The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-26

fned - other LcgisIntion Wanted.
In submitting to Congress yesterday the
report of the Philippine Commission.
President Mckinley aad Secretary Root
| urged immediate legislation in the direc-
tion Of providing civil form of govern
ment for the Philippine Islands. These
recommendations. toge ether with the known
| desire of the President to have the Cuban
question considered as soon as possible af-
! ter the constitution now being framed is
completed and submitted to Congress for
ratification, has aroused a sudden but gen.
eral discussion of the probability of an
| extra session OF the Fifty seventh Con-
gress Immediately or soon after the pres
ent Congress expires on the 4th Of March.
| There has been a report in circulation
| for several days to the effect that an extra
| session would be called to pass the Ship
Subsidy bill in case it fails to pass at the
| present session, to pass the Nicaragua
FCanal bill. if the British Government shall
| have in the mean time made known its
| intention with regard to the amended
Hay -Pauncefote Treaty, and to enact other
measures of more or less Importance
which Will not be finally disposed of in the
few days remaining of the present session.
1t is not at all likely that the Presi-
dent considers the Subsidy bill and the
Canal bill, or any other pending measure,
of sufficient Importance to warrant him in
calling an extra session. but the-situa-
tion in the Philippines and in Cuba is
such that he is strongly impressed with
the Importance of having legislation en-
acted at once that will ratify the work
of the Cuban constitutional convention
and give some kind of a civil government
to the Philippine Islands.
The recommendations of the President
and Secretary Root, based upon the re-
port of the Taft Commission, are urgent
and imperative. The necessity of making
the civil government paramount to the
military authority in the islands has been
forcibiy impressed upon the Adninistra-
tion by the Taft Commission. The Presi-
dent and the Secretary of War desire,
through the report. to make Congress see
the situation as they do.
The subject was cauvassed very thor
oughly by the leaders in Congress yester-
day, although no formal conferences have
as yet been held. 1t seems to be the pre-
vailing opinion that the passage Of the
so-called Spooner resolution OF last ses-
sion would be all the legislation that is
needed now. and that an extra session
would be avoided by passing this measure
at once. This resolution. which was not
reported back from the Philippines Com
mittee, provides merely that the Presi-
dert shall have supreme authority in the
islands after the military government
shall be withdrawn and until a permanent
form of government shall be established |
1t is said that there Is some difference of
opinion among the civil ard military au-
th"vitls in the Philippines as to what
legislation should be enacted This differ |
ence, 1t is believed, grows out of the de- |
sire OF the military authorities to retain !
control OF affairs as long as possible. But |
the representations Of the Taft Commits
sion, backed up by the recommendations |
of the President and Secretary OF War, will !
be given due weight, and it is quite prob
able that IL the Spooner resolution or some |
measure like it is not passed before the |
4th of March an extra session Of Congress !
viii be called
Mr.. Spooner has had under advisement |
for some time the introduction of reso- |
luton providing for the appointment of /
number OF capable men, not necessarily !
Congressman. to go 10 the Philippine |
iS3al4tio- Sthif tHt sfil dAiBu, ana II De
fore the American people and Congress /
intelligently and thoroughly, so that Con-
gress would know how to act. ULt,ar the |
present circumstances he may introduce
his resolution, or he may not. That will |
depend upon the opinion he forms after
reading the voluminous report from the
Taft Commission submitted to Congress
yesterday
AS to The Cuban situation. it is. OF
Of !
and it is possible that the constitution
no" in sourse Of preparation may not be
ready Tor submission TO this Government
until long after the present session of
Congress shall have expired: but the Ad-
feels that it is under obliga-
tions 10 make good the pledge of this
Government to the Cuban people with re-
gard TO giving them free government as
soon as they should be prepared to ac-
cept it, and the Cabinet is inclined to
recommend that early Legislation should
be enacted.
Whether American control or surervi-
sion Of Cuban affairs shall ever be wholly
or when or for what length
Of time, is a question Of which very few
of Congress or public officials
agree. 1t is known to be the opinion Of
a majority OF the Committee on Cuba
who visited the island last spring. that
the annexation Of Cuba to the United
States is dema nded by the best and most
elements of the Cuban popu
lation. and that sooner or later it viii
take place: but there seems to be 70
larmcny of agreement among the leaders
IN Congress as to what the exact .relE
ions of Cuba and the United States shall
De in the mean time.
Some of the leading men in both houses
# Congress profess to believe that some
sort of legislation to meet the situaticn
10Th in the Philippines and in Cuba, can
,e enacted before the close OF the present
CssiOn Of Congress. thus making ar extra
ession unnecessary. but this is a very op-
imistic view considering the fact that
here is great mass OF very important
outline legislation to be enacted and chat
here are but thirty-two working days C.
he session remaining.
As soon as Senators and Representa-
ives have had an opportunity TO read and
igcst the recommendations Of the Presi-
eut and Secretary of War a conference ;
will be held to determine what shall be
one.
HUNT DIES SAYING GOODBYE.