The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-07-03
AMNESTY.
The Cabinet Agrees Upon a Proc
lamation.


time in eight years regular session of
the cabinet was held Friday outside
of the white house. When President
Roosevelt arrived from New London,
Conn, he was driven to the temporary
executive mansion in Lafayette square.
Senator Kean, of New Jersey, was the
first in official life to visit the new
home of president. number of 9TH
ers called at various times throughout
the day for no other purpose than to
inspect the premises.
Amnesty for Filipinos.
At the meeting of the cabinet the
terms of an amnesty proclamation to
the Filipinos, which, it is contem-
plated to issue on the 4th of July,
were agreed upon. The war depart
ment for some time past has had I'M
der consideration the draft of proc
lamation and has found it necessary
to make a number of changes in its
text. In it's modified state it was
agreed to by the cabinet, and Secre-
tary Root will cable it to Acting Gov.
Wright for his inspection. If 1t
meets the latter's approval moth
ing will remain but for the pres
ident, if the Philippine civil govern
ment bill is law on that day, as is
now expected it will be, to issue on
Independence day formal proclama-
ton setting forth terms of amnesty
for all political offenders in the is
lands, including Aguinaldo and those
held at Guam.
The proclamation is based on the
general objects of the Philippine gov
eminent bill, namely, to restore
peace in the archipelago and substi
tute civil for military administra-
ton. That bill is now in conference
and the proclamation will not be is
sued until the Philippine government
measure has been agreed upon by
both houses and the president has
affixed his signature to it.
The Proclamation.
The proclamation will declare that
state of peace now exists in the Phil
ippine islands, save in the parts of the
archipelago where the Mindanao or
Pagan tribes are giving the United
States great amount of trouble and,
will declare in effect that with
the transfer of the government of the
archipelago from a military to a civil
status all those arrested and held for
political offenses shall be restored to
liberty, granted full amnesty, and al
lowed to participate in the civil gov
hot = H., q 4
the islands. While the proclamation
is subject to changes in text, the gen.
eral language of the document is pref
ty well mapped out.
There was a general discussion Fri
day of the treatment that should be
accorded the political prisoners of the
islands. There is no intention, it is
stated, to release those prisoners con-
yicted of other than political offenses,
the benefits of the amnesty being linn
tied to those in custody as result of
breaches of military law, leaving Grim
inal offenders to the action of the
proper authorities under the coming
civil government. The purpose is to
demonstrate that motives of human
ity and generosity dictate our course
toward the Filipinos. When the is
lands are turned over to the civil au-
thorities they will not be left with
out adequate military protection, as
no more troops will be ordered home
from the present, and every precau-
ton will be taken for the military
safeguarding of the islands under the
new civil administration.
The Friar's Lands.
Another subject under considera-
ton at the cabinet meeting was the
negotiation for the purchase of the
friars' lands in the Philippines. Sec
rotary Root took with him to the meet
ing all the correspondence which has
passed between himself and Gov. Taft
while the latter has been carrying on
his negotiations at Rome. 1t is I'M
'derstood that Secretary Root feels
great confidence in a successful out
come of Gov. Taft's efforts.
The cabinet also took up the ques-
ton of naming the naval vessels pro-
vided form the naval appropriation bill
and, it is stated, decision was reached
in that case, but it is DESTROYS not to
make the names public until the ves-
sells are actually authorized.
Senate.
Washington, June 2s.-Quite unex-
pectedly sharp debate arose in the
senate Friday on the question of Gu
ban reciprocity. Senator Teller
(Col.), at whose instance the senate
committee on Cuban relations made
its investigation of the subject, de-
livered a spirited speech in opposi-
ton to reciprocity with Cuba. He
charged that the entire reciprocity
propaganda had been backed by the
American Sugar Refining company
and by Americans who were interest
ed financially in Cuban sugar planta-
tons. The purpose, he said, was to
strike down an important agricul-
tural industry of this country. He
was willing to join in general re-
vision of the tariff to meet changed
conditions, but unless the duties on
iron and steel and other products
were reduced together with those on
sugar, in order that the arrangement
might be equitable, the beet sugar
growers never would consent to re-
duction on their product. Senator
Platt Comm, chairman of the Gu
ban relations committee, replied to
the Colorado senator. He maintained
that there was nothing sordid in the