The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-13
ARMY BILL IS PASSED
1he Senate Adopts the Philippine and
Cuban Amendments.
VOTE AFTER A SPIRITED DEBATE

Army Appropriation Bill. Containing
Provisions For q Temporary Govern
ment of the Philippines and Defining
Future Relations Between tho United
Washington. D. C.-Not in years has
there been debate in the Senate
which in intense interest. excitement
and passionate oratory equalled that
of Wednesday. which eliminated III
the adoption Of the Spooner amend
ment to the Army Appropriation Dill
and the Cuban amendment to the
same bill. offered by the Committee
on Relations with Cuba. and then
passed the bill itself.
The Spooner amendment confers on
the President wide powers in connec-
ton with the Government of the PM.
ippines, and prohibits the disposal Oh
any public lands in the archipelago,
and the granting Of any franchises
during the pendency Of the temporary
government. unless such grant De
Indispensable. The amendment was
adopted on strict party vote, with
the exception of Mr.. Hoar. Rep.,
Mass.,) who voted with the Demo
Gratis, and Mr. McLaurin, (Dem., 5. C.)
who voted for the amendment.
The Cuban amendment specifying
the desires of the United States as TO
the terms of the future relations be-
tween Cuba and this country was
taken up after the Spooner amend
ment was disposed Of and passed on
a party vote after a short debate. led
by Senators Jones, (Den,., Ark.,) Nor
gan, Dem. Ala and Pettus, (Dem.,
Ala.,) in opposition.
The Spooner amendment as agreed
to is as follows:
GAIL military. civil and judicial pow
be granted which is not approved by
Islands, acquired from Spain by the
treaties concluded at Paris Oh the
tenth day of December 1898. and at
washington on the seventh day OF No
vember, 1900, shall, until otherwise
provided by Congress. be vested III
such person ana persons and shall be
exercised in such manner as the Presl-
dent of the United States shall direct,
for the establishment Of civil govern
ment and for maintaining and pro-
tecting the inhabitants of said islands
in the free enjoyment Of their liberty,
property and religion; provided that
all franchises granted under the au-
thority hereof shall contain a reserVa-
ton of the right to alter, amend, or
appeal the same. Until permanent
government shall have been establish
ed in said archipelago full reports
shall be made to Congress on or before
the first day of each regular session
of all legislative acts and proceedings
of the temporary government lnStl-
tuted, under the provisions hereof, anu
full reports of the acts and doings Of
said government and as to the condi-
tions of the archipelago and of its peo'
ple shall be made to the President. in
cluding all information which may be
useful to the Congress in providing for
q more permanent government.
provided that no sale or lease or
other disposition Of the public lands
or the timber thereon, or the mining
rights therein, shall be made, and pro-
yided, further. that no franchise shall
be granted which is not approved by
the President of the United States,
and is not, in his judgment. clearly
necessary for the immediate govern
ment of the islands and indispensa-
BILE for the interest Of the people there
of. and which cannot without great
mischief be postponed until the estab-
lishment of permanent civil govern
ment, and all such franchises shall ter
inmate one year after the establish
ment of such permanent civil govern
mant"