Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-05
THE PHILIPPINES
Both Houses Listen to a Discussion
of the Question.
CAfFERY and DlHsMORE SPEAK
Proposed River Pollution Commits
sion Defeated.
ILLINOIS MEN OPPOSE

Soon after the Senate convened today,
Senator Foraker Ohio, chairman Of the
committee on Pacific Islands and Porto
Rico, reported a bill providing a form Of
government for Porto Rico.
Mr.. Gallinger On. H., presented state
ment Of the views of himself and Mr.. Per
kins Cali, dissenting in part from the ma
jority report.
The following bills were passed:
To create a new division of the eastern
judicial district of Tennessee, and to
change the times and places Of the district
courts of the northern district of Texas.
Authorizing the Dubuque and Wisconsin
Bridge Company to construct a bridge
across asl,.s the Mississippi river at Dubuque.
Relating to the pay Of army quarter
Mr.. Galinger IN. HI gave notice that at
an early date he would offer an amendment
to the rules of the Senate providing that
all resolutions when introduced, shall be
referred without debate, unless unanimous
consent be given for immediate considera-
ton.
To Improve Tax ONCE Facilities.
A House bill providing for improvements
in the tax department of the District Of
Columbia was passed.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Pettus (Ala.),
inQuiring OF the Secretary of the Navy il
he had declined to supply to the Court OF
Claims information relative to naval courts
martial, was laid before the Senate. After
Mr. Pettus had made brief speech upon
the resolution, disclaiming any desire to re-
fleet upon the Secretary OF the Navy and
urging Congress to build up a great navy
and to provide naval officers and men
head and shoulders above those Of every
other nation" the resolution was passed.
Discussion Of the Philippine question was
resumed by Mr.. Caffery Oa-) in speech
the text of which was the series of resolu-
nate resolutions.
He dissented from the proposition that
this country should take over the Philip
pine Islands. as proposed by Mr.. Bever-
tdge. He said no more momentous ques-
tion was ever presented to the Congress
of the United States than that of deter
mining what disposition should BIO made Of
those islands. He declared that the Ques-
ton was broadly presented whether Con-
gress could exercise sovereign power and
jurisdiction over territory which might be
acquired by the United States government.
Mr.. Caffery said he did not deny that the
United States was nation or that it had
the rights Of sovereign power.
But" said he. Il do deny that Congress
has the sovereign power of a nation vested
in it. I deny that there is in any part of
the government an unlimited sovereign
power. That power lies with the unit
| known as the people. and with that alone
The Louisiana sc nator then entered upon
q discussion of the various questions OF
constitutional law involved in the genera
Philippine question. He quoted from lega
auNborities in maintenance of his asser
| tidh that the Filipinos were citizens Of the
United States entirely. completely. abso
lutely.". 5....-..... .4,:-r--.s -. -.
| They may become So he declared. .'b,
| the annexation of the Philippines to thu
United States and by the fact that the fias
Of this government floats over those islands
/ as that flag carries it's citizenship wher
| ever it floats"
Mr.. Caffery maintained that in the Phil
| ippines there was. when our force ar
| rived there. a Filipino governments de
| facto government" declared Mr.. Caffery
| but that has been destroyed by fire ano
sword, for the soldiers of the United States
unequaled the world over in valor and mill
| tary skill, have yanquished the Fiipinos.'
| Mr.. Caffery maintained that whatevel
territory might be acquired ny the Unitee
| States must be governed by the Limitation;
| OF the Constitution.