The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-07
SEDITlON LAWS READ
..xACTMENTS FOR PHILIPPINES
AROUSE SENATE.
FORAKER STANDS BY THEM.
THE SAME AS ACTS OF FATHERS
OF REPUBLIC.

Nr. Hoar Astounded That Such Meas
ures should Have Been ResOrted
to-Act Makes Informers of an En-
sire PeOpIe-Mr. Foraker Takes
His stand on the Sedition Laws
or This Country-A Warm Debate
EoIIows-NIr. Hoar POurs Oil on
troubled Waters.
Washington, Feb. 6.-For four hours
io.dav the Senate had the Philippine
tariff bill under discussion. The meas
ure was completed so far as the Phil
inpne committee is concerned, all OF
the committee amendments being
adopted. Several other amendments
however, will be offered, one or two
being pending.
Toward the close of the session the
discussion became heated. In response
10 a resolution offered several days
ego by Mr.. Rawlins of Utah, the Sec
retary of War transmitted to the Sen
ate the sedition laws enacted by the
Philippine commission. They were
read in full and Immediately drew the
fire of the opponents of the govern
1nent's Philippine policy. Mr.. Hoar of
Massachusetts,, expressed his astonish-
1nent that such laws should be en-
forced by the government authorities.
Mr. Foraker of Ohio had read from
the revised statutes of the United
States the laws of Congress relating
TO the crime of treason and similar
Al
said that the acts passed by the Phil
ippine commission were almost identi-
cal in their language with the laws
enacted by Congress in the days OF the
fathers of the republic, and that there
was nothing unprecedented or unusual
about them.
The Ohio senator was interrupted
continually and had several warm coll
loquies with senators who were op-
posing him. In one of them he an
nounced with great earnestness that
the American army never would re-
turn from the Philippines until it re-
turned victorious.
In conclusion of the debate Mr.. Hoar
poured oil on the troubled waters in
the Senate. maintaining that men
might wen differ on any of the great
questions now before the country, but
that all we're thoroughly loyal to the
country and were doing their duty as
they saw it.
Mr. Hoar spoke briefly upon the
sedition laws enacted by the Philip
pine Commission, saying he was sorry
that the commission had had its act
justified by reference to the only harsh
and cruel provisions that were to be
found in the statutes of the United
States. Under this cruel provision in
the Philippine Commissions acts a
mother having knowledge of the trea-
son of her son must inform the au-
thorties upon him; the son must in
form upon the mother; the brother
upon the brother; the daughter upon
the father and so on. He said the
laws of the United States were applied
only to citizens of this country-citizens-
by either nativity or adoption.
In the case of this application Of
these acts in the Philippines, he said
they were being put into execution by
alien authority, responsible only to an
alien government or command.
Foraker UphOids Laws.
Mr.. Foraker said he never had heard
the Philippine acts read until now. He
was surprised, however, that the SEN
ator from Massachusetts (Mr. Hoar)
Should be mentally and morally dis
read He said. the provisions of the
united States statues are the same as
those contained in the Philippine act.
Does the senator approve of that
act?' asked Mr.. Hoar.
Yes, l do" responded Mr.. Foraker.
Mir, Hoar expressed the opinion that
HE act was a particularly harsh and
cruel one in the Philippine Islands.
MI Foraker pointed out that the
SfqtIlfp aN
lnents of an American Congress. For
Ine protection of our government in the
Thllppines the Taft Commission had
applied that law to the Philippines.
Mr.. Tillman interrupted Mr.. Foraker
10 denounce the sedition laws enacted
10y the Philippine Commission as
damnabe doctrine"
1t might be in order,'' said Mr. For
aker warmly. ito inquire of the SEN
ator from South Carolina on which side
oi the struggle in the Philippines are
MS sympathies"
MY sympathies are with the Fill
Pinos'' shouted Mr.. Tillman, pounding
lis desk emphatically.
Applicable to TilIman.
Undoubtedly they are," retorted Mg
roraker, "and such a nat-footed and
pSnqualhed declaration as the senator
has made would render the revised
statutes applicable to him if he were
tor"
Mr. Hoar, again interrupting Mr.
ssuraker and directing attention to the
N S9elaration in the Senate chamber OF
nornas Corwin Of Ohio, during a de-
81 SlN on the Mexican war. that If he
Fl ere a Mexican he would welcome the
sntHerlcans with bloody hands TO hos
n oLsdaple graves. inquired If the people Of
mu ala not reverence the name and
nory OF Thomas Corwin.
80 fofaker replied that the people
81 Dnlo did love to recall the memory
h Ihomas Corwin. but they realized,
be sald' that in that great emergency
a1 made a profound mistake.
rN', hawlins of Utah interrupted Mr.
t,aEer with a question as to the sedi-
II No en laws enacted by the Philippine
ri rli 'sslon and in the course of his re-
n Ah said that MIR. Foraker had de-
4 Ina. n"'o' from Sou'n NaiO-
:, ~, foraeer declined 20 yield further
\, hI' hawlins. and declared hotly that
81 bad d"an not denounced Mr. 1'illmhn, but
n merely anDounoed the fact that the
q oDe'." utterances on the Philippine
sts,.'n would make him liable 10 the
+ r,, t ~ The United States n he were
~ 'I''ied by his position.
fnts fIr in fair way" she he. no
r.. me insurroctiOn in the Philip
N., .Hnls and we VIII accomplish
. Nd ~ the rillulnon 40 NOT Fof TOO