The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-25
Effort by the Two Last Named tn
Make the Public Believe All Ad-
ministrationfsts Are Liars.
OUR DUTY TOWARDS FILIPINos
BACON RETURNS TO HIS MUTTON AND
MAKES WILD CHARGES.
His Speech on Alleged Frauds and Ex-
travagance I'm Cuba-Reply
to Orvi1le III. Platt.

WASHINGTON, May 2i-''The duty or
the Nation towards its island possessions''
was the subject OF heated discussion In
the Senate again to-day. Soon after the
Senate convened Mr.. Bacon. OF Georgia.
began an extended reply to the speech or
Mr.. Patt delivered yesterday. His speech
was largely supplemental 10 that which he
delivered several days ago demanding an
investigation Of Cuban financial affairs. His
resolution. to which there is little or no op-
position, under the rules went TO the COM
mittee on contingent expenses.
The remainder of the afternoon was oc-
cupied by Mr.. Spooner, Of Wisconsin, in
concluding his speech on the Philippine
question. The debate which he aroused
took a turn decidedly political He charged
the so-called anti-imperialists with creating
an issue which was not legitimate. Many
of his statements were controverted by Mr.
Allen, of Nebraska, and Mr.. Pettigrew. OK
South Dakota. and the controversy became
at times almost personal
AT the opening of the session Mr. Bacon
called up his resolution directing the COM
mittee on relations with Cuba to investigate
the receipts and expenditures Of money in
Cuba, and addressed the Senate in reply TO
tie cpctCn stSttitof ~ -tAA- a @e%S
of Connecticut. There had been. he saic.
such a looseness in the conduct Of Cuban
affairs that it called for a most decided and
searching investigation. He said the great
purpose of the investigation which he pro-
posed was not much 10 entrap the man
or men who might have stolen hundreds or
thousands of dollars. as an expert account
ant might do, but TO ascertain whether by
fraudulent contracts or other devices OK
corruption the millions handled by the offl-
Gals in Cuba had been disposed OF dis
honestly. His purpose was TO ascertain
whether these millions had been expended
honestly, economically and properly. even
though the books might balance and might
show no discrepancies. He called attention
to the large expenditures made by the ofi-
cials In Cuba for per diem," 'miscellane-
GUS" Salaries" carriages and equip
ment" and declared these subjects never
had been investigated. although the POST
Office Departments attention had been di-
rected TO them.
THE CIVIL SALARY LIST.
The civil salary list alone for 1883 was
over s3.0OO.OO0, which. he thought. was un-
paralieled. Mr.. Bacon declared that no ac-
count of the enormous expenditures Of the
first half of 1899 had been made to the gov
ernment and said that. in view OF the facts
brought out, IL was unreasonable TO ask
that the investigation should be left TO the
Postoffice Department authorities. Mr.. Ba-
con declared that the American people. re-
gardless of party, were determined that
the Cuban scandal should be sifted 10 the
bottom, and he said the investigation would
not be limited 10 the extent suggested BY
Mr. Platt I'm his speech OF yesterday He
denied that he cherished any purpose or
making campaign capital
Adyerting 10 the construction of the mill
itary railroad along the Havana harbor
Mr. Bacon said he had learned that the
road had cost s342,611 This. he believed.
was an exorbitant sum, demanding rigid
investigation. He sharply criticised. toos
the payment TO Robert p. Porter, as q
tariff expert, the sum of 500 a month for
five months. besides s3,100 as expense mon-
ey. He desired also 10 direct attention 10
the reported fact that the Van Horne SYM
dicate had been organized with a capital
OF sS0OO.0OO. and that Mr.. Porter had gone
to Europe i'm the interest OF the syndicate.
Inasmuch as the tariff on machinery and
eouipment of railroads had been recom-
mended to be reduced from 40 TO 10 per
cent. by Mr.. Porter he believed the matter
required keen and jealous scrutiny
Referring to a figure of speech used BY
Mr.. Platt he said his cheek did mantle
with the blood Of shame at the peculations
thievery, fraud and corruption In Cuba
not because he was singing mud. but be-
cause he was an American citizen Con-
gress in the interest of the country's hon-
| or, ought to cause an investigation 10 be
made without fear, without favor and with
uprightness of purpose. In conclusion Mr.
Bacon said: II would like, before adjourn~
ment. TO see action that will allow the Ma
ton TO redeem its pledge and TO leave the
island of Cuba in the possession of free
and independent government"
The resolution as 10 the Montana sena~
| torial case was postponed until Wednes-
day. the 90th inst.
| At the instance OF Mr.. Piatt. OF Connect
| icut, the resolution OF Mr.. Bacon was re-
ferred TO the committee on contingent ex-
| penses.
sPOONER RESUMES HIS SPEECH
| Mr. Spooner then resumed his speech on
| the Philippine question. He maintained that
| the facts proved the attack upon the
| United States troops was not only made by
| Aguinaldo. but had been long premeditated-
| BY Filipino documents. which had fallen
| into the hands OF the Americans. he showed
that the Filipinos. under the leadership OF
| Aguinaldo. were preparing for an attack
on our troops. and that Il had been fixed
| for Feb. s. ise9 one day before the out
| break occurred. Mr.. Spooner declared that
nobody but an anti-imperiaiist. who. by
his words and actions, desired the dlshonor