The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-26
INSULAR LEGISLATION
~ ,RMLY DEBATED BY SENATORS
YESTERDAY.
WITH mo RESULTS REACHED.
DEMOCRATS OPPOSE THE PHILIP
PINE PROGRAMME.

They object to Placing the President
They Insist That the Consultation
shall BE His Guide, Whatever the
Form of GOvernment-1essrs Ba-
con, TiIIman, Daniel and Vest
condemn "a system Which Would
Lead to stripping the Flipinos of
their Choicest Possessions.
washington, Feb. 25,-The real struggle
for insular legislation at this session be-
gan to-day in The Senate. The army ap-
,ropr.ation bill was under consideration
and the Philippine amendment was reach
d. In addition the Cuba amendment was
offered and the general debate on these
PROPOSITIONS began. Sharp opposition to
fine Philippine amendment developed on
-ac Democratic side, beginning with a
point of order, which the Senate overrMed,
and followed with speeches by Senators
Tlman, Rawlins, Caffery, Bacon and
Morgan. The amendment was defended by
It's author, Mr.. Spooner, who pointed out
the necessity for the legislation. Senators
Vest, Hoar, Bacon and Rawlins offered
amendments tending to limit the powers
conferred by the Spooner amendment.
Senator Morgan made an extended speech
severely criueising the proposed legisla-
ton. An evening session was held to al
low time to continue the debate.
Consideration then was resumed Of the
army appropriation bill.
platt IF HOOpacficuf v-aY1n.rte.l
Cuban amendment. defining the relations
Of this government with the proposed
government of Cuba. 1t was referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Pettus presented a written state
ment raising point of order against the
committee amendment to the bill con-
ferring authority upon the President to
provide a civil government for the Phil
ippines. 1t was decided to be in order by
a vote of SO 10 %, as follows:
Yeas-Aldrich, Allison. Baker, Bard,
Beveridge, Burrows, Carter, Chandler,
Cuilom, Deboe, Dillingham;, Deliver,
Fairbanks, Foster Gallinger, Hanna,
Hansbrough, Hawley, Kean, Kearns,
Lodge, McComas, McCumber, Mcmillan,
Mason, Penrose, Perkins, Plat of New
York, Plat of Connecticut, Proctor,
Quarles, Scott, Sewell, Shoup, Simon,
Spooner, Stewart, Thurston Woicott-S9.
Nays-Allen, Bacon, Bate, Butler, CAT
ferry, Clay Cockreli, culberson, Daniel,
Harris, Heitfed, McEnery, Mallory, Mar
tin, Morgan, Pettigrew. Rawlins. Talia-
ferro, Teller, Tiilman, Turley, Vest-2S.
To Make Full Reports to Congress.
Mr.. SDooner offered an amendment to
he amendment providing that until a
permanent government shall have been
established in the Philippine archipelago
mi
on the first day of each regular session
of all legislative acts and proceedings of
the temporary government and that full
information shall be supplied to the Pres
ldent as to the conditions in the islands.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Vest offered the following amend
n1ent to, the Philippine provision:
That no Judgment, order or act, by any
Of said officials, so appointed. shall con-
hict with the law and constitution of the
United States.''
Mr.. Spooner thought this was unneces-
sarY.
Mr.. Vest replied that the doctrine that
the constitution was in force in the Phil
.pptnes was held by such good Republi-
cans as ex-senator Edmunds, ex-Presi-
dent Harrison, eX-Gov. Boutwell,, and
many others. He said it was rumored
that the Supreme Court would not decide
the question at all, as to whether the
constitution extended to the islands of
its own force. 1t had even been suggest
"a that the court might say that the gov
eminent OF the island possessions of this
country was entirely within the military
power of the government.
MIR. Tillman vigorously declared the
philippine amendment was a bold and
naked proposition to invest the President
with p.enary power to govern the Philip
pine archipelago in civil way. Yet, he
SAID objection was raised to the con-
stitution of the United States being the
Presidents guiding star. 1t was not
proposed, he asserted, that the President
SHOULD be hampered by even the consti-
tuition.
Mr.. Tillman said that the enactment of
the proposition. into law, together with
granting of certain requests of the Taft
commission, to sell public lands and lease
mines, would open to the people of the
Phlllppnes all the dangers of carpet
bag government.
Mr.. Daniel made constitutional argu-
ment against the Philippine provision In
me DILL Incidentally supporting the
amendment proposed by Mr.. Vest. The
author of the proposition, he maintained,
lost sight of the fact that Congress was
the supreme judge of the class of enact
tnehts TO which the proposed provision
nelohsed 1t was proposed to confer upon
the FiSsident power vested only IN Con-
gress
Mr.. Daniel said he had no disposition to
pe critical or to find fault as to action
win respect to the Philippines. He rec
osnized the treaty of Paris to be as bind
ing upon him as 1t would have been had
ne voted for its ratification. He was
wen aware, he said, of the complicated
condition of affairs in the Philippines.
Inc questions involved were so numerous
ana confused and doubtful that he re-
earded it as impossible to comprehend
'hein tully in the present light or 10 act
win wisdom and due elaboration. He
believed Congress could not be too care
tul TO guard against the adoption of any
autocratic methods that might not be abb
soiuteiy necessary. In his opinion, it
would be mistake from al! standpoints
Oh sound legislation to do anything more
tnan provide temporary arrangements
when, later. might be set aside and an
nuled
The leading. bald proposal here is"
S"l Mr.. Hoar that the public lands
uha franchises Of the twelve millions of
,op!e shall be sold by Americans 90
A'"crlcans as upon the whole the best
means Of paciication. And this is the
method by which we are to teach the
p'"clpes Of liberty and self-govern-
Nf' Mallory inquired If II would not be
".''sr Tor our govern nent to proceed
mug present lines than for Congress to