Evening journal., 1902-01-15
SENATE TALKS
or PHILIPPINES
Question Was Touched on
Yesterday for First Time
IIOar Says Statements Regarding
Situation in ihe Islands
ArelUnreliabIe

Washington, Jan. 15.-For the first
time this session the Philippine Ques
tlon was touched on in the senate
The interest taken indicates that i'll
will occupy the attention of the up
per branch of congress for some time
when the tariff bill is reported The
Philippines were the subject of AM
address by Mr.. Hoar. of Massachu
sets, who spoke on his resolution in
troduced on Monday providing for the
appointment of a senate committee
TO investigate the administration OF
those islands. Mr.. Hoar spoke at
some length regarding the unreliable
ity Of statements which have been
made from time to time regarding the
situation in the Philippines and the
causes which led to the outbreak. He
urged that there should be a place
where any senator in his official ca
pacity could go and ask for two wit
nesses TO prove the correctness or in
correctness of any question upon
which light is desired.
Senator Hoar also referred to a let
ter written in Manila, October
6, 1899, by the late General Law.
ton to Hon. John Barrett, ex-minister
to Siam. In the letter referred to
General Lawton said: III the real
facts in connection with the history,
inspiration and conditions Of this in
surrection, and the hostile influences
that now encourage the enemy, as
well as the actual possibilities of these
Philippine Islands and people and
their relations to this great earth
could be understood at home in Amer
lea, we would hear no more political
talk Of unjust shooting of govern
ment into the Filipinos, or unwise
threats of hauling down our flag in
the Philippines. You are right; some
OF us have modified our views since
we first came. and If these so-called
anti-imperialists Of Boston would hon
estly find out the truth on the ground
here and not in distant America those
who I dislike to believe to be other
than honest men would be convinced
of the error of their exaggerated
statements and conclusions and Of the
cruel and unfortunate effects on their
publications here. It Is kind Of you
TO caution me about exposure under
fire. but II / am shot by a Filipino
bullet, it might as well come from one
OF my own men. These are strong
words, and yet l say them because
l know that the fighting is largely due
TO the reports from America and cir
culated among these ignorant natives
by the leaders who know better"
Mr.. Lodge Mr.. Hoar's collegue,
said he regarded the resolution as a
reflection on the Philippine commit
tee, Of which he was the chairman,
and the necessity for the latter would
cease were this resolution to be adopt
ed. His committee, he said, was per
fectly able to handle any investiga-
tion which might be conducted. Mr..
Carmack (Dem) agreed with him.
The discussion was leading rapidly to
an opening up OF the whole Philippine
question, when it was agreed that the
resolution should go over.
Mr.. Mason, of Illinois, made speech
in favor Of reciprocity with Cuba and
discussed the protective policy gen
orally.
Debate IN House.
The house continued the debate on
the pension bill yesterday, and dis
eussed fully the proposition to open
the doors Of the soldiers homes to
ex-Confederate soldiers Two notable
speeches were made in support of the
proposition. one by Mr.. Gardiner. a
Michigan Republican, and the other
by Mr.. DeArmond. a Democrat. Mr..
Diamonds eloQuence aroused both
sides. The Republicans, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. Gardiner, took no part
In the discussion of the Rixey sugges-
tion, which met with much opposition
on the Democratic side. on the ground
that II was impracticable Mr.. Lamb,
OF Virginia, read a number Of tele-
grams from prominent ex-Confed-
crates Of Richmond, protesting
against Il.