Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-05
PHILIPPINE POLICY AGAIN
Old Straw Thrcshcd In senate In De-
bate on Bill Providing for Army
REORGANIZATION.

olu Ihrcshcu senate
bate on Bill Providing for Army
| Reorganization.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.--For FIVE hours
today the senate discussed the army reor-
| ganization bill. The debate took a wide
range, at times but was confined principally
! to the question of the necessity for the
| increase in the regular army provided for
in the pending measure.
| The Philippine question was threshed
over at great length, but few really new
! points were advanced. 1t was urged by
| the supporters of the army bill that the
| situation in the Philippines demanded the
| Increase OF the army proposed. This was
| converted by the opposition senators, who,
while they were willing, in a general way,
to provide for such temporary force as
| might be needful. were vigorously op-
| posed to the creation of a permanent stand
| ing army of 100000 men.
| Speeches were made by Mr.. Carter OF
Montana Mr.. Teller OF Colorado, Mr.. Hoar
OF NJ ssachusetts, Mr.. Stewart OF Nevada
and Mr.. Caffery of Louisiana. One Of the
sharpest colloouies of the session was be-
| tween Mr.. Carter and Mr.. Wellington of
| Maryland. and In the course Of 1t the Alas
| kan boundary dispute was brought forward
prominently, the Maryland senator charging
| that the president had relinquished sover-
eighty over territory, the title to which
| he maintained was vested clearly in the
United States.
| Mr.. Hoar advanced a proposition to create
commission to be composed Of all shades
of political opinion to investigate the en-
| tire Philippine question and report it's
findings to congress in order that basis
might be formed for intelligent action.
Some slight progress was made toward the
completion OF the pending measure.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas offered resolu-
tion directing the committee on military
affairs to inquire upon what alleged facts
the charges against Major Hesland of the
United States army, by Erastus L. Hawkes..
are based and report to the senate. He
said the charges made by Hawkes. against
| Major Heisland were matters OF common
| knowledge to newspaper readers. An army
officer had been removed because of some
alleged bad conduct. The charges indicated
that the army officer who remained in the
service was as guilty as he who was re-
moved. II so. he ought to be removed too
The resolution finally was referred to the
committee on military affairs
Pettigrew and the Philippines.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr.
Pettigrew calling for information with ref
orence to the Philippines was referred to
the committee on Philippines, after
speech by Mr.. Pettigrew, who said the
president maintained there was no war in
the Philippines The military committee
declared that war existed there and that
at least 10000 men would be required to
suppress the rebellion. "As the president
and the military committee disagree" said
Mr.. Pettigrew. "it seems to me we ought
TO have the facts hpfOra wa 10
of 900 men,"
He hoped the resolution would not be
sent to "u I graveyard, the Philippine
committee" but IL was so referred.
Senator Henry G.. Lodge of Massachu-
setts favorably reported from the COM
mittee on foreign relations the following
resolution and asked for its immediate con-
sideraton:
That In the opinion of this body the tin,e
has come when the principle, twice affirmed
In International treaties for Central Africa,
that native races should be protected
against the destructive traffic In intoxi-
cants, should be extended to all unciVill2ei
peoples by the enactment Of such laws ami
IN, making of f., such treaties as will Of.
powers to aboriginal tribes and uncivilize1
races of opium and Intoxicating beverages
Mr. Sewell expressed desire to have
more light thrown upon the resolution, but
as II was about TO be sent to the calendar
| the New Jersey senator Salu ne nad no
wish TO delay the resolution and il was
adopted.
The army bill was then taken up and
Mr.. Carter asked unanimous consent that
the unobjected committee amendments in
the bill be considered and passed upon.
Mr. Pettigrew objected. declaring that
as his efforts to obtain information from
the regular channels had been thwarted
he proposed TO have time TO obtain 1t in
some other way
Mr.. Wellington OF Maryland demanded
to know the intention of the administra-
tion with reference to the Philippine
islands II II was to force an annexation
of the Philippines. then large army would
be necessary. He declared the country had
been assured at the beginning OF the Phil
ippine trouble that it could be put down in
fivo to six weeks yet the situation is worse
than ever
"Those people cannot be put down" de-
clared Mr., Wellington. lis IL the purpose
of the administration to try to deprive
them of self-government? II so, am op-
posed to any increase OF the army"
In reply. Mr.. Carter said the pith OF Mr.,
Wellington's question was that the ad-
ministration, to satisfy him. must declare
its present and future policy with respect
TO the Philippines.
THE senator can consult the record OF
congress for an answer to his question, $
said Mr.. Carter.
The president has no authority to de-
eide what shall be done with the Philip
pines"
THE moment the treaty OF peace was
ratified" said Mr.. Carter, that moment
1t became the supreme law Of the land. II
the president had refused to maintain thC
sovereignty OF the United states there he
would have laid himself liable to impeach
ment."