Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-04
Mr.. M'CLEARY'S VIEWS
HE THINKS CONGRESS SHOULD he
CONVENED IN EXTRA SESSION.
Legislation Needed for the Philip
pines When the Islands Come I'm
der Civil Governments,

Representative McCleary Of Minnesota q
leading republican member of the House,
said to a Star reporter this afternoon that
a vast proportion of the people of his state
are greatly pleased with the recent rulings
OF the Supreme Court in the Porto Rican
cases. He continued:
AS 1 gather the intent of these decisions
the most satisfactory element in them to
me is the recognition of the status under
which the United States government has a
free hand to do that which from time to
time shall appear to be best for all con-
cerned. think undoubtedly that the state
of semt-war, or rather non-peace.' In the
Philippines and the fact that the islands
have thus far been ruled under military
authority by the President segregateS the
Philippine case from those relating to Porto
Rico. The status of the Philippines when
state of absolute peace shall have return
ca ana civil administration substituted for
the military has not yet been fully de-
veloped.
The SpOOner Amendment.
Il am inclined to think that the Spooner
amendment does not satisfactorily cover
the tariff situation relating to the Philip
pines. AS to the question of whether 1t
will be necessary to refund all the duties
collected on merchandise from the archi
pelago which has been imported here up to
the present time, l think that only those
duties which will be levied from the date
of the establishment Of civil government
up to the date when Congress passes a
more specific and detailed piece of legisla-
ton aimed at the islands will be subject
to dispute in this direction. All duties
which have thus far been collected have
been taken by the government under mill
tary authority. There is no question in my
mind as to the legality Of such collections.
But as soon as civil government is estab-
lished then this question may be precpi-
tated with some assurance of the reason
ableness Of the position that duties are
being collected unlawfully under the cir
cumStanceS.
Power of Congress.
There Is no question that Congress has
the power to legislate for the islands. That
problem was decisively settled by the
Porto Rican opinions. I think, therefore,
that as soon as Congress reassembles it
will get right to work framing law which
will have somewhat the same effect regard
ing affairs in the Philippines as the Foraker
law has in Porto Rico. l will never lend
my vote to a measure. however, which con-
templates the Incorporation of a provision
pertaining to the Philippines such as was
inserted in the Porto Rican law, by which
convene Congress in extraordinary session.
trade with the United States. l would
word the law in such a manner as to leave
that subject 10 De determined by the United
States Congress l would place the neces-
sary authority in the premises with our
government and not with that of the Fill
pinos. In my judgment the safe thing for
the administration to do just now is to
convene ongress in extraordinary session.
Then the Senate and House could get right
down to work and settle the whole QueS-
ton without delay. Much confusion, in my
opinion, could be avoided by this policy.
LAS for the Cuban situation, the Presi-
dent and his advisers have done the only
thing that could be expected of them. The
President will insist upon the adoption of
the Platt amendment virtually in it's en-
tirety and at least without any radical
changes In It's provisions. He has no au-
thority to do otherwise"