The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-14
CIVIL RULE FOR PHILIPPINES.
EEDFRiI PARTY'S PETITION
IUPRESSES SENATOR'S.
Republicans say the Petitioners tit on
the Yer, Point The Party u Aiming
Al Democrats WIN Propose indie.
D%endencc After a Probationary Period.

WAsHISGToS. Feb. ia favorable i'm
preston has been nae pon the Senate
Republicans by the memorial from the
Federal party in the Philippines praying
that the islands be declared an integral
part Of the United States and constituted
a Territory, with the right ultimately Of
becoming a State. The fact is shown in
the memorial, which was distributed 10
the Senators in print to-day, that about
200, 600 influential citizens of the Philippines
are represented in the petition. and the
Republican leaders in the Senate think that
the memorialists have hit upon just the
point that the Republican party is aiming at,
The future policy of the Government for
the islands il being considered in the Senate
Committee on the Philippines. Of which
Senator Lodge is chairman, and In the House
Committee on lnsular Affairs, the chairman
Of which is Representative Cooper OF Wis
consin. A bill is pending before each Of
these committees which provides In detail
for "A plan of municipal and OWL govern
ment of the Philippine Islands, and their
provisions are quite similar, the bills having
been prepared after consultations between
the committee chair1nen mentioned and
the Secretary Of War. The hearings being
held 10y Senate committees are on the subject
OF this pending bill, the only witness 10 far
being Gov. Taft He has not yet concluded
his testimony, but will resume II IN Friday,
and after that other officers of the Govern
rnent, including army officers, will be heard,
The Democratic menbers of the Senate
aud House committees have been holding
consultations among Themselves with n
view of getting together on a policy that
would command the united party support,
The minority Of the Senate committee
have already declared themselves as fay-
orable to a policy Of scuttling, but %notwith-
standing their repeated assurances that
this would receive the unanimous approval
Of the Democrats In Congress, II has already
been demonstrated that IL doee not. One
faction wants the sovereignty OF the United
States withdrawn at once, and the other
thinks ii should be maintained.
In view Of this unsatisfactory situation
the House Democrats who are members OF
the lnsular Affairs are getting
together In support Of a substitute propO-
sition, which they think can be passed In
the House and made acceptable TO all fac
lions of the Senate Democrats. This new
proposition provides for giving the Fill
pinos a qualified Independence for ten or
twelve years under the protectorate OF
the United States, actual Independence to
follow after that time. The idea IL that
during the probationary period the United
States shall appoint the President OF the
Philippines and protect the islands from
the designs Of foreign Governments. IL
will provide that Congress shall furnish
the Filipiuos "a constitution under which
they can carry on a government and prove
themselves to be fit for absolute indie
pendence at the end Of the probationary
term. The length Of said term is To be fixed
by Congress. as the Democratic proposition
does not attempt 10 settle this important
point.