Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-03-07
BY A PARTY VOTE.
Senate Agrees to the Spooner
Amendment.
It Gives TO President Mckinley AL
most Absolute Power Over Affairs
in the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
VehementIy Denounced
the Proposition.

Washington, Feb. 2S.-Not since the
enactment of the resolutions decIar-
ing state of war 10 exist between
the United States and Spain has there
been so much passionate oratory as
the senate listened to yesterday.
Throughout the session the army APP
preparation bill was under discussion,
the controverted questions being the
Spooner Philippine amendment and
the Platt Cuban amendment.
The debate was confined entirely to
the democratic side of the chamber,
with one exception. Both amend
ments were denounced as vicious and
pernicious legislation, subversive of
the principles of this government and
unparalleled in the history of legisla-
tive enactments.
The most notable speech was de-
livered by Mr.. Bacon, of Georgia. He
had been thoroughly aroused by re-
ports that the democratic members
had been induced by questionable
means to withdraw their opposition
to the proposed legislation. Per
sonally he declared he would defeat
the amendments if he could. although
he realized the majority would have
to accept the responsibility for them
His arraignment of the administra-
ton for "coercing" congress into
enacting such provisions in the clos
ing hours of the session was sensa-
tionally fierce. and he declared THAI
the only possible object of such ac-
ton was that the "plunderers aud
vultures" might have an opportunity
to prey upon the land of the Fill
pinos.
\ vote was taken upon the amend
ment of Mr.. Vest providing that the
action of this government or it's Of
ticials in the Philippines shall be sub
ject to the constitution and laws of
the United States so far as they are
applicable. The amendment was
rejected-25 to 40.
Mr.. Rawlins offered an amendment
declaring it not to be the purpose of
the United States to hold permanent
sovereignty over the Philippines, but
only to the extent necessary to Sc
cure their paciiication and to estab-
lish stable government. Rejected
ayes "a. noes As.
Mr.. Pettus (Ala) offered an amend
ment providing that every person in
grant Of Tower shall take an oath
to support the constitution of the
United States. Reiected-25 to Al.
The Spooner amendment was
adopted-15 to 25. 1t is as follows:
"AIl military, civil and judicial pow
ers necessary to govern the Philip
pine islands shall, until otherwise
provided by congress, be vested in
such manner as the president of the
United States shall direct, for the es-
tablishment of civil government and
for maintaining and protecting the
inha bitants of said islands in the free
enjoyment of their liberty, property
and religion:
"Provided, that all franchises
granted under the authority hereof
shall contain a reservation of the
right to alter, amend or repeal the
same.
Until a permanent government
shall have been established in said
archipelago, full reports shall be
made to congress on or before the
first day of each regular session of
all legislative acts and proceedings
of the temporary government insti-
tuted under the provisions hereof;
and full reports of the acts of said
government, and as to the condition
of the archipelago and of its people.
shall be made to the president, in
Guiding all information which may be
useful to congress in providing a
more permanent government"
The senate passed the army appro-
priation bill at 1854 o'clock, contain
ing the propositions of the republican
ma iority for the future relations be-
tween the United States and Cuba.