St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-01-09
THE WEEK IN WASHINGTON.
The Army Bill.

consent took up he army bill. 1t wa'
the su iect OF an undressing discussion
relating principally to the size OF tht
army required for the Philippines. Or
Friday The bill was discussed for five
hours. The debate took a wide range al
times, but was confined principally tC
the question OF the necessity tor the in
crease IN the regular army provided tol
in the pending measure. The Philippine
question was threshed over at great
length, but few really new points were
advanced. 1t was urged by the support
c, OF the army bill that t he situation in
the Philippines demanded the increase
proposed. This was controverted by the
opposition senators, who while they
were willing in general way to provide
Tor such temporary force as might be
needful, were vigorously opposed to the
GRE alton of a permanent standing army
of 100 600 men.
Senator Hoar of Massachusetts made
an eloquent plea for the immediate es-
Enlistment OF peace in the Philippines.
| Mr.. HOar's speech was in support OF an
amendment providing that no further
military force be empl ,yed in the islands,
/ tain order, until a commission from the
leaders OF the Fll'pinos come 10 Washing
ton and state the wishes OF the people OF
the Philippines to The president AID con-
gress. He did not he said, oppose the
bill on the score OF increase, but he did
oppose it because of he avowel policy OF
military control OF the Philippines. He
proposed to afford the leaders of the
Filipnos a hearing Let them come
here" be said. Let them state their
case. They can come and 60 in peace
aud honor II we say to the FIllpnOs
that we will not consider their case until
they 20 down on their knees, Law their
hands upon their hips and their lips in
the dust, tits war will 60 on, il there is a
spark of spirit and principle in their
breasts, until every Filipino of one sex is
cxterminated and until the women
among them take up the fight and are
extetminatcd also" Senator Proctor
suggested an amendment, at the in.
stance of the War Department relative
to certain vacancies.
While the senate was in session for
more than three hours Saturday, little in
the way OF important legislation was
acccpte ed. The committee amendments
to the army rganization bill to which
no objection had be raised were agreed
to, but none of the contested amend.
ments were considered Dnatory tactics
were employed by Mr.. Pettigrew, of
South Dakota, to prevent the considera-
ton of matters that would advance the
business Of the senate. A few unimpor-
tant measures to which there was no OBJ
lection were taken from the calendar and
passed.
To Protect UnciViIized Peoples.
Favorable action was taken Friday by
the senate committee on foreign relations
on the resolution introduced by Senator
Lodge declaring Tor the enactment OF
laws prohibiting the sale of opium and
Intoxicating liquors to the aboriginal
and uncivllized peoples of all countries,
and the resolution was atterward re-
ported to and passed by the senate. The
committee had before it petitions signed
twenty-three states, which were pre-
scented by the reform bureau. That
bureau has received the following letter
from ex.President Harrison:
January l, 1901.
To the Rev. w F. Crafts Washington.
My Dear Sir: | have received your
letter of the 29th ultimo, and in reply |
beg to say that have made it rule not
to sign petitions of appeals to members
of Congress tor legislation. | have ex.
pressed myself upon the subject in a pub
lie address in the paragraph to which
your letter refers. 1t does seem to me as
if the Christian nations of the world
ought to be able to make their contact
with the weaker peoples of the earth
bene6cent, and not destructive, and
give to yourefforts to secure helpful legis-
lation my warmest sympathy.
Very truly yours,
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
The ReappOr'iOnment Fight.
The house of representatives had the
eapportionment OF representative ques.
ton suddenly and Unexpectedly thrust
upon it on Thursday, when Mr.. Ohm
ste ad (Rep) of Pennsylvania offered a
resolution rccting the committee on
census to investigate and report on the
action of MisSiSiDni Louisiana and