The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-17
Philippine Tariff Starts Dis
cussfon in the House.
Chairman Payne Explains Pur-
poses of the Bill.
SENATE COMMITTEES.
Assignments Are Made by a
Special Committee.
Burton Has Place on Public
Land and Three Others.


of the session in the house began today
on the bill to provide temporary reve-
nues for the Philippine islands Under
the agreement made last Friday the
debate is continued today and tomorrow
until o'clock when the vote is to be
taken Mr.. Payne, the floor leader of
the majority, opened for his side and
owing to the indisposition of Mr.. Rich
ardson the floor leader of the minority,
who is suffering from an attack of the
grip, the task of opening for the Dem
Ocratic side devolved upon Mr. Swan
son Va.). There was a fair attendance
in the galleries. Before the debate be-
gan some preliminary business was
transacted. Messrs. De Almond (Mo-)
and Brossard (I4a.) who had not hereto
fore appeared at this session, took the
oath.
After the routine business had been
disposed of Mr.. Payne moved that the
house go into committee of the whole
for the Consideration OF the Philippine
revenue bill Two Democrats, MeSSrS.
Vanderver (Mo.) and Cooper CTex) at
tempted to interrupt the motion with
requests for unanimous consent to con-
slider Sehley resolutions, but Mr.. Payne
declined to yield the floor and his mo-
ton prevailed
Mr.. Payne in opening the debate
carefully explained the purpose of the
in his report
Mr.. Payne reviewed at some length
the events leading up to the formulation
of the tariff He contraSted the Spanish
rates with those fixed by the commits
sion. On -four for instance, he said,
the rate had been reduced from $1.SS to
80 cents on rice from 81 to 40 cents, and
on hams and smoked meats from 1913
to So PropOrtionate reductions had
been made other articles
Mr.. Payne explained that the COM
mission also had deemed it wise to con-
tlnue portion of the old Spanish ex-
port tax on hemp sugar and tobacco,
owing to the difficulty of levying and
collecting a land tax. Personally, he
said, he did not like the idea of an ex-
port tax, but there seemed no other way
at present There was necessity for
Immediate action to meet the situation
created by the decision of the supreme
court
Mr. Payne also explained the feature
of the bill providing for the extension of
the navigation laws of the United States
to the islands and the permission it
granted to foreign vessels to ply be-
tween Philippine and American ports
until January, 1905.
Mr. Payne's statement that by that
time it was hoped that American ships
would be able to take care of this busi-
ness, aroused scattering applause on his
side of the house.
During Mr.. Payne's speech there was
quite a colloQuy between Nj Gaines
summer and Mr. Payne. The latter de-
Scribed the success of the Philippine
commission and asserted that the Re-
publicanS were trying to lift the Fill
pinos to American citizenship.
Mr.. Gaines declared the constitution
and flag should be carried to the Phil
ippines.
Mr.. Payne said he was surprised that
Mr. Gaines had not carried the flag and
constitution to the islands.
You have done that covertly.'' said
ATre ENnT 4t.-
up"
Mr.. Payne sarcastically replied that
he supposed Mr.. Gaines had learned in
a brief visit more than all the officials
of the United States in two years and
half of investigation
Mr.. Payne also had a brief contro-
versy with Mr. Wheeler (E<y.) in which
the latter asserted that aggregate capi-
tai had the assurance that the attorney
general would not prosecute the trusts
and that was why they existed.
Mr. Payne declared that Mr.. Wheeler
did not believe his own assertion any
more than he QPayne) believed it
Mr. Payne closed his speech at 1:20
and was followed by Mr.. Swanson CVa)
who declared that none of the benefits
of the Filipino people spoken of could
accrue through the agency of the pend
ing bill. The voice of the floor leader
of the majority, he said was the voice
of Jacob but the hand was the hand of
Esau.
Mr.. Swanson said that the president
and secretary of war favored making
generous concessions to sugar and to-
bacco from Cuba, but this bill failed to
make any concessions to the Philip
pines Reciprocity treaties pending in
the senate allow concessions to foreign
countries, but none to the Philippines.
which we hold as part of our country
Holding the Philippines by force weak
ened instead of Strengthening this coun-
try The money we now wasted in the
philippines would build up the largest
navy in the world The solution of the
Philippine problem was congressional
declaration to give them independence
as soon as a stable government could be
formed
IN THE SENATE.
Washington, Dec. 17.-Soon after the
senate convened today a joint resolu-
tlon making some an endments to the
act, TO establish code of law for the
District of Columbia was reported
and passed
After the transaction of purely rou-
tine business. the senate at 12:35 D. u
on motion of Mr. Allison, went into ex-
ecutive session
SENATE COMMITTEES.
washington, Dec. 1.-THE Republican
the report of the committee on commit
tees which had completed the Republi-
can assignments The report was made
by Senator Platt of Connecticut chair
man of the committee
Ine report of the committee was
ADOPTED and the Republican member
ship of the senate committees will be
as follows:
Appropriations-Alli Hale r.ullon
Perkins. Sewell. Warren, Wetmore and
Finance-A1drich, Allison. Platt.
Comm: Burrows. Platt (N. W. Hans.
brough, Spooner. Jones CNev)
Foreign Relations-Cullonn F,rva