The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-28
The Great PhIIfppine Plof.

If anybody Is praying for an extraordi-
nary session OF Congress. the chances are
that he may suspend operations with con-
ddence and let nature take her course
The Subsidy bill has been considered al
most # not quite enough 70 settle the
matter Nov that he question Of irres-
Ponsible executive civil rule in the Phil
ipDInes has been Injected into the bus5-
ness OF the Senate there would seem 10
BE- 10 7Tay Of avoiding 4 spring meeting OF
Congress which, as likely as Eot might
extend sell into the summer.
Strong Administration pressure is being
exerted to get the Spooner Philippine bill
through at the present session. Probably
that VIII be found impossible Of accom-
plishment- It win If the Democrats in
the Senate have tongues ard lungs Icng
enough and tough enough 10 use up the
remaining time of the body on other mat
tiers. as they easily may in the present
condition CT things L must not De over
looked, however. that there may be great
amount OF money behind this movement.
Immediately available for lobby purposes.
Hence 1t must De watched b. It's oppo-
nents with uDus IaI care
The desperate effort 10 force the SPOON
er bill upon he statute books at this
tine is result Of the universal belief.
in which the Administration now shares,
that the Supreme Court viii deciFe the
colonial possessions 20 be integral Parts
OF the United States. following Chief JUS
tice Marshall in the LOughbUrOugh case.
Such a decision would omen the Philippines
20 unrestricted free trade with the Amer
lean mainland, and, as We have hitherto
shown, dangerously threaten the power Of
the sugar tobacco, and other trusts, but
the two named most Immediately
The only way in which such dangerous
competition as would be incurred from
the sugar and tobacco productions Of the
archipelago. under free trade. could be
avoided. would be Icr the trusts to buy I'D
and monoDolize I'll the available sugar
and tobacco lands Of the principal islands.
It IS understood that the sugar and to-
baccO magnates. in conjunction with the
financial and exploiting combinations in
which nearly all the greater trust officials
are Interested, have had Luzon, and the
more important islands generally, thor
oughIy examined as to their material re-
sources Il IS also alleged that pretty
nearly everything OF value in the line II
coal, gold, copper. and silver and gem de-
pOsits, pearl fisheries, timber railway
lines. desirable agricultural lands. and 80
on, have been definitely located. described.
and mostly mapped. ready for grand
coup such as the passage Of the Srcouer
bill would render possible
Franchises and grants Of incaIcuIable
value and profit to concessioDarias exist
throughout the Philippines n posse But
5r- LeEinley's power is only that Of
Commander-in- Chief. He cannot grant.
sell or donate any Of these fat things %
as 10 convey valid .itIe. II lie could
there are ali the enormous areas claimed
By the Spanish friars. and which the ma
tlyes nave been rebciIIng over Tor cen
tury. These might be picked up. under
the clever method suggested by the Taft
Commission. namely. that the Govern
meul purchase the lands from the fr-ars
and resell them TO their present oecu-
pants 'or others" We need no, h.sItate
10 guess who the -othe.s' would be
Possession might perhaps be anything bul
assured were they TO buy from the fri
ars directly. but a warranty deed from
The United States would be something
different
The Spooncr bin would cure Mr.. McKin-
ley OF hiz present disability in the matter
of grants. franchises. and gifts L pro-
poses the surrender by Congress Of all
control over the Philippines; transferring
to the President plenary power TO make
such laws as re pleases, and ad-
minister ,hem n like manner It
provides that as soon as the instruction
has been suppressed All the military,
civil, and judicial powers necessary to
govern said Islands shall, until otherwise
progided b. Congress. be vested in such
person and persons. and shall: be cxer-
els-d in such manner. as the President Of