Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-05-31

STtSS shOulu reduce the war taxes al
the present session but Mr.. Payne. the
majority leader said the treasury ae-
ures showed that the refundir ~
bonds now going on would PR - .7r..
wipe out the surplus for this fiscal
year. He contended it would be unsafe
to reduce taxes at this time. Mr.. Rich
ardson, minority leader, announced
that he was in favor of the total repeal
OF the war tax on beer.
Washington, May "a The duty of
the United States toward its "lslans
possessions" was the subject of
heated discussion in the senate again
Soon after the body convened Sepa-
tor Bacon (Ga) began an extended
reply to the speech of Senator Plat
delivered Wednesday. His speech was
largely supplemental to that which he
delivered several days ago, demanding
an investigation of Cuban financial at.
fairs. The remainder of the after
noon was occupied by Senator Spoon
er in concluding his speech on the
Philippine question. Many of his
statements were controverted by
Senators Allen (Neb) and Pettigrew
Is. D., and the controversy at times
became almost personal. Senator
Spooner in resuming his speech
maintained the facts proved that an
attack upon the United States troops
was not only made by Agunaldo but
had been long premeditated. He de-
clared that nobody but an anti-im-
perialist who by his words and actions
desired to dishonor his country and
make campaign capital in a presiden-
tial election could have so little OF
good faith as to make the brutal
charge against the president that he
had been responsible for the precpi-
tation of hosulities" Continu-
ing the argument, Senator Spoon
er said there had been an at
tempt to make an issue of imperialism
where none actually existed. 1t was
done merely for political effect and to
obscure the political issue of 1896. The
issue had been employed by Bryan
and was being exploited by every
branch of the opposition to the repub-
lican party. After an explanation of
the bill under discussion, saying it
was merely temporary measure to
indicate that congress was behind the
president in his effort to give a good
government to a people seven thous-
and miles away, Senator Spooner said,
in conclusion:
The American people Will stand
behind the American army wherever
1t may be under our flag"
Right or wrong" interjected Sen
ator Pettigrew
1t will be right responded Sena-
tor Spooner, hotly. But the
American people will determine
that question:; not the
senator from South Dakota. We will
do what is generous and right. We
will give them good government, an
honest government. If we come upon
dishonest employe we send him to
the penitentiary. Then the day will
come when those people are enjoying
the blessings of prosperity, content
ment and good government, when the
American people will grant them an
autonomous government; when We
have erected a government in Cuba
stable and strong when We have con-
ferred the blessings of civil liberty up
on the people of Porto Rico; when we
have given to the Filipinos such a gov
eminent and such an administration
as they never dreamed of,-then We
shall have worked our contamination
more gloriously and given a greater ex-
ample of what liberty can do than has
ever before been seen in the history Of
the world"
Washington May "a, The house
practically dev cd eight hours to con-
sideration Of the Alaskan civil govern
ment bill but the progress was slow
Washington May 25.-The discus
sion Of the Spooner Philippine bill was
continued in the senate by Senator
Morgan (Ala). On the general cues
ton Of ownership and government by
the United States of the Philippine ISL
ands, he was in accord with Senators
Spooner and Lodge but regarded the
nending bill as unwise and dangerous
legislation because OF the great power