The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-01
THE ARMY BILL FINISHED
Report of the COnferees Agreed to
by the Senate.
The Measure Vow Goes to the Presi-
dent for ApprovnI-Mcssrs. Petti-
ccptiOn Practiced by the Adminis-
tration-CrueIty in the Philippines.

The Senate yesterday adopted the con-
ference report on the Army Reorganiza-
ton bill by vote of 80 to %. Messrs.
Pettigrew and Teller delivered long
speeches against the measure, the latter
scoring the Administration severely for its
| attitude toward the Philippines, and re-
ferring to the Taft Commission as a body
which sent out falsehoods at the Presi-
dents dictation.
He also said that the Ship Subsidy bill
is steal and a plan to pay campaign
debts"
Mr.. Hawley had called for a vote on
the conference report On the bill at the
close Of the morning business, when Mr.
Pettigrew arose and said that he had
voted against the bill and was sorry he
could not defeat 1t.
Il was surprised" said he, that the
minority seemed to be satisfied with the
remarkable report made by the Commit
tee on Military Affairs. 1t seems to be
necessary to our peace and civiliza ion
that We have large standing army.
Il have been unable to find the need for
the increase in the army. / have asked
for it time and again by resolution, and
il has been denied to the American peo-
pie. Today there are loads of information
in the State Department which If dis
closed would bring everlasting disgrace
on this Administration. This policy OF
concealment has been worked success
fully for the first time in our history.
The President deceived the voters in The
last campaign by placing in his message
what was said to be the instructions to
the Peace Commission at Paris. This was
all false and made to order. He did not
dare print the real instructions.
''The Taft Commission is being used So
shield for the Administration and every
now and then comes forth with mass Of
falsehoods dictated by the President.
When We asked why a big army was
needed they gave US report on the army
canteen question and this is all they will
give us.
II deny that the Filipinos are rebels.
This Administration says that the Con-
stitution does not extend to them and we
are precluded from obtaining sovereignty
cver any people without their consent.
We have failed to conquer these people
and we find the whole population in arms
against us despite the fact that Bryan
was defeated"
Mr.. Pettigrew then stated that the re-
port of General Macarthur had been sup
pressed.
For political purposes the Administra-
tiOn Is Keeping lTOui tue
facts" said he.
IF the facts were known there would
be no Army bill passed. l hope the Fill
pinos will be successful in their struggle
for liberty | am in sympathy with every
nation fighting for liberty. / am opposed
10 this measure and especially to the clause
which provides that Fflipinos shall be en-
listed TO fight their countrymen. The only
people We can secure are the barbarous
DF
them In our army last year ought to be
sufficient Secretary Root in his report
says that they murder and mutilate. and
burn and rob- The Administration recon-
mends enlisting a native army This
is the way in which We are gradually iIni-
tating the Infamous policy of Great Bril-
tain.
Now we want 1000 more savages TO
murder the Christians in the archipela-
go. | see that the Taft Commission has
made ii a crime for any Filipino to re-
fuse to accept an office. II you can't get
the civilized Filipinos to take Office under
US. how can you expect them TO enlist in
the army? We can only get savages."
Senator Pettigrew read a letter from
citizen of one of the Philippine provinces
sh )wing that the American Army had
been protecting outrages In that territory.
Continuing. Mr.. Pettigrew said that Great
Britain had enlisted savages against this
nation in the war OF the Revolution, and
when Pitt protested on the floor of Parlia-
ment he was told that they must use ay-
cry means which God had placed in their
hands"
Il suppose that is the excuse today"
said he The Republican party is using
every means that God has placed in ;ts
hands to exterminate the Filipinos.'
Mr. Gallinger asked II Mr.. Pettigrew be-
lived that the American Army was COM
mitting atrocities in the Philippines.
Mr.. Pettigrew answered that IL Mr..
GallinRer would read the Record" in the
morning he would find his question an
swered.
Mr.. Teller cited cases of cruelty prac-
ticed by American troops on the Filipi-
nos.
Mr.. Pettigrew spoke until o'clock,
when the Ship Subsidy bill came up.
Mr. Hawley moved that the Subsidy
bill be laid aside, but Senator Pettigrew
objected.
Mr. Frye then stated that he considered
the Army bill of great Importance and
would yield to it. He then moved that
the Army bill be considered. The ayes
were deemed to be in the majority.
II am glad that have at last found cut
that the Army bill is the most important
legislation before this body" said Mr..
Chair Yesterday It seemed that the
Subsidy steal was the most important and
that II was better that we should pay
campaign debts by passing a bounty Job,
rhan by doing anything else. / am glad
that the country now knows that the ship
owners will have to wait a while before
the Subsidy corn Will be dribbled from the
Treasury cribs to the mouths OF the hun
CRY corporations.
'If Mr. McKinley's opponent had been
elected last fall resumed Mr.. Pettigrew,
I'VE would not now be waging a war of !
conquest and raising taxes for the pur-
pose. | believe the majority of the people
Of the United States are against war
of conquest, and, if they had not been
fooled by the lies of the Administration,
the result would have been different"
Mr.. Teller then arose and defended his
remarks made on the Army bill several
weeks ago. He said that the Methodist
Episcopal Church had fought the army can
teen and that this Church was a great po-
litical organization. in a sense. He read
an editorial from the Christian Adyo-
cate" the organ of this Church, which
severely criticised the War Department.
He then scored the bill in many ways.
We are Mr.. Teller declared. lin the |
Philippines. ] do not believe that there |
is one per cent of the American people |
who do not wish we were out Of it, That |
We might have been there with credit to |
ourselves, and with benefit to the people |
of the Philippine Islands, nobody doubts; |
but that We are not everybody will admit " |
Mr.. Teller commented upon remarks |
imputed 10 General Macarthur praising |
the military spirit as necessary to every |
nation.
Mr.. Hale expressed the surprise and |