Evening star., 1902-02-19
QUESTION
Testimony Before the Senate
Committee Today.
WANT A PROTECTORATE
FILIPINOs WHO ARE SEEKING IN
DEPENDENCE.
Gov. Taft Says That They Desire the
Backing Of This Country With
Their Freedom.
W ANT A PROTECTORATE

Among other questions pertaining to the
Philippines discussed by Gov Taft today
in his testimony before the Senate commit
tee on the Philippines was the attitude Of
the different religious sects toward one an
| other. He said that generally the relation
ship is friendly, and that the evangelical
churches are seeking to secure a foothold
in the islands He also referred to the
ecclesiastical courts, saying that under the
Spanish rule the members Of the religious
| orders could elect to have civil cases in
| which they were concerned tried in those
courts rather than in the regular tribunals.
In reply to questions he said that from
| twenty-five to fifty persons had been de-
ported from the Philippines. and that they
were all sent to Guam by the military au-
thorities because they are considered ire
concilables, whose presence was injurious.
He said in reply to Senator Allison that
so far as the Philippine advocates of in
dependence had expressed themselves, all of
them desired that the United States should
| continue it's protection of the islands; in
other words. they wanted Independence
with a United States prOtectorate.
The witness was asked great number Of
questions about the Malolos constitution.
He said that the convention which adopted
1t had been made up largely of residents Of
Manila, although designated by Aguinaldo
to represent the various provinces. Com
paratively few Of the F'ilipinos he said are
familiar with the Constitution of the
United States, and he did not believe that
Aguinaldo is among those who have this
familiarity.
Gov. Taft also gave information concern
ing the newspaper press of the Philippines.
Are the newspapers there at liberty to
advocate the independence Of the islands?
asked Senator CulbertSon.
'They are under the restrictions imposed
by the statutes which we discussed yester-
0aV. lust Others re- the witness
sponded.
Therefore they are prohibited from such
a course?"
THAT is the effect of the statute while
the war continues"
Referring to the climatic and health con-
ditions of the islands Gov. Taft said the
health of the troops there when not en-
gagged in campaigning is about as good as
1t would be in the southern states. The
climate is not severe, nor is 1t a disagree
able place in which to live, but the contin-
ued high temperature becomes, after a
time, wearing upon Americans and Euro
peans. 1t is a bad place in which to re-
cuperate There Is, he said, no malaria In
Manila but there is much of it of a maliR-
nant character in the higher attitudes.
The committee then adjourned until to-
morrow.
Troops Alleged Cruelty Investigated.
Responding to an inquiry from Senator
Lo6ge, the Secretary of War today sent to
him large number of papers bearing upon
the charge that cruelty is practiced by the
American troops on the natives of the Phil
ippineS! Senator Lodge presented the docu-
nents in the Senate.
Among the documents forwarded are the
records of thirteen Investigations into such
charges. and the Secretary says that
every report or charge Of this description
which has at any time been brought to
the notice of the War Department has been
made the subject of prompt investigation"
He adds that in substantially every case in
qulred into the report has proved to be
either unfounded or grossly exaggerated
He also says the department is now en-
gagged In conducting an inves stigation into
the charge made in the Senate last week
that the water cure" is the favorite tor
ture Of the American, and especially Of the
Macabebe scouts to force the natives to
give information. and that soldier who
was with General Funston had stated that
he had helped to administer the water
cure to 100 natives, all but twenty-six Of
whom died. He incloses a copy of letter
received from General Funston, dated Feb
ruary :, 1902, in which he declares the
statement to be an "atrocious lie without
the slightest foundation of fact" and also
letter from Lieutenant Batson, the COM
mander Of the Macabebe scouts, to the
same effect.
Copies of the army regulations prohibit
ing cruelty also are forwarded, as are the
memoranda in forty-four cases of officers,
soldiers and camp followers who have been
tried, and thirty-nine of them convicted for
violation of these orders.
Cruelty Of Filipinos.
Presenting the other side Of the picture,
Secretary Root says: THE war on the part
OF the Fiipinos has been conducted with
the barbarous cruelty common among un-
civilized races, and with general disregard
to the rules Of civilized warfare. They de-
liberately adopted the policy of killing all
natives, however peaceful, who were
friendly to our government, and in literally
fhnncggHc Of in ctan fhno
dependent upon our soldiers for protection,
have been assassnated. The Filipino
troops have frequently fired upon our men
from under protection of flags Of truce
tortured to death American prisoners who
have fallen into their hands, buried alive
both Americans and friendly natives, and
horribly mutiated the bodies of the Ameri-
can dead. That the soldiers lighting against
such an enemy. and with their own eyes
witnessing such deeds, should occasionally
be regardless Of their orders and retaliate
by unjustifiable seventies is not Incredible
Such things happen in every war. even be-
tween two civilized nations. and they al
ways will happen while war lasts That
such occurrences have been sanctioned or
permitted IS rot true
"A constant and effective pressure Of pro-
hibition, precept and discipline has been
maintained against them That there has
been any such practice Is not true. The
cases have been few and far between, scat
tered infrequently over a great area of
country along the course of three years Of
active conflict. through thousands of
gagements and among many thousands of
troops. That these occasional cases have
characterized our army or It's conduct is
not true. any more than the deeds Of law
less violence which constantly occur in
every large city charact cteriZe the people Of
the city. The war in the Philippines has
been conducted by the American army with
scrupulous regard for the rules of civilized
warfare. with careful and genuine con-
sideration for the prisoner and the nom
pOmh1t3Nr with SpIf-reStrdlnt and with hlI-
manity, never surpassed If ever equaled in
any conflict. worthy only of praise and re-
fiecting credit upon the American people
Building Permits Issued.
Building permits were issued today as