Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-02-01
TALKS OF THE TAGAL
Pettigrew Charges That United
States Troops Have Been
Torturing Filipinos.
dAoARrHUR's WORDS CRITICISED
Army Reorganization Bill Goes to tho
President Gage Before a
House Committee.


eventful Legislative experience, begin
ming with the present session of CON
gress and covering about two months,
the bill for the reorganization OF the
United States army yesterday passed
its last stage in congress, and now
goes to the president for his signature.
The final step was taken in the SEN
ate, where by a vote of 33 TO % the
conference report on the bill was
agreed to. The conference re-
port was kept before the senate con-
stantly yesterday, even the shipping
bill giving way. Opposition to the
bill continued to be vigorously ex-
pressed Teller making an extended
speech in criticism of the war depart
ment and of the measure i'll general.
The feature of the debate, however,
was the speech of Pettigrew arraigning
the government for its military policy
in the Philippines.
Says Our Troops Use Torture.
Pettigrew presented an article by
Sixto Lopez. which he said refuted
some of the official literature as TO
the diversity of tribes in the Philip
pines. The article gave in detail the
tribal organizations, the relations of
the tribes and the enlightenment and
education of a great part of the Fill
pinos. Other Filipino documents We're
read alleging that their forces when
captured We're exposed TO extreme
toftures. despite the official orders that
civilized methods of warfare be Dur-
sued. The unalterable purpose of con-
tinuing the war until liberty was Sc
cured was set forth at length. Cal
linger inquired as TO whether Petl-
grew personally believed our soldiers
were guilty of atrocities and fortunes
in the Philippines.
Believes No Ill OF Our Soldiers.
GaIlinger said that for one he did
believe American soldiers were COM
hitting atrocities anywhere. Pettigrew
responded that perhaps the New Hamp-
shire senator had failed TO read the
secretary of wars testimony before
the military committee that MaeaDepes'
who murdered. burned and robbed,
were being enlisted. Teller rose 10
state that two United States officers
were being disciplined for practieing
the, water cure" on natives The SEN
ator also had received a call recently
from a man who came upon a party
lust after they had inflicted this de-
nlorabIe torture and who saw the vic
tim covered with blood and mangled
about the mouth.
Teller Takes Up the story.
Teller took up the cudgels after Pet
ticrew closed. After describing the
horrors of the water cure" torture he
said the American flag could come
down none too soon if it required such
methods to uphold our authority. The
senator condemned a statement at
.tributed to General Macarthur in
which he is said TO have told return
ing regiment that one of its chief serv-
ices was in engendering a warlike spir-
it. without which no nation could en-
dure.
Hale said that he felt sense of sur
prise and outrage that the commander
of the main portion of the United
States army, while engaged IN war.
should be so possessed with the Old
World spirit of military conquest and
military ambition as to use the Ian
p1Ia 0e attributed TO him.