The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-12
CLIMBING OVER THE TRANsoM.

The premature reports of Gen. OTIS as
to the paci1cation of the Philippine ISL
ands have started into life a horde OF
promoters and spectators who expect to
grab every valuable privilege, concession,
franchise, Aroperty and thing In the ISL
ands befor- military occupation ceases
and the general public Is given a legiti-
mate chance to prospect the ground for
chances Of investment.
Among the first in the field, as might
be expected. are the friends of and those
closest to the Mckinley administration
the faithful who have stuck to Hanna
and company through thick and thin.
and who expect to reap the first fruits Of
the expansion" policy.
For instance, a telegram from Charles
ton, w. Va. to the Chicago Tribune. an
nounces the incorporation at that city
on May of the Philippine Lumber and
Developing Company of Chicago, with a
capital Of $5OOO,OOO. The tncorporators
are ]. A. T Hull. of Des Moines, To-,
and four others.
The head of this company Is J. A. 7.
Hull. who, by a singular coincidence,
turns out to be Congressman j. A. T.
trict Of Iowa. and chairman Of the COM
mittee on military affairs Of the house
of representatives. The object of this
company. of which Mr.. Hull is at the
20 RI htofn
Philippine islands.
The first thought that will occur to
a person who reads the announcement
of Representative HulTs connection with
such an enterprise Is that he is exceed
ingly indiscreet in allowing his name to
appear as one of it's incorporators while
he holds the position of chairman of
the house committee on military affairs.
1t may be the general Idea that, as CHAIR
man Of this congressional committee Mr..
Hull Is able to secure access to informa-
ton touching possible valuable conces-
sions in the Philippine islands, which Is
is practically exclusive. and that there
by his Philippine Lumber and Develop
ment might be placed in q position to
capture and corner many valuable con-
cessions before the general public and
intending investors not In possession of
such information can enter the field.
1t is certainly not probable that the
representatives or agents of a COMPANY
q hn OP fOh A.
the house committee on military affairs
will suffer from impediments placed in
its way by the military governor of the
Philippine islands or his subordinates.
The exploiting of the resources of the
islands by J. A. I. Hull & Co might
perhaps be materially expedited owing
to the Difference due to the chairman of
the house committee on military affairs.
and. while the general public is cooling
its heels in the ante-rooms of officials, ii
might readily be imagined that ]. A. T.
Hull & Co. are going hot-footed in pur-
suit Of valuable Philippine concessions.
1t is more than indis1reet on the part
Of Congressman Hull to connect himself
with such an enterprise while he holds
the craftsmanship of house committee
holding such intimate and even confiden-
tial relations with the military officials
now i'll charge in the Philippine islands.
1t Is exceedingly bad taste-deplorably
bad taste-and it is unfair 10 the military
officials in the Philippines that they
should be placed in such an embarrassing
and perhaps compromising position
judging the situation from the high
standpoint of military honor-through the
anxiety Of Congressman J. A. T. Hull,
chairman of the house committee on
military affairs, to climb into the Philip.
pine islands over the traHsom by means
of his official ladder, and gobb.e every
valuable concession in sight before the
office opens and the hoi-pollo are ad-
mltted.