The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-17
CONDITIONS, NOT THEORIES.
WE ARE FACING STUBBORN FACTS
SAYS SENATOR VEST.


with the Administration Cannot
he Called Traitors-Honr ResoIu-
ton Under Discussion in the Sen
atc-NOte for the Paris Treaty
Meant Vote for war-EHort 10
Get Treaty Correspondence.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE Senate is still
in the throes of discussion OF The Phil
ippiue question. and apparently there is
no near approach to a deliverance upon
the subject
MIR. Vest of Missouri to-day voiced the
opinion of many senator's when he said
that such discussion as was now in prog
ress was of no consequence. as the coun-
try was confronted by state of facts
that could not be changed by talk.
MIR. Pettigrews resolution of inquiry
and Mr. Lodges substitute for it. were
laid on the table to-day, and Mir. Hoars
general resolution of inquiry as to the
facts of the Philippine war was taken up.
an effort of Mr.. Pettigrew to amend it so
as to call for the Presidents instructions
to the Paris peace commissioners led 20 a
prolonged debate with final rejection.
The debate for the day was concluded by
Mr.. Vest, who made a notable speech in
opposition to the assumption in some quar-
tiers that every man who does not agree
with the policy of the administration is a
traitor to his country
Mr. Wellington of Maryland introduced
joint resolution declaring the purpose
of the United States towards the Philip
pine Islands and gave notice that he
would address the Senate on the resolu-
ton next Thursday.
MIR. Pettigrew offered a resolution call
ing on the Secretary of War for an item
occupation of Cuba. since the close of the
war, the salaries of all officials. the
amount of customs dues received and
all other matters pertaining to the ex-
penditure of money by the United States
on the island He asked for its imme-
date consideration, but Mr.. Chandler Of
New Hampshire, objected and the reso-
luton went over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Culberson of Texas withdrew as a
member of the Census Committee, and
Mr.. Cockrell presented an order making
additions to the Senate committees in
Guiding:
Census, Mr.. Taliaferro; Education and
labor, Mr.. Daniel; mines and mining, Mr..
Butler; transportation routes to the sea-
board, Mr.. McLaurn; Potomac river
front, Mr.. Bacon.
HOar Resolution Taken Up.
The Pettlgrew resolution as 10 the con-
duct of the Philippine war was laid be-
fore the Senate.
Mr.. Lodge moved that the resolution and
the one which he had offered as a sub
stitute for Il be laid on the table in order
that that offered by his colleague Mr..
Hoar, might be adopted. The motion was
agreed to-
The Hoar resolution, with an amendment
offered by Mr.. Lodge, to which Mr.. Hoar
had agreed, was submitted. 1t was about
to be passed when Mr.. Pettlgrew offered
an amendment calling for Information as
to all the instructions which the President
had given the commissioners who had ne
gotiated the treaty of Paris, together with
the correspondence that had passed be-
tween the President and the commission
ers.
Mr.. Davis, chairman of the Foreign Re
lations Committee. and one of the com
missioners, made the point of order against
the amendment that II was executive bus
mess.
President pro tenn Frye, who was him
self one of the commissioners oVerruled
the point, because, he said, it was within
the discretion of the President whether
he should send the information to the Sen
ate or not.
Mr.. Davis protested against public dis
cussion of this amendment, but explained
that nothing passed between the President
and the commissioners the publication of
which is Objectionable to him. but it ought
not TO be made public at this time
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion, and ten minutes later in open Sses-
sion motion made by Mr. Davis 10 ia
Bile the Pettigrew amendment was carried.
Mr.. Hale of Maine followed with a brief
statement, in which he said:
1.-THE result of the negotiations of the
Paris treaty was to my mind calamitous"
Senator Vests Position.
The debate on the resolution was con-
Guided by an earnest, but brief speech,
by Mr.. Vest, Democrat, of Missouri. He
regarded II as very unfortunate that moth
ing could be said by the opponents of the
administrations policy in the Philippines
without calling forth an imputation of i'm
proper motives.
THE friends Of the President" said Mr..
Vest-"and | am not his enemy-assume
that any remarks made about the Paris
treaty or it's negotiations Is an attack up
on the administration. This Is an unwar-
ranted assumption. 1t seems to have been
forgotten that the leading administration
journals Of the country stated when the
treaty was under consideration that the
commissioners had been instructed to take
the island of Luzon. II seems to me that
there should be no objection to the lay
ing of the whole matter before the people
if, as the Senator from Minnesota (Mr
Davis says, he has no objection to such
course.
ON his Western tour. the President
said the whole archipelago had fallen
like a ripe apple into our lap and we
were bound to meet our new duties as
they were presented to us. Were we to
leave them, or were we, as the junior Sena-
tor frtn Indiana (Mr. Beveridge) so elo-
quently told us the other day, trustees
under God to hold them as part of our
mission to regenerate the earth?''
What is the position of the President?"
inquired Mr.. Vest. "IIe directed the Peace
Commission to take one island-Luzon-
and afterwards abandoned that policy. He
has since said the acquisition of the is
lands was an act of Provdence-that we
could not leave them as derelicts.
THE fact is, this whole question is In
a nebulous and foggy condition.