New-York tribune., 1901-11-04
DISCUSSING TIE TREASON ACT.
ICE-GovrRNoR WRIGHT POINTS OUT THE
NEED FOR IT IN THE PHILIPPINES

TICE-GOT-RNCR WRIGHT POINTS OUT THE
NEED FOR IT IN THE PHILIPPINES
Manila. Nov 3-There public discussion
before the Philippine Commission to-day of the
draft Of the act against treason and sedition-
Many prominent Fipinos were present vice
Governor Wright explained the object of the
bill saying that the Spanish code was unsatis-
factory.
There are a number of people living in the
Philippines remarked Mr.. Wright who. SO
long as there is no punishment for treason, Will
take advantage Of the fact TO clog the wheels
OF the insular government 1t must not be over
looked that turbulent spirits exist in the paciied
provinces The masses Of the people are sus-
ceptibe ii,flammatory utterances ana Haoie
10 be Influenced by schemng demagogues 1t
would be inexcusable weakness on the part OF
the commission TO allow the people TO be
aroused TO deeds Of violence who are now grad
ually drifting to the pursuits Of peace.
The recent renewed attempts at insurrecton
in the island Of Samar and the Province OF
Batanga Luzcn. and al a few other points due
to noisy Filipino agitatoTs, have caused a leei,
inr of unrest in the minds Of both Fllplnos ana
Americans. and the effect of their continuance
would be TO make impossible the very Things
these agitators claim they most deslre- Such
tnCeayors serve TO recruit tbs ranks OF Ihe IN
surgenrs and to postpone the era OF good feellns
and fellowship which must come.
No excuse exists for secret p0iltlcal orSdlllEa-
-ions Their intent must be evil No matter
what MAY have been the opinions OF the tlIl-
riros regarding the sovereignty of the Anler!-
can Government the fact remains that the
Americans are here and, moreover. here they
intend TO stay
The bin was then read in Spanish.
Sefor Sa bella Reyes. a Spanish Journalist. VINO
has been here for several weeks. said he was op-
rosed to the bill and objected generally to the
imposition of the death penalty for political
crimes He suggested that persons committing
the offences against which the bill was aimed
should he deported to the United States and de-
clared that Italy and Portugal had enacted the
most reasonable existing laws dealing WITH the
matters under consideration
Commissioner Worcester asked him II ne CON
sidered the killing OF King Humbert political
crime.
Senior Reves-Notlling political is criminal
Vice-C Governor Wright asked him II ne consid-
cred the killing Of President Mckinley Grim
inaI act.
Sefor Reyes-I have already made it clear that
there is no such thing a political crime
The commissioners Indignantly ordered him TO
take his
Sef1or RuencaminO behalf OF the Federal
party. objected TO the bin
Sehor Bautista, at time president OF the
so-caIled Filipino Congress, said that sections
of the rroDosed law had created a panic III
Manila: that Spain had such law: that in his
opinion private citizens ought not TO be com
relled to Iivuige matters within their knowl-
edge: that the doctrine Of treason ought TO
apply TO officials only, and that the bill as drawn
offered A great opportunity TO blackrnail-
The discussion will be continued tomorrow