The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-28
SENATE'S BATTLE
CUBAN AND FILIPINO QUESTIONS
FOUGHT OUT.
Mr.. BACoN'S GREAT SPEECH.
HE FIERCELY ARRAIGNs THE AD-
MINISTRATION.


1icans OutvOted-The COuntry's
Policy Defined Toward Cuba and
the Philippines.
Washington, Feb. 2S.-The Senate pass
ed the army appropriation bill at 1854
O'Clock this morning, containing the prop
ositions of the Republican majority for
the temporary government of the Philip
pines and for the future relations between
the United States and Cuba Many
amendments were offered 20 both propo-
sitions, but were voted down. The origi-
nah Spooner amendment was amended re-
garding franchises as proposed by Mr.
Hoar. the latter proposition having been
accepted by the majority yesterday.
Washington, Feb. 2Z-Not since the en-
actment of the resolutions declaring a
state of war to exist between the United
States and Spain has there been such an
avalanche of passionate oratory as the
Senate listened to to-day. Throughout the
session the army appropriation bill was
under discussion, the controverted ques-
tions being the Spooner Phi lippine amend
ment and the Platt Cuban amendment.
Curiously enough the debate was confined
entirely to the Democratic SIDE of the
chamber, with one exception. Both
amendments were denounced as vicious
and pernicious legislation, subversive of
the principles of this government and I'M
paralleled in the history of legislative
enactments.
The most notable speech was by Mr..
Bacon of Georgia. He passionately
branded as a libel reports that the DEM
ocratic members had been induced
by questionable means to withdraw
their opposition to the proposed legisla-
tion. His arraignment of the admdnistra~
ton for "coercing" Congress into enact
Ing such provisions In the closing hours
of the session was Sensa tionaLy fierce,
and he declared that the only possible OBJ
1ect of such action was that the plum
derers and vultures' might have an op-
pprtunity to prey upon the prosttate land
of the Fiipinos.
Senators Turner of Washington, T1ilman
of South Carolina, Pettigrew of South
Dakota Hoar Of Massachusetts,, Teller of
Colorado, Mallory of Florida, Lindsay of
Kentucky, Cuiberson of Texas, Jones of
Arkansas, Money of Mississippi and Allen
of Nebraska and others addressed the
Senate, all of them denouncing the pro-
posed legislation. Early in the evening
the voting began on the minor amend
ments to the measure. All of them were
offered by Democratic senator's and all
of them were voted down by heavy major
titles.
The Senate at its opening to-
r.
olution ordering a reprint of the in
structions and papers sent to the Paris
Peace Commission, so as to include an
important telegram which had been omit
ted from the original print.
The conference report on the fortifica-
tions appropriation bill was agreed to.
The army appropriation bill was taken
up. Mr.. Turner of Washington, criticised
the Spooner amendment as the first de-
parture from the American system In the
history of the country. 1t vested, he con-
tended, in the President of the United
States all the powers that belong to. and
are exercised by the Car of Russia.
Mr.. Teller of Colorado, regarded the
Philippine amendment. though much i'm
proved by the Hoar amendment as still
Objectionable. The Cuban amendment was
much stronger, and much better than the
public press had conveyed the impression
in his approval of it..
Mr.. Teller gave notice of an amendment
to the Philippine section, as follows:
That the constitution of the United
States is hereby extended over and de-
clared to be In force in the Philippine ISL
ands, so far as the same or any provision
thereof may be applicable"
To Find How They stand.
His purpose, he said. was to ascertain
whether those who say the Constitution
does not extend over the Philippines are
willing that it should extend over the ISL
ands. He had no idea that the United
States ever would surrender the Philip
pine Islands.
Mr.. Teller made a legal and constitu-
tional argument on the pending ques-
ton.
Referring to the Cuban amendment, he
feared it might wound the sensibilities Of
the Cubans. He hoped the Cubans might
agree to the propositions made. Even
with those conditions imposed, he believ-
ed Cuba Vet would be an independent
state.
Mr. Petugrew made a vigorous attack
upon the Philippine amendment, partic1-
larly, declaring that 1t would ENCOURAGE
"jobs" and schemes for the advancement
Of the interests of those on the inside
lie referred to the organization OF the
Philippine Lumber and evel7pment Com
pany, of which, he said, Representa-. five
j. A. T. Hull, chairman of the Military
Affairs Committee OF the House was pres
ident and Representative Dovener Of
West Virginia was the attorney. A son
of Mr.. Hull he asserted, even now was
in the Philippines looking after the In
terests of the company.
Mr.. Pettgrew then read from what he
said were certified copies of correspond
ence which had passed between Maj. H.
o. Heistand OF the Adjutant Generals de-
partment OF the army, and Maj. T. w.
Hawkes., until recently an officer I'm the
volunteer service, relating TO a compan '
which had been organized for the devel-
opment OF the hemp industry IN the Phil
ippines. The letters indicated that { f.
country was endeavoring to secure con-
troll Of the hemp industry In the Philip
pines and that Maj. Haistand was using
his official position to advance the in
terests Of the enterprise.
Mr.. Pettigrsw contended that no legiti-
mate efforts were being made 10 prepare
the Philippines for civil government and
he declared that the barbarities prscticed
IN the Philippines by our forces had only
been equalled by those OF the Civilized"
armies az Pekin.
Mr.. Bacon on the Amendment
Mr.. Bacon: This amendment is the most
pernioious and Objectionable form of legis-
lation which has ben proposed sinee ]