The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-15
PRESENTED To THE SENATE ON BE-
HALF OF THE HLIPINOS
AN APPEAL TO STOP HOSTILITIES
While Urging Granting of Independ-
ence, the Memorial Defies the Gov
ernment-Senate Adopts Amendment
to the Army Bill Placing Generals
Lee. Wilson and Shafter on Retired
List-A Vicious Attack on House
River and Harbo Committee.
SENATE.

washington, January
BILE progress was made today by the
senate with the army reorganization
bill, but the final vote upon the meas
ure seems 20 be as far off as ever.
Today proceedings were characterized
by several sharp colloquies, some of
character.
An appeal was presented by Senator
Teller, of Colorado, from more than 1000
persons in Manila, urging the United
States government to cease it's opera
tons against Filipinos. The appeal is
sensational in it's statements, so unu-
sual in form that Senator Hawley, of
Connecticut, made a vigorous objection
to it's publication as a document. He
declared that it was a reasonable de-
nunciation of the government and an
attack upon our soldiers.
Consideration was concluded of the
committee amendments to the army
organization bill and the senate took
up the amendments proposed by lndl-
vidual senator's.
The amendments providing for the
ppointmen of Generals James h.
Wilson. Fitzhugh Lee and General
Shafter to be major generals OF the
regular army, and retired, preclpltated
an extended and, on the part OF Sena-
tor Pettigrew, a bitter debate. The
amendment prevailed, however, oe-
spite the opposition.
Senator Teller presented a memorial
from 1000 ''Filipinos and peaceful in
habitants of Manila" The memorial
was in the form of an appeal to the
congress of the United States and as
Senator Teller stated, vas signed per
sOnally by the leading people OF Manila
and that section-lawyers, bankers and
professional, men representing the best
elements of that community" 1t re-
viewed the circumstances leading up
to the present struggle OF the tl1plnoS
for independence. 1t paid a high trlb-
ute to the work of Aguinaldo and his
coadjutOrs in their endeavor to obtain
liberty and independence for the peo-
pie of the Philippines Reference was
made to some of the principal events
of the present revolution against Amer
lean authority, the petition urging that
the American troop had failed to make
a serious impression upon the revolu-
tionary party. 1t pointed out that
Aguinaldo had declared he might lose
the hope of victory, but he would not
lose the hope of dying for the liberty
and independence Of his people, IL
points out that the revolution has the
support of practically all the people
of the Philippines and declares that
though 100 revolutionists be destroyed
LOCO will rise up to support the hght
for independence. All of the ISLANDS
of the archipelago, says the memorial,
are supporting the revolution and they
will not yield until the last drop or
Filipino blood has been shed.
The Filipino nation, the memorial
-s~I 4hn for
OF America and it's humanitarian doc-
trines, asks the government of the Unit
ed States to cease it's persecution or
men struggling to be free"
The appeal declares that an autonomy
similar to that enjoyed by canada or
Australia would not be acceptable TO
the Filipinos who desire full liberty
and independence and they urge the
governmen of the United States TO give
them liberty and independence.
When the reading of the document
had been concluded Senator Teller re-
newed a request that it be printed as
a document, but Senator Hawley OBJ
jected.
Later Senator Teller presented an
order for the printing of the Filipino
appeal as a senate document.
Senat or Hawley Immediately protest
ed. IF Jefferson Davis" he said mad
brought forward a similar paper after
the battle of Gettysburg and nan
ed to have it read and printed as a
senate document it would have been a
mild crime in comparison with this
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The general debate on the river and
harbor bill continued in the house to-
day until 1 o'clock. when the death or
Representative Clarke. Of New Hamp-
shire. was announced and the hou
adjourned out of respect to his mem
DRY.
Vigorous attacks on the bill were
made by Mr.. CuShman, Of Washington,
and Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa
Saturday. February 9Th, at 4 o'clock
was set aside for paying tribute TO the
late Representative Wise. of Virginia
Mr.. Hepburn complained of the enor-
nous sums appropriated for purely To-
cal and state improvements. He said
some members were objectlnS TO the
exploitation of their proportion of the
bill and asked them if they were COM
planning OF n ~notoriety Of the act or
the act itself.
Mr.. Hepburn, and Mr.. W. a. Smith,
of Michigan, had a sharp exchange in
which personalities were banded back
and forth.
Mr.. Hepburn asSailed the policy of the
river and harbor committee in Deepen
ing the harbors to meet the draught of
some ships which some shipbuilders
saw nj 10 Dullu. he OeIldTcu IndI al
though $40 200, 900 had been spent on h
Mississippi river, no substantial in
crease in it's navigation had resulted.
He warned members of the subtle "a
ger in the contract system by which
the real amount of the appropriations
for rivers and harborS was concealed,
and OF another danger now looming up
in the west of government entry into
arid reclamations, suggested for in
cluSiOn in this bill.
Mr.. Cushman, of Washington, fol-
lowed Mr.. Hepburn with another as
sault upon the bill. He illustrated his
remarks with an enormous chart.
Members crowded about TO examine
the exhibit it made. In big letters il
showed a list of seventeen states which
had members on the river and harbor
committee, giving the sums appro-
priated and authorized therefor in the
bill. h direct appropriations amount
ed TO $14, 1890 Inc authorized appro-
priatfOns to $24, 457 1896. He said this to-