Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1901-06-07
IS NOT WARRANTED.
Situation Does Not Require Extra
Session Of Congress.
DECISION Is MADE By THE CABINET.
The Spooner Amendment Ia Consid-
red Ample to Cope with Exist
ing Conditions Regarding
the Philippines.

cred Ample to Cope with Exist
ing Conditions Regarding
the Philippines.
Washington, June 5.-The cabinet
Tuesday unanimously decided that ex-
listing conditions do not warrant the
calling of an extra session of congress
this summer. Secretary Root and At
torney General Knox both rendered,
legal opinions to the effect that the
authority to govern the Philippines
vested in the president by the Spooner
amendment was ample. These opin-
ions were concurred in by all the
members of the cabinet.
The decision of the cabinet was IN
nounced after the cabinet meeting in
the following statement issued by Sec.
rotary Cortelyou:
1.-THE president has determined that ex-
listing conditions do not require or warrant
calling congress together during the pres
ent summer or making any change in the
policy hitherto pursued and announced in
regard to the Philippine islands,"
Tariff to Remain in Force.
It car be authoritatively stated that
the Dingley rates upon goods fromthe
pni-..rines entering the United States
will reinainin force as heretofore. The
president will put into effect such
changes in the tariff duties on goods
going into the Philippines as the Taft
commission may recommend. The es-
Enlistment of civil government in
the archipelago a proceed without
interruption as soon as the military
authorities consider the time ripe for
its establishment.
Eject Of the Decisions.
The supreme court decisions as
viewed by the administration settle:
First, that the Foraker act is consti-
tutional; second, that the collection
of duties on Porto Rican products
between the time of. the cession of
the island of Porto Rico and the pas
sage of the Foraker act was illegal
and must be refunded. These are held
to be the main essential points of
the decisions. Nothing in them is
construed to apply to the tariff stu
alton as between the United States
and the Philippines. The conclusions
of the cabinet are not based on any
knowledge as to the prospective Phil
ippine decision of the supreme court,
though it is declared there is little
apprehension as to the findings of
that decision. If the present system
is upset in that decision, which is not
anticipated, there will be little diff
Guilty, it is believed, in refunding the
amounts meantime collected under
protest.
Was Rejected by Root.
Washington, June 5.-Inside infor-
NATION concerning the action of the
Cuban convention on the Platt amend
ment has just been received in Wash
ington. It appears that the first
draft Of the amendment, as interpret
ed by the majority of the committee
on relations with the United States,
was submitted to Gen. Wood and by
him sent to Washington. This draft
was approved by Secretary Root and
his approval was made known to the
Cuban convention. When the matter
came up for discussion, however, it
was found that there were a number
of delegates whose votes could only be
obtained by the extended alterations,
amendments and interpretations
which finally were adopted by the con
vention and rejected by Secretary
Root.
It is stated officially that the people
of Cuba believed at first that the Plat
amendment had been adopted and
that they were satisfied. Such was the
belief of the people of the United
States until the draft of the adopted
amendment was received here. The
belief is expressed in official circle:
here that the Cuban people as a whole
are perfectly satisfied with the Plat
amendment and it will finally bt
adopted.
TO Have Civil Government.
About the first of next month full
civil government will be set up ir
the Philippine islands, exactly as pro
jected by the Philippine commission
AS soon after hat date as an admin.
istrative machinery can be made
ready for it the new Philippine tariff
will be proclaimed. also following out
the original plan formed before the
announcement of the decisions of the
supreme court last week.. Secretary
Root has had little doubt at any tim,
since the courts action of the feast
.bility of continuing the execution o
the Philippine programme without vi
olating any of the principles enunci
ated by the court, and his study o
the courts opinions was mainly t
make sure that he had not overlooke,
anything in the decisions that nigh
qualify that belief on his part. H
has not found in any Of the decision
delivered by justices anything t
shake his original idea, and has S
advised the cabinet. Attorney Ger
eral Knox, after an Independent COZ
sideration of the decisions, was Q
the same mind, so the original PR
gramme will be carried out. The a,
torney general submitted to the cal
met a very elaborate review Of til
supreme court decisions with his col
illusions thereon.