Waterbury Democrat., 1901-11-04
10 PUNISH TREASON.
Draft of a New kct Discussed
 In Manila.

Aimed at Turbulent Fflipinos Vice
 Governor Wright Says '.-Americans
 Are Here and Intend to Stay
 Strange Utterance of Senor Reyes.
 MANILA, Nov. 4.--There was pubr lie discussion before the Philippine commission yesterday of the draft or the act against treason and sedition. Many prominent Filipines were pres ent. Vice Governor Wright explained tlle object of the bill, saying that the Spanish code was unsatisfactory.
 There are number of people living in the Philippines" remarked MT. Wright, t.Uho, so long as there is no punishment for treason, will take ad- vantage of the fact to clog the wheels or the insular government. It must not be overlooked that turbulent spirits exist in the pacified provinces. The asses of the people are susceptible to infammatory utterances and liable to be influenced by schening demagogues. It 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, Luzon, and at few other points, due to noisy Fl- lipino agitators, have caused feeling of unrest in the minds of both F'ilipi- nos and Americans, and the effect of their continuance would be to make impossible the very things these agita- tors claim they most desire. Such en- deayors serve to recruit the ranks of the insurgents and to postpone the era of good feeling and fellowship which must come.
 ''No excuse exists for secret political organizations. Their intent must be evil No matter what may have been 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.
 Senor Sabella Reyes, a Spanish jour- nalist, who has been here for several weeks, said he was opposed to the bill and objected generally to the inposi- ton of the death penalty for political crime. He suggested that persons com mitting the offenses 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 sT L1 41ao 'Humbert political crime.
 Senor Reyes Nothing political is criminal.
 Vice Governor Wright asked him if he considered the killing of President Mckinley criminal act
 Senor Reyes-I have already made it clear that there is no such thing as q political crime.
 The commissioners indignantly order ed him to take his seat.
 Senor Buencamino, on behalf of the Federal party, objected to the bill.
 Advices from Catbalogan, Samar. say it is well known that, in spite Of the fact that all the ports of Samar are closed, supplies still reach the in- surgents. Most of this work is done during dark nights by small boats from the island of Leyte. Every available gunboat is now endeayoring to prevent this
 The capture of Lukban's commissary has proved q great blow to the insur- rection, as it renders future supplies very precarious.
 Conditions in the island of Leyte are very annoying to General Smith A large number of junks are used with I the express object of aiding the insur- gents in Samar, covering the move ments of fugitives and landing pro- visions and olo+'-t-'~r