon. Bate. Butler,
Jones (Arkl, Jones (Nev.(. Kenney, Nc
| Laurin, Martin. Morgan, Pettigrew. Pet
tus. Rawlins. Sullivan, Taiiaferro, Teller,
Tillman, and Turner'S.
Every Senator was either present and
voted or was paired except Senator Kyle,
of South Dakota, who was not present and
his position not made known. Senator
Lindsay voted for the report and Senator
Catfery was paired in favor of it. All
other Democrats We're in the negative.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota,
offered an amendment to the Porto Rican
bill admitting breadstuffs to the island
free of duty
II is expected that this amendment will
satisfy the demand in Minnesota and the
Northwest for the admission into Porto
Rico of the wheat and fiour-especially
fiour-produced by that section of the
country. 1t is in line with the executive
orders of the President excepting bread
StuffS from the payment of tariff duty
when imported into Porto Rico.
Senator Foraker said that this amend
ment would be thoroughly satisfactory TO
.ntaI 1afal lNlI
naming members of the Porto Rican Com
mittee. The adoption of this amendment
VIII satisfy Senator Nelson. of Minnesota.
and is expected also to secure the vote of
Senator Davis. Senator Tillman re-
peated the statement of other Democrats
Democratic position If they supported Mr..
Davis amendment. The Constitution
has gone with the flag TO Porto Rico"
said Mr.. 1illman, and we cannot vote to
send it there by specific law"
Senator Nelson, of Minnesota. intro
duced an amendment TO the Porto Rico
bill extending the customs laws of the
United States over the island of Porto
Rico and establishing customs districts
there. This amendment does not raise
the constitutional question, and, therefore
might secure Democratic support.
The House spent the entire day in con-
sideration of the Aldrich-Robbins con-
tested election case, from the fourth Ala
bama District.
In the Senate on March 7. Mr. Lodge
spoke on the Philippine question at great
sophie discussion of the situation faced by
the American people. together with a
lucid explanation of the events which led
up TO that situation.
The text of Mr.. Lodges speech was the
Spooner bill for the Government of the
Dl,tItv iNr- h.
insurrection is quelled. Senator Lodge
explained the bill as follows:
This bill, Mr.. President, is simple, but
all sufficient. 1t makes no declaration and
offers no promises as to a future we cannot
yet predict. II meets the need of the present
military power, which still controls. and
must for some time control the islands,
could do all that this bill provides. But
il is well that We should have the direct
authorization of Congress, and be enabled
to meet any emergency that may arise
power, until that power shall decree other
wise. Above all, it is important that Con-
gress should assert its authority; that we
should not leave it to the Executive acting
with the unlimited authority of the war
power to go on alone after the conclusion of
peace, but that he should proceed under the
authority OF Congress in whatever he
does until Congres shall otherwise
and more specifically provide. BY this
bill We follow the well-settled American
precedents of jefferson and Monroe. which
were used still later in the case of Hawaii.
To leave the war party unrestrained after
the end OF the war is TO abdicate our own
authority. This bill is the assertion of
Congressional authority and OF the Iegis-
latiye power of the Government. To un-
dertake any further or more far-reaching
legislation at this time would be, in my
Judgment, great mistake. But / be-
lieye 1t TO be of great Importance to define
our position. SO that it may be perfectly
understood by the inhabitants of the Philip
pines, as well as by our own people"
Senator Lodge said that the questions
involved in the future management of the
Philippine Islands and in orr policy in the |
far East demanded the highest and most |
sagacious craftsmanship. He insisted, |
however, that they should not be made |
the sport of parties. ''The responsibility"
said he, rests upon the American people, |
not upon the Democratic or Republican |
party. II we fail in dealing with them, we
shall all alike suffer from the failure. and
if we succeed. the honor and the profit will
rebound to the glory and the benefit of |
ALL He deprecated, therefore, the fact
that certain members Of the Democratic
party had seen fit to oppose the retention
of the Philippines and the policy of trade
expansion.
After stating that the Philippines were
being treated as Cuba is treated, and re-
marking that the opposition has no def
mite policy TO offer, Senator Lodge con-
tinued:
''The policy we offer. on the other hand,
is simple and straightforward We be-
licve in the frank acceptance of existing
facts, and in dealing with them as they
are, and not on theory OF what they might
or ought TO be. We accept the fact that
the Philippine Islands are ours today, and
that we are responsible for them before the
world The next fact is that there is a
war in those islands, which, with its chief
in hiding, and no scmblance of a govern
ment, has now degenerated into mere
guerrilla fighting and brigandage Our
immediate duty, therefore. is TO suppress
this disorder, put an end TO fighting. ard
restore peace and order That is what
we are doing. That is all we are called
upon 10 do in order TO meet the demands
of the living present. p. Beyond this we
ought not to go by legislative act, except
to make such provision that there may be
no delay IN re-establiShiug civil govern
ment when the war ends.
i hope and believe that we shall retain
the islands, and that, peace and order
once restored, we shall and should re-
establish civil government, beginning with |
the towns and villages, where the inhabit- !
ants are able TO manage their own affairs |
We should give them honest administra- |
ton and prompt and efficient courts. Wei
should see to it that there is entire pro-
fxatr 4