The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-23
FUTURE OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
Senator Spooner Makes a Very
Important Speech.
UNDER CONTROL or PRESIDENT
Proclamation sf One Of AguInaldds Leaders
threatening Assassination.
READING CAUSED A LIVELY BREEZE.
Senator Psiiiusw Declared That No Such ProoIa-
nation Had Ever fssn Issued By AguInsIds
or His SubordInatss- CLARK Z Credentials

Washington. May 23.-In the Senate
yesterday Mr.. Spooner (Wis.) spoke on
his bill providing that upon the sup
preston of the insurrection I'm the Phil
ippines. the government Of the islands
shall devolve upon the president until
such time as congress might otherwise
direct. Notwithstanding the fact that
he was TOO III 10 stand. Mr.. Spooners
effort was one Of the notable speeches
OF the present session. He defended
with characteristic vigor and eloquence
the policy of the administration i'm the
Philippines, maintaining that no other
policy In the circumstances was poss-
BILE, and that none other could have
been adopted without dishonor To the
country. Late in the afternoon. Sena-
tor Carter OF Montana presented the
credentials of Senator Clark OF Mon
tana. They will lie on the table for the
present.
The House devoted the entire day to
the Alaskan Civil government bill.
Slow progress was made. only "A pages
being disposed of. There was protract-
ed debate over the question Of the
number OF judges in Alaska and the
mining laws. but the provisions of the
bill We're not amended.
MIR. sPooNER's ADDRESS.
In accordance with previous notice.
Mr.. Spooner (wis.) addressed the
Senate on his bll-the unfinished bust
ness-in relation 10 the suppression of
insurrection in the Philippines. II
provides that when the nsurrection
shall have been completely suppressN1
by the military and naval forces OF
the United States. all military. civil and
judicial powers necessary 10 govern
the said island shall, until otherwise
provided by congress. be vested in such
persons and shall be exercised in such
manner as the president of the United
States shall direct. for maintaining and
protecting the inhabitants of said ISL
ands in the free enjoyment of their
liberty, property and religion"
Mr.. Spooner referred to those Sena-
tors who have seemed to exult some
times i'm coupling the names of half
caste Filipinos with that of our own
Washington" and he read portion of
proclamation issued by one OF Aguin-
aldo's leaders warning the Filipinos in
Manila that upon specified date "all
others will be exterminated without
the army of occupation.
WAS there ever anything worse than
that?" he demanded. Would we with
draw our army now and leave without
protection the British citizens, the
German citizens, the citizens of Hell
land and those of America. not TO
mention the friendly Filipinos against
whom the direct threats have been
made?"
Mr.. Pettigrew interrupted Mr. Spoon
er to declare that no such order or pro-
clamation as he had read was ever is
sued.
Mr.. Spooner replied that II was con-
tanned in an official document issued by
the government. and was quite as ac-
curate as much of the matter Mr.. Pet
tigrew himself had used.
II asked for and received from the
war department. six months ago a
of that very order" interjected Mr.. Da-
Wis. chairman OF the foreign relations
committee.
IL deny that any such order has ever
issued" shouted Mr. Pettigrew. eth
er by Aguinaldo or any of his subordi-
mates
A SHARP RETORT.
The trouble with the senator from
South Dakota" replied Mr.. Spooner, lis
that everybody is liar who does not
help to make his case against the gov
eminent" (Applause.)
Il protest against the use of such a
document" urged Mr.. Pettigrew, lit
is false and it ought not to be here"
well. IL is here" retorted Mr.. spoon
err. warmly. "and Ii is going TO stay
here Does the senator deny that this
is an official document"
"Well. il may be an official report OF
Gen. Otis" replied Mr.. pettigrew. but
is a contradiction of other information
from the Philippines.
'The senator may have sources OF
information among his friends in the
Philippines, but ! may be permitted" :"
suggested. Mr.. Spooner. suavely. Ito
doubt that they are better than those
of Gen. Otis" Gaughter)
Mr. Spooner then entered upon a dis
cussion OF the constitutional phases o.
the Philippine question.
He said that the insurrccgion was of
little consequence. which led Mr. TILL
man 10 interject the remark that II was
true that "thc insurrection OF that date
was not equal TO that Of the present
time"
Wen have more" responded Mr..
Spooner. "if the Democrats can't help
u.s."
when Mr.. Spooner suspended his re-
MARKS until todHN. Mr. carter TOOK
advantage OF the iull to present the cre-
dentials Of Mr. Clark as senator from
Montana under the appointment of Act
ing Governor Spriggs or that state The
credentials consisted ~ tho governors
certificate of appoirtment Mr.. Carter
simnlv aslSed that the certificate he
read end laid on tho table. This was
done. The incident created a ripple %
" terest In the senate. but caused no
further remarks.
THEREAFTER brief executive session