The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-20
FIRST DEBATE IN HOUSE
DISCUSSION BEGUN OK TIE PHILIPPINE
TsRlFf BILL.
CONDUCTED WITHOUT TEMPER
Arguments Upon the Provisions of
the Bill and the Governments
Policy Causing the Necessity for
Such n ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With
Some Good Natured TfIting-Mr.
son Of Virginia. the Leader for the
Democrats.

Democrats.
Washington. December 1.-THE bill to
provide temporary revenues for the
Philippine islands was debated in the
house today and under the agreement
made last Friday will be voted upon to-
morrow at 4 o'clock.
1t was the first debate of the session
and was conducted calmly and without
display Of temper.
Mr.. Payne, the floor leader, OF the ma
jority, opened the debate on his side
Owing to the indisposition OF Mr.. Rich
ardson. the duty of opening for the mi
nority devolved upon Mr.. Swanson, of
Virginia.
| Mr.. Payne reviewed at some length
the events leading up to the formula
tion of the tariff by the Philippine COM
mission which succeeded the old Span
ish tariff.
He contrasted the old Spanish rates
with those fixed by the commission. On
flour, for instance. he said the rate had
been reduced from s1.Ss to so cents, on
rice, from SO cents to 40 and on hams
| anu Sllohcu lIedlS lIOIIl SS.lo W 30. IEO-
portionate reductions had been made on
! other articles.
!, Mr.. Payne explained that the COM
Y mission had also deemed it wise to con-
, tinue a portion Of the old Spanish ex-
port tax on hemp, sugar and tobacco.
? owing to the difficulty of levying and
collecting a land tax.
Our friends on the other side" said
a INN afia IiStI
ernment of the natives. We are trying
I | to lift them up to the standard of Amer
4 | lean citizenship"
. Are you trying to fit them for citi-
}, | Zenship in the United States or citizen
1 ship in the Philippine islands," asked
. MIR. Gaines, of Tennessee.
g I'VE will cross that bridge when we
t come to it," replied Mr.. Payne. But ii
n you on the other side will cooperate
d with US we will fit them for citizenship
- in the Philippine islands, the United
states or any other country" CRepubii-
can applauSe)
I'VE will cooperate with you," re-
Piled Mr.. Gaines, when you carry the
constitution and the flag to the Philip.
| pines"
III L am surprised" observed Mr.. Payne
~ to hear the gentleman from Tennessee
N make that statement. He has just re-
ID turned from the islands. Is it possible
he did not carry the constitut ton and
flag with him?
Il ascertained that you had covertly
II sent copies of the constitution to the is.
l. lands" replied Mr.. Gaines, "and
propose to show you up
Mr. swanson, of Virginia followed
e. Mr.. Panye. In opening he declared that
l. none of the benefits for the Filipinos OF
&C which Mr.. Payne had been telling coulC
accrue through the agency of the pend.
ing Dill. His voice was the voice OF
Jacob, but his hand was the hand OF
l. Esau.
IL He reviewed the recent decisions OF
| the supreme court in reference to thf
10 Philippines, deploring the fact that TN.
e" court had reversed it's previous decis.
L. IONS and had seen proper to confer upor
n, ritories.
Mr.. Thayer, of Massachusetts. follow
ed Mr. Swanson with a fifteen minut,
speech in explanation of the reason.
which induced him to oppose the pas
sage OF the bill. He declared that ",
mad overpowered the Filipinos, but ha,
not conquered them; that the sam.
- spirit of liberty which led them to rebe
, mated them
Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, followed Mr.
D. Thayer. He reverted to the fact tha
l. the republican administration had trie,
8. TO avoid the war with Spain. AT tina
D. tlme, he said, the same thoughtles
:, - believe If it had not been for the expio
- sion OF the Maine there would not hav
os been war, but that all the results which
~ nave followed would have been worke,
O. out except the acquisition of the Phil
ippines. I wish the opposition woul,
stand with us as loyalty in bearing tn
burdens or that war as they were II
driving us into it." (Applause)
rt Speaking of the Taft commission, h
was saying that one of the member
of that commission was a distinguishe
Tennessee democrat. when Mr.. Pearcs
NJ of Tennessee, interrupted to say that 1
n the campaign OF 1900 Luke E. Wright, [
of whom M Grosvenor had referred, ha
al voted the straight republican ticket.
That comes" observed Mr.. Grosve
at nor. amid applause. from associatin
a with great men in great enterprises.
i'll viii venture to predict that in 1904 tn
in democratic party, purged of populisr
he and the free silver hersey. badly batter
ed ed. but still in the ring. win come 70,
- ward under the guidance and control {
men who stood where Luke wrigf
stood a year and a half ago"
i, Mr.. Shafroth, Of Colorado. who ha
recently returned from the Philippine
r. vigorously opposed the bill He d.
ciared that there were many populs
misapprehensions about the FflfpIn
people. There was a highly educate
class among them. perfectly capable (
eo conducting government and Of go,
II. ernfng themselves. government
le. strangers must fail in many respects
;. Mr.. de Almond. OF Missouri who ais
=. has recently returned from the Phfli,
e pines was the next speaker and arouse
'v much enthusiasm on the democrat
~ side by a denunciation Of the proceet
:, ing measure and the entire PhIlippir
n policy Of the administration He d,
"a clared that the bin proposed legislatfr
after the manner OF the empire. II tii
- REGARDED the rights NJ fine Esft;nincc .
his va,1 as the .xr,asiasr % ,n,..n.s.. .n rnus
was explained by the war department
legislation by alien for alien He d.