New-York tribune., 1901-03-01
EXTRA SESSION AVOIDED
ARMY BILL TO BECOME La w
WITHOUT A FIGHT.
HOUSE To CONCUR IN SENATE AMEND
MENTS THE PRESENT PROGRAMME
THE HOAR PROvISO RE-
LTCTANTLY- ACCEPTED.
TbY TELEGRAPH To ruE TRIBUNE.


early extra session of the new Congress. By
the virtual decision to-day among the leaders
of the Senate to make no change in conference
in the Spooner Philippine resolution. which was
adopted late last night rider 10 the Army
Appropriation BILL the danger of aroUsing
pr7ftless partisan wrangle in the Senate. with
the certainty of preCipitatns extra session.
has been avoided. This at any rate is the
present programme. which has been matured
after a great deal of earnest work and careful
consideration 1t is more than probable that
the Army Appropriation bill and its amend
ments will not he subjected the conference
process at all.
Unless the plan that has been decided upon is
revised. the bill will be reported to the House
tomorrow morning II O'Clock, and will be
at once declared the order Of business for con-
sideration in Committee of the Whole Perhaps
two or three hours will he allowed for debate in
order that Democrats of the Lentz and Sulzer
type cannot indulge in their usual howl of being
gagged but it is doubtful if many Republicans
take part in the discussion Most of the talking
probably will be done by the Democrats. Except
for the desire 10 give liberal latitude TO the
Democrats for discussion. the bill would proba-
bly, be Immediately put upon its passage, Chair
man Hull of the Military Affairs Committee. to
which the bill was referred by the House to-
day said late this afternoon that he heartily
favored the programme here outlined IL had
been reported that Mr.. Hull intended 10 make
a fight against certain Objectionable features of
the Spooner Philippine resolution which were
injected into it by the Hoar amendment To
The Tribune correspondent Mr.. Hull declared
that this report was wholly unfounded. as he
had no desire 10 hamper any legislation which
has for it's object the substitution of civil for
military government in the Philippines
PROGRAMME MAY BE CHANGED.
This plan will deprive the obstreperous cabal
in the Senate led by Mr. Bacon, of Georgia. of
the opportunity to do the dreadful things threat
ened last night for of course if the bill is not
sent to a conference committee it cannot again
get back into the Senate II is, however, well 10
bear in mind that this programme may possibly
be changed Powerful influences at work to
send the amended bill to conference and 1t is
| possible that they may finally prevail If they
do not. the bill will go through the House to-
morrow just it amended by the Senate.
| and Mr.. Bacon. the ambitious new leader OF the
minority. will get chance TO flibuster
| against its final passage.
While. generally speaking. the Hosr amend
ment 10 the Spooner resolution is not popular
among Republicans either of the Senate
House. that it's import is fully understood
there is no longer any disposition to reopen the
whole subject of Philippine legislation at this
Z
inaI form. BY the adoption of Mr.. Hoar's propo-
sition it is conceded that civil government IN
the Philippines will not start under so encourag-
ing auspices as would have been the case had
not the force of Mr. Spooner's measure been
weakened As has heretofore been pointed out
in The Tribune. the government cannot aid or
encourage any valuable form of material prog
ress or development in the islands while the
Hoar amendment is part of the law. For this
reason IL is confidently predicted that it will be
repealed at the next session of Congress with
little if any opposition BY that time, it is be
Heved il will be abundantly demonstrated that
the Hoar amendment serious mistake. in
that it completely hobbled the civil government
of the islands One of the most regrettable re-
suits will be that no portion of the vast public
domain that came to the United States with the
| transfer of sovereignty IN the Philippines
be conveyed for am purpose
EVILS OF HOAR AMENDMENT.
In the last report Of the Taft Commission "
was set forth that the siXtyeght million
acres Of the public domain in the Philippines
| that formerly known crown lands
there live about two hundred thousand natives
who inhabit small tracts that have been occu-
| pied by their families for generations No title
10 these tracts which constitute homesteads. ia
vested in the occupants. and under the strict
| Interpretation of the lana laws the HOar amend
| ment makes them "squa ters." OF course there
is no intention 10 dispOsSess them though 1t was
intended TO give them regular legal titles TO the
lands which they have been tilIing for genera
tions The moral effect OF this on the suspicious
Oriental mind would have been immediate and
far-reaching and would have made for peace
and order. This one act would have shown the
natives In the most valuable kind Of object
lesson the difference between the government ~
Spain and that of the United States. Those who
now occupy these former lands think
that with a change of sovereignty in the islands
there will come change of treatment for them,
and that their sovereign intends 10 dis
possess them of their homes. Even those among
them who may now offer to purchase their old
homes from their government will be disap-
pointed and in measure disheartened when
they learn that under the Hoar amendment
which completely ties the Presidents hands and
distinctly prohibits him from dispOsins Of snv
of the public lands in the Philippines they can
not buy title to foot of the ground which thew
and their ancestors have occupied as homes for
generations. The result OF this il is expected
Will be TO engender distrust and dissatisfaction
among an element of FilipinOs that are peace
ably inclined
Another feature of the Hoar amendment
winch II IS feared, Will seriously hamper the
progress OF peace and material developnent in
the Fhllpplnes; is that which limits to one wear
| ohiy alter the establishment of permanent civil
government IN the islands franchises of every
4 nature whatsoever that may be granted bv the
President in the intaiim. Ii is pointed out that
this snort sighted provision will keep all capital
/ out of the Islands until the usual guarantees
! OF safety 10 vested rights have been secured
| There are millions of American capital looking
/ for investment in the Philippines that would
/ give profitable and peace provoking employment
4 Iga0 nh nal of