Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-04
Decision That There Will Be No
Extra Session.
ATTORNEY GENERAL KNOX'S VIEWS
Difference Between Porto Rico
and the Philippines.
MILITARY OCCUPATION

Immediately after cabinet session of
two and a quarter hours today the follow
ms announcement was made by direction
of the President and cabinet:
The President has determined that ex-
listing conditions do not require or warrant
calling Congress together during the pres
ent summer or making any change in the
policy hitherto pursued and announced in
regard to the Philippine Islands"
The statement is so concise as to leave
nothing to be said except of detail as to
how the opinion was reached by the Presi-
dent and his advisers. 1t is further stated
that the conclusion was unanimous and
that there vas not even a difference of
opinion in the most minor features.
Attorney Generals Views
Practically the same conclusion was
reached by the cabinet at the session last
Friday. and the fact was then given in
The Star. AS there was room for fuller
discussion and investigation, however, the
President then asked Attorney General
Knox to give the subject of the bearing of
the Supreme Court decision on the Philip
pines his attention with view of present.
ing his opinion. Mr.. Knox told the cabinet
today that he had never had any doubt
that the affairs of the Philippines could
continue 20 be conducted as at the present
time He had examined the Spooner and
other amendments relating to the Philip
pines and had carefully gone over the Porto
RiCan decisions of the Supreme Court. He
felt that the President had ample author
ity to continue in force the tariff regula-
tons that have governed the Importation
and expectation of goods from the islands.
Mr. Knox did not render formal opinion
and simply gave the President and cabinet
his views These Were delivered in that
quiet forceful manner that has made such
an excellent impression in Washington.
Not on a Civil Basis.
The main point upon which the opinion
was based is that the Philippines are not
on civil basis and will not be so long as
they are subject 10 the control and direc-
tion of the President of the United States
and the War Department Even with the
Inauguration of what is called civil govern
mSnt on the LIST of july as the President
intends, the islands will continue to remain
under military control until Congress shall
have taken the matter in hand and passed
complete laws changing the administration
OF affairs to a positive civil law establish
ment. The Attorney General elucidated this
view by pointing out that civil government
In the Philippines is merely on trial and
that II Is upheld by the military authority
Dispute as to Possession,
Mr. Knox pointed out THAI when Porto
Rico was ceded to the United States there
was no dispute as to the possession of that
Island. When the Philippines were ceded
there was dispute. the Spaniards them
Selves could hardly claim to have had full
possession Since American occupation the
possession has been disputed at nearly
every step, and military power has been
necessary to enforce possession. This con-
dltlon exists to a certain degree yet and
viii continue to exist long as the con-
troll of affairs is in the hands of the Presi-
dent. who is the Commander-in-chief of the
military forces. The tariff duties are being
collected under technical military occupa-
tion. as plainly shown by the fact that in
the Philippines they are collected by agents
of the military officers in control in the
islands
Different From Porto Rico.
Mr.. Knox contends that the case of the
Philippines. owing to the military occupa-
tion feature, is materially different from
tHat of Porto Rico, and he believes the
chances are quite favorable that the Su-
IRENE Court will seriously consider this
difference. If the court holds that the
opinion in the Porto Rico case applies to
tA- philippines the administration will have
ltttle trouble in refundiug the duties that
are collected and have been collected 1t
1 not believed that there will be any large
Increase in the amount of goods sent 10
TINS country from the Philippines Import
eFs VIII not want to take too many chances
ol getting a refund of what they will paw
and they are not Hkelv IL is s,id to ioai
up with goods under the belief that what
thtE pay in duties will eventually be re-
turned TO them. The question is too much
- N'H"t' II Is Inought- TO induce chances
beInS taken In this direction
II IS learned that Secretary Root CON-
Ierrcd frequently with Attorney General
h4!"N ana thdt the two agreed thoroughly
as 10 the position of the administ ration and
the possible action of the Supreme Court.
Todny's Appointments.
The following appointments were an
nounced at the White House today:
1reasury-Lncoin Avery, to be collector
OF customs for the district of Huron In the
state of Michigan.
Interior-SimOn Michelet of Minnesota to
be agent for the Indians of the White Earth
agency in Minnesota; Duportai G. Sampson
OF Wisconsin, to be receiver of public mon
eys at Ashland. Wis; Francis NJ Elsey of
Indian territory, to be chairman of referees
10 assess and appraiSe the damages for right
OF way Of the Arkansas and Choctaw rail-
way through the Choctaw and ChickasaW
nations in the Indian territory: Arthur W
Hehey of Kansas. to be a townsite COM
missioner and appraiser for the Chickasaw
nation in the Indian territory.
Justice-Joseph B. Healing of Indiana to
be attorney of the United States for the dis
-trict of Indiana.
has been appointed solicitor of internal reve-
nue. in the Treasury Department. Mr.. Keal-
ing Is one of the best-known lawyers of In
dianapOlis.
President Mckinley had no callers tefore
the cabinet meeting this morning except
Secretary Hay and Chyo Mn-Hui the new
minister from Corea to this country. Mr..
taches of the Corean legation.
Postal Pictures From China.