Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-25
Island FRANCHISES
A Subject That Will Engage the
Serious Attention OF Next
Congress.
Opposing Views Are Likely to
Precipitate a Long and
Bitter Fight.
Philippine Commissioners De-
sire to Encourage the Use OF
American Capital.

Washington, D. c., Nov. 25.-One of
the first things to engage the atten-
ton of congress is to be the question
of franchises in the Philippines: There
are two strong parties in congress
whose views are directly opposed, and
any legislation on this subject can only
be accomplished after hard fight. The
Philippine commission has found that
it is difficult, If not impossible, to Sc
cure the rapid development of the ISL
ands and particularly Luzon, because 1t
/ is impossible to guarantee any perma-
hence to public franchises.
When the Spooner amendment was
added to the army appropriation bill
last spring an additional amendment
drafted by Senator Hoar was also
passed, which read as follows:
provided 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 indispensable
for the interests OF the people thereof,
and which can not, without great pub
lie mischief, be. postponed until the es-
Establishment of permanent civil govern
ment; and all such franchises shall ter
inmate one year after the establish
ment of such permanent civil govern
ment."
1t is the last clause of this amend
ment which has been creating all the
trouble in the Philippines and which
many of the leaders in congress believe
must be repealed before any material
advancement in the islands can be
expected.
The Philippine commissioners desire
to encourage the use of American CAPT.
tai in the islands, but they have been
entirely unable to induce anybody to
consider any railroad or other public
enterprises, because under the Hoar
amendment the franchise, even If APP
be terminated one year after the es-
tablishment Of permanent civil gov
eminent.
If the supreme court follows the an
alogy of the Porto Rican cases con-
gress will be forced to provide for per
manent civil government, and this
would terminate all franchises. Many
prominent senators are convinced that
the Hoar amendment will have to be
repealed at once to prevent complete
stagnation in the commercial and
financial conditions in the islands.
This repeal. however. can not be Sc
cured without fight.
There is strong element. particu-
larly in the House, which is bitterly OPP
posed to the granting of all franchises
prior to the establishment of civil gov
eminent, on the theory that 1t is I'M
lust to the people of the Philippines
to makek a contract in their name
which they can neither repeal nor
amend.
This question OF franchise in the Phil
ippines will, it is predicted. be the first
and the hardest fought battle OF the
first session of the Fifty-seventh con-
gress so far as insular affairs are con-
cerned-
President Roosevelt's trip down the
river was especially timed to give him
little much needed rest. Coming into
the white house as the result of ter
rible tragedy he had more problems to
solve In hurry than Is usually the case
with a new president Under the pres
ent system vice president is given no
opportunity to become acquainted with
the mechanism of the government ex-
cept as he learns it in the presiding Off
GERS chair of the senate. Mr.. Roose-
welt held that position only short time
because the special session of the senate
n. ,t.>f nod
only with routine appointments.
Ever since the death of President Nc
Kinley, therefore. Mr. Roosevelt has not
only had to master the infinite details
of the government machine, but has
been besieged by hordes of people who
have called upon him merely to make
his acquaintance or to secure an office
under the new DEAL program which
every president is supposed to inaug-
urate.
Even the splendid physical qualities
of President Roosevelt have been taxed
severely under this great strain, and he
was anxious to escape from it all even
for q day. The message is all finished,
now, and the trip down the river was
planned to give the president a little
surplus energy, because during the ses-
sion of congress. which will begin
week from Monday, it will be extremely
difficult for him to leave the white
house even for day.
Surgeon General and Mrs. Sternberg
gave dinner Saturday night in honor
Of Adjutant General and Mrs. Corbln.
The other guests Of the party We're Sec
rotary and Mrs. Root, Assistant Secre-
tary and Mrs. Sanger. General and Mrs
Gillespie, and General and Mrs. Davis.
Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishops Ryan.
of Philadelphia and Keane of Dubuque,
the Rev Father Ketcham Of the Catho-
lie Indian bureau, of this city, and Dr.
Dyer of New York, composing the HER
archical committee on Catholic Indian
and negro schools. met at the Catholic
University in this city and discussed
the Catholic Indian school fund ques-
ton.
Father Ketcham reports that :nfor-
nation received by him from all parts
of the country justified him in saying
that If the proper efforts are put forth
an appropriation for the Catholic In
dian schools could be obtained from the
incoming congress.
After careful investigation of the mat
ter the committee decided to organize
movement turnout the United States
fnr the riirpoSe Of SecI,ripp from the