New-York tribune., 1900-01-24
SPEECHES IN THE SENATE.
MR. ROSS MAKES A CONSTITUTIONAL
ARGUMENT on THE PHILIP
PINE QUESTION.
PINE QUESTION.

Washington Jan. 23-Again to-day the Senates s
session devoted entirely to speechmaking. MT
Turner of Washington. concluded his address On
the Philippine question and followed by Mr..
Ross, of Vermont. with thoughtful and carefully
prepared speech. in which he also discussed the
Philippine question in connection with resolutions
which he had offered. His presentation of the ques
tion received thoughtful attention from his col
leagues.
At the opening of the session Mr. Turley reported
from the Committee Privileges and Elections
the following resolution the of ex-senator
Quay:
Resolved That the Hon Matthew S. Quay is not
entitled take his seat in this body as a Senator
from the State of Pennsylvania.
That resolution was the judgment of the majority
OF the committee. Mr. Turley called attention to
the resolution Of the minority. which was that Mr..
Quay was entitled 10 a seat. Both resolutions were
accompanied by reports.
ANOTHER INQUIRY FROM PETTIGREW.
Mr. Pettfgrew offered resolution calling the
President to send the Senate the reports of Gen
eral ]. C. Bates relating to the treaty with the
Sultan of Sulu. The resolution recited the salaries
to be paid the Sultan and his officials, and asked
from what fund the salaries to be paid, what
services the officials performed and whether or not
these officers under the Civil Service. Objection
was made and the resolution went over.
Mr. Cafery then presented three resolutions call
ing the President for correspondence with Great
Britain concerning the Clayton Bulwer Treaty. the
correspondence with the Colombian Government as
the Panama Canal. and the correspondence with
the new Panama Canal Company of France. The
resolutions were adopted.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr. Allen cali
ing the Secretary of the Treasury for corre-
spondence and the substance of all verbal com
munications which he has had with officials of the
National City Bank of New-York concerning the
transfer of the Custom House was adopted.
SPEECH OF SENATOR ROSS.
In accordance with previous notice. Mr.. Ross de-
livered speech on the Philippine question. The
text of his argument resolution introduced
by him several days ago declaring that the pro-
visions of the Constitution do not. unaided by act
of Congress, extend Puerto Rico and the Phil
ippines; that the United States takes sovereignty
Purcto Rico and the Philippines unrestricted
by the provisions of the Constitution, and that
the successful discharge of this duty demands the
establishment of a separate department of the Gov
ernment 10 take charge of all outlying dependen-
cies of the United States and the passage of a
general law making appointments therein
political
Mr. Ross said he did propose discuss what
relations the United States sustained the islands
further than to observe that the cedng power had
imposed no conditions or reserved any rights. de-
fined and secured by the Constitution. to the in
habitants OF those islands The rights OF citizen
snip mad not been guaranteed them. and under the
constitution, they could be regarded citizens
OF the United States. Only BY act of Congress
could these rights be conferred upon them The
cession OF sovereignty over a country b, one ma
non 10 another he said affects only the political
reiHtohs OF the inhabitants of the ceded country
and makes them subjects thereafter of the nation
receiving the cesson. Laws usaEes and municipal
regulations in force the time OF cession remain
In force until changed by the new sovereignty The
Constitution therefore. cannot OF its own Inherent
force. extend itself over such territory" Mr. Ross
concluded. therefore. that the Supreme Court had
held properly that Congress had plenary power in
"gislating for Territories unless restrained b, the
stipulations OF the treaty
UNDER a SOLEMN OBLIGATION.
While under these views" he said Congress
enters upon the government OF these Dependencies
unrestrained by the provisions OF the Constitution
nevertheless 1t Will exercise this power under the
solemn obligation OF a general duty to be dis
charged faithfully and honestly for the highest
welfare OF their Inhabitants and Of the Inhabitants
OF the nation"
lie discussed carefully ,he control assumed by the