Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-20
mr. BACON IS HEARD
Opposes Philippine Govern
ment Bill.
OMNIBUS CLAIMS BILL
CRITICISM OF THE HOUSE MILL
TARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
Resolution Unanimously Passed Con-
graduating the New Repub-
lie Of Cuba.
OMNIBUS CLAIMS BILL

resolution offered by Mr.. Stewart
(NevD yesterday providing that compia
ti0n of all treaties. regula lions and laws
relating to Indian affairs be made was laid
before the Senate today.
Mr. Hale (Me) had offered an amendment
providing that no expense should be at
tsched to the preparation of the work In
explanation he said that the practice of
providing clerks of committees with these
little jobs for the purpose OF eking out
their salaries. already adequate ought to
be stopped
Finally the amendment was withdrawn
and the resolution was adopted
A bill to regulate the Introduction of eggs
of game birds into the United States for
propagation was passed.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Spooner (Wis)
was adopted providing that o. H. Plat,
senator from Connecticut designated by
the President Pro Tenn. to perform his duties
In his absence. should be empowered to
sign enrolled bills. and that the President
be Informed of this action.
Mr.. Bacon on the Philippines
Consideration of the Philippine govern
ment bill then was resumed. Mr. Bacon
tGd.j addressing the Senate in opposition to
the measure.
He said that there was, in part, civil gov
ernment now established in the Philippines
under the war power which was as full
In all its powers as was conferred by the
pending bill Under the proposed measure.
greater power in the exploitation of the
islands could be exercised.
Why is IL. he inquired. that there should
be such urgency In passing the pending
bill when it afforded practically no advan-
tages over the present law except that cor
poratiOns would have special advantages in
exploitation of the resources of the islands.
He read a paragraph in the bill to show
that it contained a broad and unlimited
grant to the Philippine commission to dis
pose in unlimited fashion, of the public
domain In the Philippines, He declared
that an examination of the bill would show
that corporation could obtain a million
acres of land as easily as it could get 5000
acres. This, he declared an '.enorm-
ity.''
Restriction of Land Ownership.
Mr.. Lodge. chairman of the committee.
interrupted to say that section Il of the
bill restricted the ownership of land by a
corporation to 5000 acres.
THAT restriction said Mr.. Bacon. rs
confined to corpora tions engaged in agri-
culture
All other corporations" replied Mr.
Lodge. ARE limited in the holding of their
lands necessary to their purposes.
MIR Bacon thought q corporation might
he organized to control all the mineral
lands in the Philippines-that would be an
infant compared to the great steel
trust.
Upon so grave matter as the disposition
of the public lands in the Philippines he
thought there ought to be the direct action
OF Congress, or, at least. the approval of
Congress. instead of being disposed of al
the dictates of the Philippine commission.
For such action there was no precedent.
The Purpose Of the Government.
us IT. said he, 1.-THE purpose of the
United States to retain the Philippine
island in colonial dependency. or to grant
to them a government of their OWN That.
he thought, was the great central question
around which all other questions relating
to the islands must revolve. If 1t were the
purpose of the United States to hold the
islands. one kind of government would be
necessary: II We Were not to retain them,
then another kind of government would be
necessary. If the United States was to hold
the Philippines as a colonial dependency, il
was manifestly impossible for them ever to
occupy any other relation than that of
colonies and subjects. The islands never
could become states. the inhabitants never
could become citizens of the United States.
If. said he, we have the high and no.
Bile purpose OF giving the Filipinos a free
goyernment-whether partial or absolute
then now is the time for Congress to act
upon that purpose Otherwise he belfey-
cd there should be no legislation.
Referring to the colonies of Great Brit
ain as an instance of the cruelties appar-
emily necessary IN the pursuit OF such a
policy. Mr.. Bacon said. not in disparage-
ment of the character of the British peo-
pie. that not a day passed that the troops
OF England were not required to shed blood
in order to maintain Engiand's supremacy.
He alluded to the "cruelties' atrocities
and ''barbarities" perpetrated in the Phil
ippines merely. he said, to point out that
they were the result of the Philippine pol
Icy of the government.
Who is the defender of the army he in
Quired. The man who denounces the out
RACES committed in the Philippines and de-
clareS they are unworthy OF the army, or
the man who defends the outrages and
makes no distinction? Senator's, who de-
nounce these outrages and the preparation
OF them were. he thought, the real friends
of the army; and the honor of the men in
the army was as dear to the minority, and
to him. personally. he declared. as it was to
any senator of the ma jorty.
This government had afforded the oppor-
tunity for these outrages and atrocities by
sending an army to another hemisphere
upon d mission at least questionable.