The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-09
HAVE A TILT IN THE SENATE ON THE
PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
CHARGE OF ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY
Made by the Latter Against the Phil
fppine Commission Taken Up by the
New York Senator-Discussion of the
Financial Bill Question of Mediation
in the Transvaal War House Passes
the Diplomatic Biil-Lumber River
Bridge Bill Passed.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington. February 7.-Senator
Vest, of Missouri, today proposed in
the senate an amendment to the pend
ing financial bill rpoviding that the
secretary of the treasury shall have
prepared 5000, 600, 600 of treasury notes,
TO be known as bond treasury notes"
They shall be full legal tender for all
debts and shall be loaned by the secre-
tary of the treasury TO anybody who
may deposit United States bonds for
them, the note to bear the same inter-
est as the bond deposited"
A joint resolution increasing the linn
it of cost of the new government print
ing office by s429,000 on account of in
creased price of building materials was
passed.
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
offered and had passed a resolution
calling for information from the secre-
tary of the treasury as to the status
of the claims of South Carolina for
moneys paid out by the state in the
Florida war
At the conclusion of routine business
a discussion of the Philippine question
was Unexpectedly precipitated by Sen
ator Depew, of New York who called
attention to some remarks made few
days ago by Senator Pettigrew and
read the following letter he had re-
ceived from Professor Schurman:
Ithaca, N. Y, February g.
Dear Senator Depew:
Il see from Page 1862 of the Congress
sional Record that Senator Pettigrew,
speaking of myself says: The fact
of the matter is that he tried to bribe
the insurgents, as near as we can as
certain, and failed; but they would not
take gold for peace
Had this preposterous statement
been made anywhere else / should not
have paid any attention to it, but as
it has been made in the senate of the
United States, 1 desire to say to you
that it is absolutely without founda-
ton. Very truly yours,
81. G.. SCHURMAN."
Senator Depew, in commenting, call
ed attention to the fact that at the
very time of this speech by Senator
Pettigrew was being delivered both
President Schurman and Admiral
Dewey were in the city and easily ac-
cessible.
Instead, however, of calling them as
witnesses" said Senator Depew, ''he
TeduS dn dlleSeu proclamation ASul-
naldo, translated by some unknown
person without any evidence of au-
thenticity and published in a New
England paper, and then reads an in
terview purported to have been had
with President Schurman by an un-
known reporter
Senator Depew referred to the letter
of Admiral Dewey presented by Sena-
tor Lodge, denying the statements of
DayUaN-
and Schurman had absolutely denied
the statements attributed to them. Be
fore the statements of Dewey and
Schurman the charges of Senator Pet
tigrew disappeared as Aguinaldo's ar
my vanquished before the American
troops. This whole transaction said
Senator Depew, in conclusion, 'is moth
ing better than Aguinaldo's govern
ment, the seat of which is in Aguinal-
dos hat
Senator Pettigrew, who had listened
attentively to Senator Depew, was on
his feet in an instant. In the course
of his reply he said:
1T is we'll known that this govern
ment through. the Philippine commits
sion, offered money for the rifles of the
insurgents, but no rifles were turned
in except few that had been captur-
ed and given to friendly Filipinos by
American officers in order that they
might be turned in to get the price Of
fered for them. 1t is quite as well
known that the Schurman commission
offered to Aguinaldo what amounted to !
s., 900 a year if he would lay down his
arms"
Il charge" Senator Pettigrew, con-
tinued, that the facts of this question
are being withheld and what informa-
ton is sent to US is garbled; and !
charge that we attacked an ally and |
made a compact with slavery"
Senator Turner, of Washington, then |
opened the debate on the financial |
bill. He maintained that the passage |
Of the pending bill would deal a de- |
iberate blow to silver, being put for |
ward by the republican party in the |
interests of the monied classes. Its re- |
suit would be the enhancement of the |
value Of money and the depreciation |
If the value Of things produced by the |
,armers and laboring classes.
Senator Bate, of Tennessee, follow
ID in a speech in favor of bimetall;sm |
md in opposition to the proposed gold |
standard. He urged that the pending |
Dill was framed in the interest Of the
banks and Of the bondholders
Who were the stockholders in the ma
ional banks. He maintained that the
pledge of parity of gold and silver l
would not be kept-that it would be
'roken as soon as those who prof1ted
" this bill should assert their power
md demand the sacrifice of silver.
iowever, he maintained that even
ually silver would rise triumphant
Hold monometallism had no inherent
.ower with the people and was simply
he pound of flesh demanded by the
inancial Shylocks
Senator Allen, who spoke next, said
he money question was the most mo-
nentous before the people today, and
declared his adherence to free coinage
t the ratio of 16 to 1.
In answer to question from Sena-
or Allen, Senator Aldrich said: This
I'LL does not change the status of our
liver money, our greenbacks or our
reasury notes, and confers upon no