The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-26
IS SCHEME TO ROB FILIPINOS
Continued from Page -

ego full reports shall be made to con-
gress on the first day of each regular
session of all legislative proceed
ings. Cf the temporary government, and
that full information shall be supplied
to the president as to the conditions
in the Islands. The Spooner amend
ment was agreed to-
Mr.. Vest MOO offered the following
amendment to the Philippine provision:
THAT no judgment, order or act Dy
any of said officials so appointed shall
conflict with the law and the cOnstitu-
ton OF the United States"
Mr.. Spooner did not think the pro
posed amendment was necessary de
thought this fact ought to be recog-
nized, especially by Democrats. Many
of them held that the constitution eX-
tended to. the Philippine islands eX
prOpriO vigOrt.
Mr.. Vest replied that the doctrine
that the constitution was in force IN
the Philippines was held by such gooo
Republicans as ex-senator Edmunds,
ex-President Harrison, Ex-Governor
Boutwell, and many others. lie dld not
know what the decision of the supreme
court upon this point would be He
would be a bold man, he said, VINO
would venture TO say what the decision
would be, but it was rumored that the
supreme court would not decide the
question at all as to whether The con-
stitution extended to tne Islands OF its
own force. Every lawyc~ knew, he SAID,
now the court could eVade the QueS-
ton, and it even had been suggested
that the cour- might say that the gov
eminent of The Island possession OF this
country was entirely within the mill
tary power Of the government.
Mr.. TillmaE vigorously opposed the
Philippine amendment. He declared
hat IT was a bold and naked PROPOSE
ton to invest The president with
plenary. power to govern the Philippine
archipelago in a civil way. Yet. ne
said, objection was raised 10 the con-
stitution OF the United States being the
presidents guiding star. 1t was not
proposed, he asserted, that the presi-
dent should be hampered, even by the
constitution.
CaTpetbeg Government.
Mr.. T1llman declared that the enact
uent OF the proposition into law, to-
gether with the granting Of certain re-
quests of the Taft commission TO sell
public lands and lease mines would
open to the people Of the Philippines all
the dangers Of carpetEag government.
Mr.. Daniel made a constitutional
argument against the Philippine prop
OsitiOn in the bill, incidentally support
ing the amendment proposed by Mr.
Vest. 1t was proposed, he said, 10
confer upon the president power vested
only in congress.
MIR. Caffery I.a.) made an argument
against comforting such power upon
the president as was con templated by
the pending proposition
Mr.. Berry (Arl1.) inquired whether
the authority included power to dis
pose of public lands la the islands.
Mr.. Cahery replied that undoubtedly
Il did include such authority.
Mr.. HOar inquired Whether, as a, mat
ter of fact il was not one Of the chief
purposes Of the pending proposition to
!, e. h.. 80 Ia IF he
before the Filipino people had any OPP
portunIty to have a voice in the sale.
Precisely So" replied Mr. Gallery,
and if the EilipinOs ever come into
their own, they VIII discover that they
have no public lands. They viii all have
been alienated."
The leading. bold proposal here
said Mr.. Hoar, is that public lands
and franchises Of 100000 OF people
shall be sold by Americans to Ameri-
cans as, upon the whole, the best means
of pacifiCatiOn. The best means Of paci-
flying a man." continued Mr.. HOar, sar-
castically lis for ono foreigner to take
and sell MS property to another for
elgner. And this is the method by
which VIC Gre TO teach the principles
of liberty and self government"
Mr. Fairbanks Und) read from the
report Of the Taft commission 70 show
the necessity for the proposed confer
ence Of authority, and added that I'M
less the authority was conferred there
could be no development OF the re-
sources Of the island.
Mr. Tillman interrupted to say that
no Eve men composing q commission
had a right to ask that they be al
lowed to deal arbitrarily with the
rights of 1900 Gee people, and congress
had no right to grant the power.
Mr. Fairbanks replied that If the
recommendation Of the Taet commits
sion was not acceded to, there would
be no progress in the islands until the
establishment of a complete system Of
civil government, and nc man could
tell when that would be.
BIr Rawlins' Protest.
Mr.. Rawiins Utah) made an extend
ed argument against the grant of a
power unlimited and illimitable." He
declared it would be Of advantage only
e. those who wished to advance their
personal interests in the Philippines.
They were, he declared. a band OF pub
lie p. lnderers and thieves If given
the opportunity to faSten themselves
upon the islands. they would hold the
lands and mines and franchises ac-
ouired by them TO the detTiment Of the
interests OF both the people OF the
Philippines and those of the United
States.
Three amendments to the Philippine
section of the bin were offered, as fol-
lows.
BY Mr.. Bacon (Csa.}: That all grants
OF franchises, rights and privileges or
concessions Of q public or quasi-pubic
nature granted undPr the powers con-
zzSrged ~ this act snail be reported 90