The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-04
THE FILIPINO TREASON BILL.
More Stringent Measures 90 BE Used
to Reprcss AEftntors. -

to Reprcss AEftntors. ~
Manila. Nov S.---There was a public
discussion before the Philippine COM
mission to-day of the draft of the act
against treason and seditton. Many
prominent Filipinos were present. Vice
Gov. Wright explained the object of
the bill. saying that the Spanish code
was unsatisfactory.
There are number of people living
who so long as there is no punish
ment for treason, will take advantage
of the fact to clog the wheels of the
insular government. 1t must not be
overlooked that turbulent spirits exist
in the pacified provinces. The masses
of the people are susceptible to in
fiammatory utterances and liable to
be Influenced by scheming demagogues
1t would be inexcusable weakness on
the part of the commission to allow
the people to be aroused to deeds of
violence who are now gradually drift
ing to the pursuits of peace.
THE recent renewed attempts at in
surrection in the Island of Samar, and
the province of Batangas OLuzon). and
at few other points, due to noisy Fill
PAiAO o6lNaNOtNg AtdNE EduStQ a lttilnS
of unrest in the minds of both Fill
pinos, and the effect OF their continu-
ance would be to make impossible the
very things these agitators claim they
most desire. Such endeavors serve to
recruit the ranks of the insurgents and
to postpone the era of good feeling
and fellowship which must come
mo excuse exists for secret political
organizations. Their intent must be
evil. No matter what may have been
the opinions OF the Filipinos regarding
the sovereignty of the American gov
ernment, the fact remains that the
Americans are here, and, moreover,
here they intend to stay"
The bill was then read in Spanish.
No Crime in Politics.
Senior ISABELLA Reyes, a Spanish jour
nalist, who has been here for several
weeks, said he was opposed to the bill
and objected generally 10 tae imposi-
tion of the death penalty for political
crimes. He suggested that persons
committing the offepses against which
the bill was aimed should be deported
to the United States and declared that
Italy and Portugal had enacted the
most reasonable existing laws dealing
with the matters under consideration.
Commissioner Worcester asked him
If he considered the killing of King
Humbert political crime.
Senior Reyes: Nothing political is
criminal"
Vice Gov. Wright asked him If he
! considered the killing of President Nc
Kinley a criminal act
Senior Reyes: Il have already made
it clear that there Is no such thing as
! a political crime
| The commissioners Indignantly Or
| dered him to take his seat.
| senior Buencamino on behalf of the
sFederel party, ob1ected to the bin.
Gives FiIipinos "A Scare.
Senor Bautista, at one time president
| Of the so-ealled Filipino Congress, said
that sections of the proposed law had
created a panic in Manila, that Spain
had no such law that in his opinion
| private citizens ought not to be COM
| PEELED to divulge matters within their
knowledge, that the doctrine of treason
| ought to apply to officials only and
that the bill as drawn offered a great
opportunity to blackmail.
The discussion will be continued to-
morrow.